Day -2

 

June 25, 2014
     We are already in Alaska and Dave will be flying in tomorrow.  The plan is to fly to McGrath on Friday and then the bush pilot will take them to their site on Saturday.  George and I will pick Dave up at the airport and all go out to eat at Texas Road House.  They have everything in Anchorage.  Then the guys will have to do their shopping.  I offered to do some shopping ahead of time but I think George is actually looking forward this this apparent pre-camp ritual.  I plan to take pictures.  They have a new bush pilot, Barney because their regular pilot, Ken, is still having trouble with his plane.
Dave will spend the night in Palmer with us in our new 5th wheel.  Bad thing is we have to be in Anchorage at 7:00 AM on Friday and I am having so much fun sleeping in.  When it is 9:00AM here, that means it is noon in Kansas. I have never been a late sleeper, but I love it here in Alaska.  Since I am acclimated to Alaska time, getting up early will be hard on me.   On  the other hand it will be a piece of cake for Dave.  He lives in Florida so he will think he is sleeping in.   George asked if I was fixing breakfast for them.  I laughed and thought he was kidding. 

Fairbanks and panning with Gold Daughters

We went to Fairbanks for my birthday and panned for gold on a site owned by the "Gold Daughters". 
They did a reality TV show call "Goldfathers" some of you may remember.  They were very sweet and had just opened for business.  They were getting their place antiquated with rustic gold mining equipment and it was very interesting.  They even had a pink outhouse.  We did well panning there.  If you are ever in Fairbanks, it is worth the stop.  It is right across the street from the famous Alaskan Pipeline.
We went out to a public area that was free but the whole area had been worked and tailing piles a story high lined the roads so we didn't do well there. 
We visited Pioneer Park and some museums and had a great time in Fairbanks.  I have to warn you.  Looking at Fairbanks on the map from Anchorage looks like a hop skip and a jump.  I think Google maps said 5 hours.  They lied.  With road construction, I would say a good 7 hour trip.  Denali makes it a beautiful drive though. 

North to Alaska with the wife

Since this isn't really part of gold prospecting I won't post our trip on this site.  You can visit www.georgeandlindawedding.BlogSpot.com to follow our trip.  Dave will come up to Alaska and meet with George while we are there and then the guys will go out to the site. 

I haven't done very well keeping you posted about what is going on but their old pilot is still out of commission.  He is still trying to get parts for his engine.  Remember he had an emergency landing on a gravel bar last Oct and still isn't ready.  Dave told me I could be the first to fly with him when he gets his plane fixed so they could make sure it's safe.  Dave is a funny funny man and I told him I would pass.   Dave has had first hand experience with plane crashes so I wouldn't be surprised if he is a little gun shy
The guys have a new pilot and he's planning to take their stuff to the site a week before they are due in so they won't be in the same fix they were in last year.  The guys are taking a core drill to the site  and the plan is to drill to find the source of the gold on this trip.  They're planning to head to the site the end of June and I will stay in the RV in Anchorage or Palmer.  After a month of traveling I am sure I will enjoy some me time with my little dog Toto.    

At last an update

Well, here's the story.  Their pilot, Ken, had to make an emergency landing this winter on a river.  He was flying some passengers when the cylinder head went out on the engine.  He made a safe landing, but tore up one of his struts.  There was a village 3 miles away and they came down with snow mobiles and got the passengers and then towed the plane back to the village.  Ken then had to travel 110 miles by snow mobile to get parts.  That was just one way.  The temperatures were 30 below.  Next, he had to go back through the freezing cold.  When George talked to him, all he said about the ordeal was, "it was damn cold."  Apparently he was working on the plane in this cold trying to get it flight ready.  This is where the story gets a little vague.  George is a gold miner...not a good historian.  He said Ken had to take the snow mobile to McGrath, where he lives, and then somehow his wife got involved in the mission.  These guys are true Alaskan's.  Next they both went by snow mobile back to where the plane was.  I can't imagine going anywhere in -30 degree weather.  This wasn't a little jaunt to the post office or store.  This was 110 miles.  If George and I lived in Alaska, I guarantee we would be playing rock, paper, scissors, just to give me a 50/50 chance of not getting out in the cold. This all took place in early February.  It's now the end of April and Ken is down in Anchorage right.  Thank God, Ken is a very meticulous pilot.  He apparently found shavings and is in Anchorage getting his plane torn apart and rebuilt.  We don't know if the heavy equipment is going to make it in to the site this year or not.  It is the end of April and I think the window is almost over to sled the equipment in...soooo....once again, I will have to keep you posted.  I posted an old video of their take off from Moore Creek on their 2nd trip for your viewing pleasure.  You can see what a good pilot Ken is and how rough it is in Alaska. 

The Gold Miners are Stirring

Oh my gosh!  Oh my gosh again!  Guess what the miners have planned now?  I don't have all the details (because these guys don't have them either).  But George said he got a call from Dave today and they discussed going to Alaska in April and sledding some heavy equipment in to their site.  I'm still in shock.  My first thought: I have a lot of planning to do.  I want him to retire with all his fingers and toes.  If I don't do an intervention, he'll show up with everything he thinks he'll need in his carry on and say, "It'll be fine...We'll be fine.  From prospectors to miners to mountain men and don't forget the bear whisperers; and now mushers? 

At least the bears will be hibernating.  Their pilot seems to think April will be a good month to bring in the heavy equipment to their site to help with their gold mining.   Over the snow...the deep...over the tree top...snow.  Their pilot Ken, remember, has ran the Iditarod 13 times so I'm sure this is a cake walk for him.  One thing for sure is Dave will keep Ken and George laughing all the way.  So stay toned because the Adventure in on.   I put this video in because everyone has been asking for more video.

Hibernating Mama Bear

You have to check out this video.  This is a Canadian comedian, Rick Mercer, doing a show on tagging bears.  It's hilarious and very touching at the same time.  This gives you an idea of what George's partner, Dave, is like.  They make a very good team. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJRDpTUIrJI