4 wheeling on a remote Alaskan island - Page 4

gcvt · 07-03-2016, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arctictraveller

You HAD to bring that up didn't you? In good weather it's a pleasure flying, but yesterday, the last flight was IFR the entire way, kinda nerve wracking when your flying between and below mountain peaks.

I'm sure you'll be fine. A few years back, the FAA set a goal to reduce the number of small plane crashes in Alaska to less than 100 per year. One crash every four days and they meet their goal

REF · 07-04-2016, 07:56 AM

Looks like a great adventure Jeff. I loved finding those salmon berries. Found patches of them over on Saldovia and on the hike up Exit glacier. Can't wait to get back up to AK and explore some more. Have fun and stay safe!

BrianW · 07-04-2016, 08:43 AM

Ok, so you are getting PAID to do all this? Nice.

arctictraveller · 07-04-2016, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianW

Ok, so you are getting PAID to do all this? Nice.

Yup, getting paid to explore and ride the 4wheeler. It's kinda hard to believe, but I'm sure there will be plenty of hard work too, like next Friday when we begin to set up camp for 15 men, starting with a bare patch of ground. No electricity, shelter, water, toilet, absloutely nothing yet. We have to build it all, and DAMN, I want my van! The boss in a tent and me in the van? That's an interesting picture, but it's not happening. The first couple weeks will be interesting.

arctictraveller · 07-17-2016, 10:50 AM

Last week we flew in to start setting up camp and met the barge with a ton of equipment and materials. Some of the rolling stock was landed on a beach about 4 miles from camp and we had to move several trucks, trailers and tanks down a fire road that had not been used in years. First up the road was the slash buster, a machine the bludgens trees and bushes into submission. That opened the road minimally and we started the convoy back to camp. Leading the way was a 1700gallon fuel truck filled with diesel. The first obsticle was a very old log bridge that didn't look too sturdy, but we held our breath and made it across. About two miles further, on a really steep hill, the truck stalled. The diagnosis was a bad fuel pump. Since it was late in the day and blocking the road, the guys wanted to use the slashbuster to pull the truck up the hill for the night, but since it has air brakes and the air had bled off locking the brakes, we were looking at walking back to camp until I remembered we had a new 55 gallon barrel pump in one of the trucks. So in the best McGiver immitation, I rigged up the pump by putting the suction pipe in the fuel tank and cobbleing together some fittings to connect the fuel line to the engine. That got it running, but about another mile down the road, it stalled again, this time due to the suction pipe not reaching the bottom of the tank. We filled the tank to the top from the 1700 gallon tank, but now we were air bound, and the battery gave up before we could bleed all the air out. Of course, the jumper cables were too short, so I took the next truck in line and drove up the side of a rocky hill next to the truck, and with one wheel off the ground, got close enough to hook up the cables. We finally made it back to camp in about 2 hours, and were exhausted. Sadly, it's a dry camp, no beer to celebrate with.

So, now I've had a taste of camp life with no phone, no internet, no cold frosty beverages and NO VAN (yet). I was happy that I had to leave to pick up a boat and that first beer tasted really good. Back to camp in a few days for round 2...........

larrie · 07-17-2016, 12:50 PM

Sounds like fun times ahead. Enjoy.

rallypanam · 07-17-2016, 04:45 PM

This looks awesome.. I almost wish I could come help. But then I snap back to reality.

**BroncoHauler** · 07-17-2016, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arctictraveller

Last week we flew in to start setting up camp and met the barge with a ton of equipment and materials. Some of the rolling stock was landed on a beach about 4 miles from camp and we had to move several trucks, trailers and tanks down a fire road that had not been used in years. First up the road was the slash buster, a machine the bludgens trees and bushes into submission. That opened the road minimally and we started the convoy back to camp. Leading the way was a 1700gallon fuel truck filled with diesel. The first obsticle was a very old log bridge that didn't look too sturdy, but we held our breath and made it across. About two miles further, on a really steep hill, the truck stalled. The diagnosis was a bad fuel pump. Since it was late in the day and blocking the road, the guys wanted to use the slashbuster to pull the truck up the hill for the night, but since it has air brakes and the air had bled off locking the brakes, we were looking at walking back to camp until I remembered we had a new 55 gallon barrel pump in one of the trucks. So in the best McGiver immitation, I rigged up the pump by putting the suction pipe in the fuel tank and cobbleing together some fittings to connect the fuel line to the engine. That got it running, but about another mile down the road, it stalled again, this time due to the suction pipe not reaching the bottom of the tank. We filled the tank to the top from the 1700 gallon tank, but now we were air bound, and the battery gave up before we could bleed all the air out. Of course, the jumper cables were too short, so I took the next truck in line and drove up the side of a rocky hill next to the truck, and with one wheel off the ground, got close enough to hook up the cables. We finally made it back to camp in about 2 hours, and were exhausted. Sadly, it's a dry camp, no beer to celebrate with.

So, now I've had a taste of camp life with no phone, no internet, no cold frosty beverages and NO VAN (yet). I was happy that I had to leave to pick up a boat and that first beer tasted really good. Back to camp in a few days for round 2...........

Damn dude, sounds like you've got the basis for an overly dramatic reality show. Is there a camera crew following you around?

Herb

REF · 07-17-2016, 10:41 PM

Funny you should say that Herb, we were in McCarthy, AK 2 summers ago when they were filming said overly produced dramatic "reality" show "Edge of Alaska".

gcvt · 07-17-2016, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arctictraveller

Sadly, it's a dry camp, no beer to celebrate with.

Good Lord. Musta been hard to see Jack K's 44 bottles of beer pic. I hope you make it man!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

Damn dude, sounds like you've got the basis for an overly dramatic reality show. Is there a camera crew following you around?

I'd watch that. Jeff would be awesome on a reality show. Precious snowflakes would be so offended