The “King of the Klondike” has reinforced his throne. In a high-stakes logistical maneuver that stripped his Paradise Hill operation of its most valuable asset, Tony Beets has successfully deployed the “Monster” CAT 950 excavator to the Indian River, resulting in a staggering 658-ounce weekly cleanup—the largest of his 2026 season to date.

Midway through the season, Beets has already banked roughly $11 million in gold, surpassing his mid-season pace from last year by over 1,000 ounces. However, the record haul was nearly derailed by a critical bottleneck in the “Corner Cut,” a massive three-claim expanse that Beets believes holds up to $20 million in untouched gold.

The “950” Heist

The week began with a brewing family feud. Tony’s son, Mike Beets, was utilizing the 950 bulk-hauler at Paradise Hill to stay on his own pace. Over Mike’s vocal protests, Tony “stole” the machine, citing a desperate need to accelerate stripping at the Indian River.

“The 950 is a bulk hauler. I was hoping to get loosened, but that’s not going to happen,” Mike noted, frustrated by the “wasted time” lost to his father’s demands.

Moving the massive machine 40 miles across the Yukon was a Herculean task. The crew was forced to dismantle the boom and stick, loading the 21,000-pound components onto heavy-duty lowboys. The journey took a turn for the worse when a lowboy broke down, forcing Tony’s 18-year-old grandson, Egan, to “walk” the massive excavator through the final leg of the trip—an eight-hour ordeal that marked the third generation of Beets miners taking a lead role in the family business.

Triple Bucket Efficiency

Once the 950 arrived and was reassembled, the efficiency of the Indian River operation shifted instantly. Equipped with a massive 10-yard bucket, the 950 can fill a 40-ton rock truck in just three passes.

“With a 950, it takes less than a minute to load a rock truck,” Tony explained. “Double production. It’s pretty simple.” This speed is vital; if Tony cannot reach pay dirt in the Corner Cut before his current “River Cut” is exhausted, his double-wash plant setup—which runs 24 hours a day—would be forced to shut down.

The $2.25 Million Scale

The week’s results proved that the logistical headache was worth the effort. The “two-plant blitz” on the Indian River delivered a haul that silenced any doubts about the equipment move:

• Sluicifer: Delivered a massive 319.06 ounces after running at full capacity.

• Fine-A-Lot: The operation’s brand-new plant added 339.68 ounces in just a few days of run-time.

• Weekly Total: 658.74 ounces, valued at over $2.25 million.

Family Legacy

As the gold was poured onto the scale, the mood in camp was one of rare satisfaction. For Minnie Beets, seeing her grandson Egan help deliver the machine was a highlight of the season. “My dream is to see all my kids [and grandkids] operate on one big line,” she said.

With 3,939 ounces now in the vault, Tony is well over halfway to his 6,500-ounce seasonal goal. As he dismissed his crew to return to the pits, the King of the Klondike remained characteristically unfazed by the multi-million dollar week. “The numbers came out right,” Tony remarked before heading for a well-earned nap. “And there is still ground left to run.”