News from Vault Creek

[Flintgreasewood]

I am not historically a very safety oriented person. Being careful is not in my genome [first time I've used that word]. Actually, a better term would be careless. I often assume that my abilities and actions will keep me safe without really thinking through what might be the consequences of a misstep. It could be said that only by the grace of God have I lived so long without any serious injury. Still that is not a good reason to fly in the face of danger. Consequently, as I am developing a new [old] shaft I am working hard at being safety conscious. One of the most important pieces of the plan is my self retracting lifeline that was installed almost immediately even before I began clearing out the old rotted cribbing at the surface. Should I ever fall while working in or above the shaft, the lifeline will arrest the fall within one foot. And the line will extend the full depth of the shaft. The plan is to wear the harness and lifeline as I work on removing the ice that fills the shaft. When I have worked my way through the ice and have an open shaft the lifeline will be attached to the elevator.
Since my last post I have completed [just today] the upper crib walls. The "collar" is 8' high by 6' square and rests upon old but still solid crib logs. I have removed just about all the debris and frozen muck that lay on top of the ice. There remains a few chunks of old cribbing, some heavy dimensional lumber, steam pipes and several lengths of mine rail [how they are sitting on top of the ice is a puzzlement] to deal with before I'll have clear ice. The hoist is working great and soon it will be run by the 8K Lister diesel generator.
A couple of weeks ago I decided it was time to try to haul the Lister from Cobb shaft to my present location. I needed to do that with the Skandic snow machine and the sled. Reverse was not working on the Skandic so I couldn't drive up to the generator in the untracked deep snow. So I dragged the tow behind sled from the packed trail and positioned it under the generator which was suspended by a come along from a large log tripod. It fit perfectly in the sled. Using my chainsaw winch I was able to tow the sled from tree to tree about 300' to the trail where I attached it to the Skandic. Unfortunately, there was no way it could budge the sled on even a slight uphill. I thought I might have a chance once I was on the downhill but I had to employ the winch for another 100' or so. I was beginning to think I might have to winch the thing the entire mile and a half to it's new home. I put off my efforts as Walter was waiting for me to assist him in putting chains on the road grader. When we finished he asked if I wanted him to retrieve the generator with the 345 excavator. He didn't have to twist my arm. As he drove I sat next to the cab and directed him up the valley to where the generator sat. I chained generator and sled both to the bucket and off we went back down stream, clearing trees with the Lister swinging wildly at times. At the new shaft Walter had to do some slick maneuvering to avoid all the gin pole cables but he's an expert operator was able finally to set the Lister squarely on the pallet I had placed by the hoist shack. Perfect!! Then he saw the big rubble pile I had going and said it looked like I'd run out of room soon to dump on it. So he tore into it and handily transferred the entire pile including a 25 or 30 yards of barren gravel to a different spot out of the way of my operation. Sweet!
So that's where I am today. Still going off into the hinterland working alone and far from the dreaded virus. Now if it would only decide to really be spring. Till next time.

[Jim_Alaska]

Great explanation Kurt. I could picture what you were explaining perfectly. It is very frustrating trying to move something heavy in deep snow, but there is always a way huh?

[Joe S (AK)]

TIM Taylor had the answer to that one ........

MORE POWER!

Good to see you -----

Improvise, Adapt and Overcome!

Joe

[Geowizard]

Kurt,

Glad to hear you are being safety conscious!

- Geowizard

[Flintgreasewood]

Not a lot of news to share from Vault Creek, but I didn't want anyone to think something dire had befallen me.
Progress is being made on several fronts, the most visible being the completion of the cribbing walls. The shaft decking is nearly complete which enables me to work on the hoist if necessary in a safe manner. Three double pole, double throw knife switches have been installed that allow me to quickly change control of the hoist from up top to down in the shaft. Of course the purpose of all these peripheral efforts is to open the old shaft [that doesn't even look like an old shaft any longer] so that work has begun. However, a curious dilemma has surfaced. Initially the ends of two lengths of narrow gauge rail protruded above the frozen muck and ice. Every few inches of ice removed revealed more sections of rail all cut to approximately 6 feet and laid in an interlocking manner making them very difficult to be removed. So far nine lengths have been found creating a true headache. I've determined not to attempt to salvage the rail but will cut them as needed for easy removal. Speculation is that the rail was placed purposely to discourage claim jumpers from reopening a capped shaft. That would also indicate mining operations out of that shaft were likely incomplete.
The last bucket of ice and muck hoisted and dumped proved too much for the 100 year old 1" cable that was part of the dead man anchor. Having been buried for all those years just below the surface where seasonal rain and melting snow could penetrate, the stout cable rusted through and sent the bucket crashing to the ground. I am thanking God that the failure didn't take place while the bucket was still in the confines of the shaft. I do have a very heavy plank behind which I can stand while the bucket raises, but I don't relish having a 400 lb load dumped on my shield. I now have a temporary anchor making use of two large trees and three lengths of log chain. When the surface ground thaws this summer I'll redo the dead man right and proper.
I've been experiencing hoist cable foul up due to the fact that there is too much wire rope on the spool. I was planning on adding additional height to the spool flanges until it occurred to me that I have a very large spool from a different hoist that I could make work in place of the smaller one, still using the motor and speed reducer. That's my next project after I finish welding on the 345 excavator bucket. Gee, gold mining sure is fun.

[Geowizard]

Kurt,

The double-pole, double throw knife switch is a good idea! A simple solution.

- Geowizard

[Flintgreasewood]

The hoist motors I'm using are 6 wire, 110v, single phase, reversible. They are controlled by motor reversing drum switches and to switch between the below ground and surface operation, three of the knife switches are required

[Geowizard]

Kurt,

That's what I would like to discuss; the motor wiring! I know this issue has been a challenge.

Could you please elaborate more on the motor wiring?

- Geowizard

[Jim_Alaska]

Thanks for the updates Kurt, I appreciate them. makes me wish I were still in Fairbanks so I could just jump in the truck and go see what you do in person. Perhaps even give a hand.

[Joe S (AK)]

Kurt,

Here are my cyber hands to give you some much needed cyber help, too.

Long drive also from here in Idaho, what with the border being closed and such.

Take care - and all the best!

Joe