Mining is tough enough as is. It’s back-breaking labor where you’re under constant stress because if you don’t find enough gold, you may not get paid. Combined with added complications from the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s understandable why Dave Turin has had a rough time these last couple of years.

Speaking with Idaho Press, Turin explained all of the additional responsibilities that fell into his lap when COVID came around. He elaborated, “I was working and producing a TV show, and we had a hard time keeping camera crews— many came from Great Britain, and we were having a hard time getting them into America. So that created a high turn turnover of producers. So I was the one that had consistency through the whole thing. I was ordering parts and directing and managing the other guys, and I was the guy looking for the gold—it was all very high stress.”

A lot fell onto Turin’s shoulders, and while others would’ve folded and perhaps put the show on an extended hiatus, he persevered. And he has no intention of slowing down any time soon, but he can envision a future where he’s significantly rolled back what he does. He went on to say, “I had back surgery about two years ago, giving me temporary relief. So it feels like it’s back, and it’s worse. You only have so many days on this planet. So I am scaling back. That doesn’t mean I’m out of mining. I still get so many emails because I’m the guy that’s chased the lost mines.” Pandemic or not, Turin has proven time and time again that he’s not to be counted out.