'Gold Rush' Season 7 Sneak Peek: Parker Schnabel Mourns the Loss of His Grandpa

The two-hour Gold Rush season premiere airs Friday, Oct. 14, at 9 p.m. ET on Discovery

It’s going to be an emotional season for the cast of Gold Rush … in more ways than one.

In an exclusive sneak peek at season 7 of Discovery’s hit show, fans see the painful aftermath of family patriarch John Schnabel’s passing. The late miner died in March at the age of 96.

In the super tease, Parker grimly attends the funeral for his grandfather alongside his dad Roger.

“I lost a dad and you lost a grandpa,” Roger tells his son, “all at the same time.”

“I don’t know what it’s going to be like without him,” Parker says.

This season, Parker’s emotions and leadership will be tested, according to the press release.

“[Parker] makes the biggest investment in the history of his operation by ordering a customized $600,000 washplant. But will it be enough to beat out his archrival Todd Hoffman? With a new girlfriend from Australia, Ashley Yule, joining him in the Klondike, it will be a season like no other for Parker. His gold mining plan is to go lean and mean in an attempt to make his biggest profit yet.”

Also within the teaser, Todd Hoofman (The King of the Klondike) isn’t happy with his circumstances and also sees his fair share of stress this season after moving his entire operation to Oregon.

Not only does a fight break out on his site, he winds up admitting to losing “several hundred thousand dollars,” experiences equipment issues after a machine flips over, and one worker says, “Enough is enough. I’m finished.”

At the time of John’s passing, the Schnabel family told PEOPLE that they “appreciate all of the support” fans have shown them.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better father, grandfather and overall family man,” the Schnabel family said. “He was a true legend and we appreciate all of your love and support as we celebrate his wonderful life.”

The two-hour Gold Rush season premiere airs Friday, Oct. 14, at 9 p.m. ET on Discovery.