Michael, Underground Miner, Pogo Mine
When people think about gold mining, they often imagine massive trucks, glittering metal, and the rugged landscapes of Alaska. But the real story of mining, especially at a place like Pogo Mine, is about the people who spend their careers underground, building skills, supporting families, and helping power an industry that depends on experience and grit.
As Pogo Mine celebrates its 20th anniversary, the milestone isn’t just measured in ounces of gold produced. It’s measured in the lives and careers shaped along the way and the workers who came north looking for an opportunity and found something that lasted decades.
Michael is one of those people, arriving in Alaska nearly 20 years ago after already spending much of his life in the mining industry.
A Miner by Heritage
Mining wasn’t a career Michael stumbled into; it was practically part of his DNA.
A third-generation miner, he grew up around the industry and began working in gold mines in Nevada at just 18 years old. Throughout the years Michael has worked across different operations, building the kind of hands-on experience that only time underground can teach.
By the mid-2000s, he was ready for a change.
“I was working in Nevada,” he recalls. “I wanted something different. So, in 2006 I called Pogo Mine, and they hired me right away. I came to Alaska and froze my butt off.”
The cold was new. The scale of Alaska was new. But the work was familiar.
“I’ve been mining since 1979,” he says.
Learning the Mine from the Ground Up
Like many miners, he began at Pogo doing the demanding physical work that forms the backbone of underground operations.
He started out running a jackleg drill, often called a “jack wagon.” It’s a tough job that requires strength, balance, and precision while drilling rock deep underground.
From there, Michael moved on to operating production drills for about six years, eventually transitioning to mucking, the process of removing blasted rock and transporting it away from mining areas.
Today, his job has evolved with the industry.
Michael now works in remote mucking, operating underground equipment from a computer console rather than sitting directly in the machine.
“In the old days I’d move dirt in a bucket underground,” he says. “Now I sit in front of a computer screen doing it.”
The shift reflects how mining technology has advanced throughout the last two decades, improving efficiency while reducing risk.
Safety Above Everything
Despite the technological changes, one thing has never changed underground: safety comes first. Every day begins with the same mindset.
“Safety every day,” he explains. “Always have my PPE on, always thinking about safe situations. Always watching your surroundings, rocks can change, conditions can change.”
That attentiveness becomes second nature for miners who spend years underground. It’s one of the reasons experienced workers are so valuable, they understand the subtle details of operations and how to maintain safe, efficient conditions at all times.
A Lifetime Underground
This year marks more than Pogo’s 20th anniversary, for Michael, it’s also an impressive 47 years in mining. He recently turned 65, a milestone that led him to reflect on a career that began when he was just a teenager.
“One thing I’m proud of,” he says simply, “is that I made it through 47 years of mining in one piece.”
For anyone who has worked underground for more than four decades, that’s no small accomplishment. Mining in 1979 looked very different from today.
“The old way of mining was tough,” Michael explains. “Timber wrestling, laying track, using timber for ground support. We used steel sets and rails instead of rubber tires.”
Today’s mines utilize modern equipment, reinforced ground support systems, and advanced engineering, improvements that have transformed safety and efficiency across the industry.
Finding the Final Stop
Throughout the course of his career, Michael worked at mines across the West. But when he came to Pogo, something felt different.
“I’ve tramped around enough working at different mines,” he says. “I figured this was the last stop for me. I want to ride off into the sunset from this job.”
That sense of stability is something many miners value deeply, especially in an industry where operations can come and go.
Ownership changes over the years have shaped Pogo’s story as well. Through those transitions, Michael says, Pogo Mine has continued to provide opportunities for workers and stability for their families. Today, he believes the operation is positioned to support the next generation of miners.
Life at a Remote Camp
Pogo Mine operates as a camp job, meaning workers live onsite during their shifts before rotating home.
For someone who spent most of his career at traditional mines, the camp lifestyle was a new experience. Still, the work and the camaraderie felt familiar.
“Mining is mining,” he says. “Same kind of work anywhere you go, there’s consistency and continuity.”
Throughout the years, those camp rotations created their own memorable moments. One particularly unforgettable experience happened early on at Pogo, when a group of coworkers decided to explore Alaska together and chartered a fishing boat out of Seward.
“A bunch of us were new to Alaska,” he says. “We figured, why not?”
The relationships built among teams on rotational shifts, which at Pogo are typically two weeks on / two weeks off, develop a unique type of camaraderie and helps to build strong, tight-knit teams.
Like mining technology, camp life has evolved throughout the years, providing more on-site amenities. Today’s modern, well-equipped camps offer gyms, entertainment, and a wide variety of social activities.
Advice for the Next Generation
After nearly five decades underground, Michael has one simple message for anyone considering a career in mining.
“Pay attention to everything,” he says. “Learn everything you can. Learn how to do things the right way, no shortcuts.”
It’s advice rooted in experience.
“Mining can be done safely if you do it right.”