north of 60 Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 On November 2, 2017 at 3:42 PM, AKwelder said: Update. We have had a successful surgery and have gotten back to Mom and Dads. Thank you all for you thoughts, prayers, and wishes. So glad to hear it went well. Enjoy your time down south .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKwelder Posted November 27, 2017 Author Share Posted November 27, 2017 Whew. I have been slacking. We had a good thanksgiving and worked on a few chores today. We dragged the sleds out and my oldest boy got to drive the big horse packing the trails for the dogs he was oding great We also hung the Christmas lights, and since we are down to less than 5 hours of daylight we even got a nice shot of them everything tirned out great and on a side side note, we had a flying squirrel on the feeder the other night. I have never seen one this far north. The pictures didn't turn out well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poor farmer/logger Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 Looks great. Still not enough snow to really get out and go here. Put about 40 miles on the sled last week but it's blown around alot since and settled quite a bit too. Waiting for snow now again. Woking on both sleds right now though so that's ok too. Going through my Nytro pretty thoroughly, hoping to do a big ride this winter around 300 miles north of here. Hoping to do a week trip maybe more. If all goes well it should be a good ride. Some places are very remote though so I don't want any breakdowns if I can help it. Been trying to get set up for luggage and extra fuel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKwelder Posted November 27, 2017 Author Share Posted November 27, 2017 Thanks. We have a good base, a little over a foot on the ground but it is settling. We finally got a good cold spell so we have safe ice. I was fiddling with the sleds, our two primary sleds are ok but really need to get two or three tanks of fuel burned thru them, my back up sled has a dead battery and I am not in a hurry to fix it until after the new year. Your trip rip sounds like fun, my kind of fun to. Hope everything works out with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKwelder Posted December 5, 2017 Author Share Posted December 5, 2017 Last trip of the season, I hope. Flew to Prudhoe Bay this morning. Weather was not ideal as you can see from the drive out to the pump station Not the worst but no fun, and it was just before 2 in the afternoon We caught up with the crew that is getting things cleared so we can drive down the pipeline and get to work. They rented a snow blower i think it is a Volvo 180 loader pushing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKwelder Posted December 7, 2017 Author Share Posted December 7, 2017 Well we had a heck of a time, the equipment had some issues, and the weather sure wasn't helping. We got the repair done but we're busting drifts getting out, somfor our final deal today we took a snow cat instead of blowing open a 8 mile road. It's been fairly warm, right around zero, but windy, 10 mph to 25 mph winds then an on my way to the airport they had the quad tracks at one of the spreads lined up so I grabbed a photo The same company has another 11 in another yard a mile or two across the field. They must like them, and they all have winches on the back sitting in the airport parking lot waiting for check in, so I can go home, weather is suppose to take a big turn for the worse tonight. I will fly 1200 miles one way and never leave the state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMiller Posted December 10, 2017 Share Posted December 10, 2017 Man that's a lot of money in Quadtracs sitting there! How do they go about starting them after sitting a while? I wouldn't think the grid heater/glow plugs would be enough to pop them off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKwelder Posted December 10, 2017 Author Share Posted December 10, 2017 They start things just like I do but with a bigger heater, they throw a old parachute over the top, then use a heater. We have trailer mounted heaters that have a Kubota gen set for power and are rated at 600k BTU,s (or more). They run a trunk under the parachute and let her cook for a couple hours, they fire right up. I have seen them use 4 or 5 heaters when they are trying to get things thawed out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKwelder Posted December 14, 2017 Author Share Posted December 14, 2017 It’s hard to see but this cracked me up, look close three different collage window stickers, and the the fuel cap/door were left open. I know it’s an honest mistake, but I find it humorous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKwelder Posted December 16, 2017 Author Share Posted December 16, 2017 Well red power strikes again, I have traveled to Florida to get my tan for Christmas, and had a wonderful chance to meet a fellow red power member and his family. We flew into Orlando Thursday and we traveled a bit and met SMiller and his wonderful family. Had a great home cooked diner and enjoyed a wonderful night. The kids had great fun and we even got to see some farming the next morning before we headed south. Now I should have gotten some pictures but we are hoping to see the farmall museum on the return leg so I will do better then. thank you SMiller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mader656 Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 22 minutes ago, AKwelder said: Well red power strikes again, I have traveled to Florida to get my tan for Christmas, and had a wonderful chance to meet a fellow red power member and his family. We flew into Orlando Thursday and we traveled a bit and met SMiller and his wonderful family. Had a great home cooked diner and enjoyed a wonderful night. The kids had great fun and we even got to see some farming the next morning before we headed south. Now I should have gotten some pictures but we are hoping to see the farmall museum on the return leg so I will do better then. thank you SMiller Enjoy the sunlight and warmth... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKwelder Posted December 22, 2017 Author Share Posted December 22, 2017 On 12/16/2017 at 6:29 PM, mader656 said: Enjoy the sunlight and warmth... Indeed solstice is here, now we start gaining daylight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mader656 Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 36 minutes ago, AKwelder said: Indeed solstice is here, now we start gaining daylight. I'm solar power in very well aware the length of the day.