MUST TURN BACK

April 3, 2015 1:16

I know you have been waiting for an update and here it is from Barney's wife Misty.
Update: "Talked to Barney, they have had no luck finding a route over or around Crater Mountain. So the plan right now is to back track heading back on their trail and try to meet up with the CAT trail that goes up Lincoln Creek. They want to get there today and leave the Equipment and come home for the weekend. I am currently trying to find someone to meet them there and bring a case of Anti-freeze to dump into the Dozer so they have no issues with it freezing up.  I will keep you all updated soon as I hear from them and find someone to head their way.  If anythng I might just drive it myself!”

As you can see in the picture where they currently are (the blue arrow) and where my Mouse pointer is, is where they are working their way too. 

I am including a picture of Barney’s boss Misty.  She is such a good wife to him.  Thank you. 

 

DOUBLE OH NO!

April 3, 2015  AM:  DOUBLE OH NO!
George just got a call from Dave.  They have to turn around and come back and try to go in another way.  Here's the kicker...they need another man.  Guess who has their hand up begging, "me, me...pick me!"  You got it.  George.  Dave is a Floridian.  We know he would freeze to death so he's out.  I will keep you all posted.  I have to go check this crazy $@%& out. 

April 2 Good night Barney and sleep tight in the wild

Here is Barney's track summary for the day.  They had a rough day as you can see.  7.25 miles in 8 hours.   I can't imagine sleeping in the wild in a tent in the wilderness in 5-25 feet of snow.  I hope to interview him and get some videos for you in the future.  He said he has been taking pictures and I can't wait to post them.  I am putting a picture of how the mushers camp on the Iditarod trail.  Barney has beautiful views in the daytime, but it has to be a long hard night.  My heart goes out to his wife, Misty, who is worried about him also.  I would like to invite everyone reading and keeping up on this historic event to pray for a safe journey.  I would like everyone to just open your door and look at the stars right before you go to bed and say a prayer for a safe journey.  Barney and Richi just might be looking at the same stars.  For being so far apart we could all be praying on the same star. 


Track Summary

Apr 2nd 9:38 PM

Dist Traveled 7.25 mi		Trip Time 08:02:00
Average Speed 1.11 mph		Max. Speed 5.64 mph
		Max. Elevation 2267 ft

Oh no! Oh no! Danger on the trip

April 2, 2015

 

Barney thinks he is about 6 miles from camp but can’t get through all the snow.  He was on a ridge and fell through about 25' of snow.  He got the dozer out and apparently is ok.  The excavator and skid were left behind while the dozer and Barney went ahead and tried to forge a path.  Right now we are all anxiously waiting to see what the next move will be.

Update:

Barney just talked to Dave in Florida.  Thank God for tracking and satellite phones.  They can call out but no one can call in.  We have been watching the tracker for the last hour and we could tell something was going on.  We can tell when he stops and every time he changes directions.  Barney said it is going to take an extra 3 days.  There is so much snow he is going to have to go another way.  He literally said, “so much snow” and he lives in snow country USA!  So, to me, that means it is bad.  He sent Richi, the excavator driver, back on the snow mobile to Takotna for more supplies.  That is about 60 miles folks at 5:30 Alaska time.  Please say your prayers for these guys to get them home safe.  Barney is in the wilds of Alaska in 25’ (yes feet) of snow and who knows what Richi is going through.  These Alaskan's are tough.  And to think George wanted to go.  I will keep you posted. 

 

 

April 2, 2015 Still traveling

You can see where the guys stopped last night.  If you look in the lower left hand corner, you will see Moore Creek.  They are going just 3 miles north of there to drop off the equipment at 4th of July Creek Gold camp.  They have already gone 60.92 miles.  The total trip was just supposed to be 60 miles, but with all the snow and problems they have had to stop and plow and then back track so it's turning into quite an adventure. 

Buzz over

This is an amazing video. Barney and Richi are walking the dozer and excavator. It's been quite a long day for them. Misty said they had to buzz them after they dropped off the goodies. I'm sure this brightened their day.

Walking the Dozer in. Making Gold Mining History

Sunday 2:29 PM March 29, 2015
Barney left Traveled 22.71 miles. Average speed 3.83 mph. Trip time: 10:38 Max elevation: 1254
Met up with excavator guy, Rick. At the last minute, believe it or not, an excavator became available. So now they a walking a dozer and an excavator in. Barney pulled skid from Takotna going North and had to stop off to some chains because the skid was sliding into the dozer when he was going down the hill. They drove till 2 in the morning.

 

Monday March 30, 2015
Traveled 13.07 miles. Average speed 1.67. Trip time 11:49 Max speed 6mph Max elevation 1062
Update: George tells me they have a little pop up tent they will be camping in. Barney has to cross California Creek, Yankee Creek, Independence Creek, Ganes Creek 5 times and Lincoln Creek. They headed out Ophir Road and headwater to Crater Mountain.  Barney has a tracker so we can keep up on the progress. 

 

Tues March 31, 2015
Traveled 14.41 miles. Average speed 2.07 mph. Trip time 8:22. Max speed 8 mph Max elevation: 1743
Here was the morning update from Barney's wife:
"They have found the snow we've been missing all winter. There is so much snow it is tough going. So today they will unhook the skid and doze a path to crater mountain. Then turn back around for the skid. Barney thinks that will take all day so they will camp out another night where they are right now. So if your watchin' the GPS you will know why they turn back around later today!"
The snow is 5’ where Barney is with the dozer. Dave said he got a call from Barney on his satellite phone. Misty and Barney’s father are going to fly over tomorrow and do an air drop of food. This is quite an adventure for sure.
Barney's wife is quite the cook and is making cookies to air drop to Barney along with some fresh bread, pizza, chicken and dumplings. Barney suffers huh? Dave is in Florida tracking the guys and is already trying to con Misty into baking some cookies and air dropping them on their site this summer. Funny funny guy. Sounds like the guys will have a great meal on the trail though. Barney's father is also a pilot and is used to doing air drops to little villages so obviously everyone knows what they are doing.
Here is the actual Post from Misty, “Makin cookies to air drop to Barney tomorrow along with some fresh bread, pizza, chicken and dumplings to name a few lol He has no idea!! Cross your fingers everything survives the fall!”
April 1, 2015 2:00 Today was quite a day. Misty said she talked to Barney he said they were having to take a new route because the hill they had to go over was too steep for pulling the skid. That will set them back a bit. Because of all the work they did yesterday clearing the way for today’s journey. Hopefully they can get around it and meet back to the trail they had opened up. She said the weather was low where they guys were so she didn't think they would be able to air drop their packages this morning but was hoping they could do this afternoon.
April 1, 2015 3:00 Another update from Misty! “Barney and Rich have met back up on their original trail! It was quite a struggle this morning fighting through the snow and snapping the cable pulling the skid! But they have everything worked out and pray it's easy going from here on out!
Also, the weather is getting better, hoping to air drop their goodies around 1:30! After I get one more call to confirm where they are and if the weather is good!”

 Barney's wife, Misty, and his father. 

 Here are the guys in the distance with the dozer and excavator. 

Arial view.  Getting ready for the food drop. 

Here's the goodies. 

Spectacular views.