Mike Beets Battles Inexperience & Critical Plant Failures At Paradise Hill | Gold Rush

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]Tony Beets is on a roll just two months into the season.

[00:00:06]He's already pocketed $8 million in gold.

[00:00:13]I mean, with the way gold prices are, you like to sluice as much as possible because, boy, what an opportunity it is.

[00:00:22]Tony and Indian River, we got a sluice a lot going right now that's paying all the bills. So, they have to keep that running and no matter what. If they got to spend the half of the night out there, go spend the half of the night out there.

[00:00:36]While Tony rides his crew at the Indian River, he's left son Mike in charge of his other claim on Paradise Hill.

[00:00:47]Last week, Mike finally got a plant running, sluicing old-timer tailings through wash plant Harold.

[00:00:56]Harold's up and going.

[00:00:59]It's nice to finally be sluicing.

[00:01:01]Now I'm actually making a bit of money instead of just spending it.

[00:01:05]My dad would be glad I'm making a bit of money.

[00:01:08]Mike's also been charged with stripping the super pit to feed the trommel, but it's been slow going after Tony pilfered his crew.

[00:01:18]I would love to do more, but I don't have the people and that's the problem.

[00:01:24]My dad takes, he don't give nothing back.

[00:01:27]It ends up being a one-way street.

[00:01:29]With his depleted crew now at the super pit, Mike needs to hire new personnel to keep Harold running.

[00:01:38]Despite my dad taking my I'm going to get this done.

[00:01:42]I got these two new girls. I'm going to see how they do. One says she has a bit of experience with farm equipment and the other one I don't know if she has experience, but I can always train them.

[00:01:56]Next time you lift it, you make sure the nozzle's in the tank. You relieve pressure. That's how we don't get fuel everywhere.

[00:02:05]Next, Mike sends Kendra to check the oil level in the water pump.

[00:02:11]I think I'll be fine. Like I did pipe fitting and water transfer back in Alberta, so I know a little bit about pumps.

[00:02:22]The engine oil in the pump was a little low, so I'm going to put some more oil in it.

[00:02:35]I would like to have them a bit more time to get trained up cuz they're both way too nervous for my liking. I'm still debating whether I'm actually going to let them sluice today.

[00:02:46]It is very heavy.

[00:02:49]Oh my Why isn't this getting any lighter?

[00:03:02]Mike, do you copy, Mike?

[00:03:04]Go ahead. Go ahead. I got the pump started. And full of oil. Okay, just have to check. It's It's good.

[00:03:12]That way.

[00:03:24]Got these very tall.

[00:03:27]It was right there.

[00:03:29]So, this thing is insanely overfull.

[00:03:32]So, yeah.

[00:03:36]Rebecca, do you copy, Rebecca?

[00:03:40]Can you call Isaac and ask him to bring a pail or two with lids cuz you got to empty out some engine oil out of a pump for me.

[00:03:47]All righty, he's on the way.

[00:03:49]That's best I caught it now. That's why I double-check. That's why you add a little bit, you check your thing cuz you can over easily overfill one of those things. If it builds up too much pressure, you can basically blow a head, crankshaft. I'd rather not waste a $100,000 engine. Okay?

[00:04:08]It happens.

[00:04:10]You've basically been thrust into something you've never done before and I know you're not close enough that I can be consistently here. So, I think I might just put you guys on rock trucks.

[00:04:22]Isaac's going to drain a bit of oil.

[00:04:25]Had I left it, not double-checked it and not trust my paranoia, that could have cost me an engine.

[00:04:32]It's not her fault. If you don't know, you don't know. I can't blame you for that. I think they'll be fine if I give them another day or two of training just so they get more comfortable, more used to it.

[00:04:43]And then they'll be fine.

[00:04:49]Pump disaster avoided.

[00:04:52]Mike checks in on Kendra and Sienna now on rock truck duties in the super pit.

[00:04:58]Two rock trucks are going to take Cut.

[00:05:00]Is that Kendra and Sienna?

[00:05:02]Yeah.

[00:05:03]Yeah, do not be so close to each other cuz that is asking for an accident. Stop the one who's now speeding up. Stop.

[00:05:10]I said stop and you're still moving.

[00:05:12]Now, okay, stop it right now. Get out of your truck. You're being written up.

[00:05:20]YOU, I'M POINTING AT YOU. I DON'T know who's in that truck. You get out. You're coming with me. Let's go.

[00:05:27]In the truck.

[00:05:31]Next time I say stop, you stop. That's dangerous. Do not ever get that close behind her. If she hit the brakes and you didn't notice quick enough, also, when I call on the radio, I demand that you reply.

[00:05:45]Now, tell me, could you hear me on the radio when I was yelling at you?

[00:05:49]I just switched it at once so I realized it was on the wrong one. Okay, then did you hear me after that you switched it?

[00:05:56]And then did you did you still move after that? No, I stopped.

[00:06:00]Okay, then I'll get I'll leave this as a verbal warning and I won't actually write you up.

[00:06:07]Right now, I ain't got a hope in hell to do anything.

[00:06:11]Mike Beets' plan to run wash plant Harold all week has crashed and burned.

[00:06:18]He's lost three days sluicing while struggling to find skilled crew to run the plant.

[00:06:25]Now, he's trying two new hires who are more seasoned. So, I put these two gentlemen in. We're just going to see how they do and they have a bit of experience.

[00:06:35]You never know. Some people just pick it up like Here's the first bucket.

[00:06:48]Let's make some money.

[00:06:54]I'm from Saskatchewan.

[00:06:56]I came out here to learn heavy equipment.

[00:07:01]This is about farthest I've ever gone for work and uh it's uh it's beautiful out here.

[00:07:11]Before this, I was actually uh industrial painter. I did all the white and yellow lines that you guys sees on the road.

[00:07:24]It most definitely is a great deal of responsibility for me and me and Bryson to be down here running the plant on our own.

[00:07:40]Uh the water pressure is way too low. I have to get a hold. Uh Mike, do you copy?

[00:07:47]Go ahead.

[00:07:49]The the wash plant's here. The water pressure is really low and things aren't looking so good right now.

[00:07:57]Copy that.