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delta Dirt Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Intriguing and educational solstice map Welder----thanks for posting. DD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12_Guy Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Interesting map, thanks for posting. It reminded me just how big your home state is, to go from almost 8 hours to 0 up North. Enjoy Flori-duh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKwelder Posted December 22, 2017 Author Share Posted December 22, 2017 Thanks one and all, and we sure are enjoying the weather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Englander Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Depressing to be sure. 9 hours flat in southern NH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKwelder Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 11 hours ago, New Englander said: Depressing to be sure. 9 hours flat in southern NH. It is better in the summer, much better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Englander Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 5 hours ago, AKwelder said: It is better in the summer, much better Yeah but confusing too. We tech-stop and crew change in Anchorage for Far-East trips and in June it's a good thing the hotel has heavy blackout drapes or there'd be no sleep. Iceland also has some long days in summer, about the same as Fairbanks, but we hardly stop there anymore. We sometimes use Helsinki for Middle East runs and that's about the same latitude as Anchorage. I can see how you can like the long days in the summer but this time of year when the sun just peaks over the trees for a bit wouldn't be for me, not to mention the cold. Speaking of Iceland: I stopped there many times but never got out of Reykjavik so a couple of years ago my wife and I did a self-drive vacation there. It's one of my favorites to date. Beautiful waterfalls, glaciers, and other sights, no crowds, nice people, good seafood, and a fun town in Reykjavik to start and finish in. We may do the same in Alaska and are looking for advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKwelder Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 2 hours ago, New Englander said: Yeah but confusing too. We tech-stop and crew change in Anchorage for Far-East trips and in June it's a good thing the hotel has heavy blackout drapes or there'd be no sleep. Iceland also has some long days in summer, about the same as Fairbanks, but we hardly stop there anymore. We sometimes use Helsinki for Middle East runs and that's about the same latitude as Anchorage. I can see how you can like the long days in the summer but this time of year when the sun just peaks over the trees for a bit wouldn't be for me, not to mention the cold. Speaking of Iceland: I stopped there many times but never got out of Reykjavik so a couple of years ago my wife and I did a self-drive vacation there. It's one of my favorites to date. Beautiful waterfalls, glaciers, and other sights, no crowds, nice people, good seafood, and a fun town in Reykjavik to start and finish in. We may do the same in Alaska and are looking for advice. We tell people there are three ways to see Alaska. First is what some people like, get with one of the tour groups. These are great, they bus you and put you on a train, and all kinds of things. The sky's the limit but it's not for everyone. Second is what I would recommend for most, rent an RV in Anchorage, travel north thru Denali and into fairbanks (and look me up) then travel into Valdez, then thru anchorage and down the Kenzie and back to anchorage for a flight home. Rooms are not very cheap and being able to eat some meals in saves a ton. The third way is to come visit someone, most of this ends up with you moving here Things to to see in Alaska Denali National Park, talkeetna, and north of fairbanks. go on the bus tour into the park, you may not see the mountain but normally the wildlife is great. There are lots of air tours, and they land on glaciers and cater to everyone's tastes, wallet, and time frame Fairbanks, the river boat discovery, gold dredge number 8, UAF museum of the north, Fort Knox gold mine, and you can take tours north North of Fairbanks. The haul road winds its way north, for 400 miles. It is not a road to take lightly but there are tours to coldfoot north of the Arctic circle and all the way to Deadhorse, I am not sure if you are allowed to see the Arctic Ocean anymore. You can also daytrip out of fairbanks to the Arctic circle. Cooper center and Glenallen. Great places with fishing, sights, and lots of Alaska. Valdez. End of the pipeline, glacier cruises, mountains, and fishing then there is the Anchoage and the Kenai peninsula . This is the typical Alaska you see on tv, lots of bears and wildlife, coastal living, fishing, tours, glaciers, its all cramed in here. And RV friendly. If you can do nothing else do this, you can get almost all of it but it's a bit crowded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poor farmer/logger Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Good to see you're out soaking up the sun. We got out for a our first real snowmobile ride today. Drove about 60 miles as the crow flies north of here. Was a foot to two feet of snow. Even some nice powder in places to play in. Temps were a balmy -15F lol.. Was no real wind aside from what we made riding. No one got to terribly cold. I was actually quite comfortable for most of the day. Odd time on a longer high speed run I could start to feel it in my thumb or my chin. Put on of those hot pockets on my thumb on the throttle side. Was nice and toasty after that lol. Managed to put on about 90 miles. Would've liked to get a few more on but we stopped at couple of warm up shacks along the way and visited for a little bit so that burnt up some of our daylight hours. Some of the group were starting to get low on fuel anyways and there was none to be had close by so we pretty well had to start making our way back anyways. Picture of one of the older warm up shacks we stoped at. Merry Christmas and enjoy the warm weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKwelder Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share Posted December 24, 2017 Merry Christmas farmer/logger, glad you got a good run in. we are still tanking up on vitamin d here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Flyer Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Reminds me of days gone by when I used to fly Twin Otters and Turbine Beavers on the north slope trying to land in blowing snow. APF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKwelder Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share Posted December 24, 2017 6 hours ago, Red Flyer said: Reminds me of days gone by when I used to fly Twin Otters and Turbine Beavers on the north slope trying to land in blowing snow. APF I just try to not puke in the back. You pilots........wow when were you flying on the slope? And who for? Merry Christmas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Flyer Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 On 12/24/2017 at 4:01 PM, AKwelder said: I just try to not puke in the back. You pilots........wow when were you flying on the slope? And who for? Merry Christmas I started flying in Bethel 40 yrs ago (1978) when I was 20 yrs old. The ink was still wet on my tickets when Sea Airmotive needed someone to keep the Twin Otters co-pilots seat warm as well as be the loadmaster and fueler. January 1980 I was based in Umiat flying supplies (food ,fuel and dynamite) out to cat trains as they moved across the frozen tundra. Next year 1981 I was flying the Turbine Beaver on wheel skis doing off airport landings on the tundra and Bearing Sea ice. When I turned 23 I did my ATP check ride in the Twin Otter and became a captain on it. Besides Umiat we flew out of Barrow, Deadhorse and Barter Island. Sea Airmotive was also known as SEAIR. Logged over 5000 hrs in the State of Alaska before my airline career. APF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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