Colorado School of Mines student to compete in gold mining reality TV show

One of our very own student volunteers has been chosen by National Geographic and flown up to the Alaskan Wilderness to compete in a new reality TV show about old school gold mining. Daniel Rosenbach is studying mining engineering at Colorado School of Mines and will be graduating in December of this year. Daniel shares with us the story of how he was chosen and his hopes for the show.

Our mining department was contacted by Prospector Productions late June about a new National Geographic show that would be filmed in Alaska about gold prospecting in the late 1800’s. The department forwarded that letter to all mining students. When I first heard about it, I was very excited and knew that with my past experience, I would have a good chance of being chosen to be on the show. I decided to sign up even with the lack of information being provided about the opportunity. I sent my video submission and one week later, I received an e-mail stating I had been chosen, and that further details would be provided later. The only details given were to “be prepared to live like the old Sourdough Miners” and we would only have access to what they used. This applies to food, shelter, tools, and prospecting equipment.

This left me puzzled as to what to pack for the trip. I was not sure about the weather, as I have never been to Alaska, and what else I would need to bring. I decided to pack for cold weather, mainly multiple layers; short and long sleeved shirts, under armor tops and bottoms, fleece jacket, layered weather proof jacket, snowboarding pants, and shorts.  I also packed survival items like knives, lighters, waterproof matches, rope, sunglasses, wide brimmed hat, a tripod style camp seat, and a machete. For panning in the creeks or river, I am bringing a set of chest waders and panning gloves to keep me comfy in the cold water. I have a zero degree sleeping bag and sleeping pad, as shelter will be provided for us. I am very excited to be a part of this experience, and can’t wait to spend the month prospecting in Alaska. I will be returning on September 2^nd and will be ready to show and tell everyone about the experience.

I feel like I was a good candidate because of my past experience with prospecting and in the mining industry. I have worked two summers in America’s largest underground gold mine, and prospected around Colorado since I moved here in 2005. I own many pieces of equipment and currently work for Atlas Copco, a mining equipment company. I enjoy camping and being away from modern civilization. Working all day doesn’t bother me, especially when I am doing something I enjoy.

I have learned many skills through my experiences, and my prospecting skills will be most utilized for this excursion. My friend and I started out panning, and did only that for a long time until we could afford a sluice box. Since then we have acquired many other pieces of prospecting equipment. All the time spent in the river, mainly Clear Creek, has given me the knowledge of knowing how gold is deposited in a river and where to look for it.

I think that this show should be less drama filled then Discovery Channel’s “Gold Rush Alaska” mainly due to the fact that it is being filmed by National Geographic. I’d like to think this show will be shoot more as a documentary style than a reality show. “Gold Rush Alaska,” in my opinion, did not help the mining industry at all, and may have hurt it. I hope this show will give people more respect for the mining industry and show what the original miners went through to make mining what it is today.

Good luck Daniel! We will be cheering for you.

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