A Day In the Life...

For those of you who have been wondering what preparations are needed for our big mining adventure, I thought I would update you on the goings-on of the last couple weeks and give you a glimpse into a day in the life of mining preparation.  Dave has managed to squeeze in countless phone calls and write many detailed emails to all involved in the Dempsey Mining business.  He has also single-handedly compiled binder after binder of data sheets and checklists, all of which are to ensure organization and promote a "safety first" attitude.  It has become clear to all of us that awareness and attention to detail are going to be valuable assets in the success of our mine.  MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) can visit us at any time to make sure that we are complying with regulations.  For those mines that are not abiding by rules, hefty fines and even entire shut-downs can be enforced.  Obviously, this is something that Dempsey Mining would like to avoid.

Among other tasks, Dave's sister, Danielle, has the job of MSHA officer for our camp.  Dave has dubbed her "Little General." She will be inspecting mining equipment everyday and making sure that it fulfills safety requirements. If something is not up to snuff, then Little General gets to alert the maintenance team (Dan, Dave, Daniel, Uncle Mike) and they get to diagnose the problem and decide the fate of the trommel, shaker table, or what have you.  But if the equipment looks good, then she gets to check that off on one of Dave's handy-dandy checklists.  God bless Dave's OCD.  He loves lists.  And I love his organization.

Another recent development has been the purchase of our fifth-wheel.  After weeks of searching on Craigslist, Dave sent me a link to the '91 Aluma Lite Free Spirit that was for sale by a family in mid-town Anchorage.  The Aluma Lite was a beauty in it's advertisement but I decided to see if she also represented well in person.  Dave's Aunt Lisa was nice enough to accompany me and serve as my advisor as she has experience in buying and selling campers. I was happy that she did, especially since she knew all of the right questions to ask and pointed out the flaws that my inexperienced eyes tend to overlook.  She asked the seller why he was selling it.  He said that his family outgrew it.  She pointed out the bald tire.  He said he might consider changing it out.  She noticed the hard wood floor and pointed out that it would be much easier than carpet to clean in the muddy Mineral Creek camp.  All of these were things that I hadn't even considered. Thank you Aunt Lisa!

Dylan checks out our home away from home.

After the Free Spirit tour was complete and Lisa and I were able to sneak away for a private pow-wow, she advised me that it was a good deal and to make my offer if I liked it.  I did like it.  So I made my offer, and with my badass negotiating skills, I also had him throw in the sliding hitch for less than the asking price.  The deal was complete and by 7 o'clock that evening, the Free Spirit sat in our driveway.

In other mining news, Dave's parents are the first to complete the MSHA training.  And three days of sitting in class listening to endless safety procedures and watching dry mining videos is no easy task.  It is especially no fun on one's birthday.  Rita, you are a champ for sticking it out.  And happy birthday!  

In the meantime, Dan has also made significant progress on the building of the trommel.  The "beast", as Dave calls it, is something to behold indeed.  It rotates and growls with ease and looks like it was built by a pro.  Well, it was built by a pro.  We don't call him Dr. Dan for nothing.  If I was ever stranded on a desert island, I would want Dr. Dan there, because he would design a life raft out of leaves, bamboo, and the chewing gum in his pocket, and make sure we got home.  Seriously. No exaggeration.  Dan is our own MacGyver and we can't wait to see what other tricks he has up his sleeve this summer!

In the last 24 hours, Dave flew home from the slope, we had a business lunch with the mine claim owner, Daniel and Danielle have bought a camper trailer, Dave has bought a fuel tank, and I have poured myself into a rigorous craigslist search for kitchenware, coffee pots, or anything we might need in our new home-away-from-home, the FreeSpirit.  We have much left to do in the next few weeks:  Make the trip to Glennallen so Dave can help Dan with equipment maintenance, begin hauling equipment to Valdez, and complete MSHA training in Fairbanks on June 5-7th.  These are only a few things from our "to-do" list, but we are all looking forward to getting closer to the actual mining operation.  Can't wait to share it with you all! In the meantime, please stay tuned for more updates and other writings from Jolene Dempsey, AKA Camp Mom and Blogger.