Multi-Generational Miners: Alaska Minerals
better than ever as a company. It also sparked our busiest season on record... and then that record was broken again, year after year. We’ve been grateful for the momentum, but we’re also deeply aware of how lucky we’ve been, especially when so many others were hit so hard during those tough years. This year, though, has felt different. As many in the industry know, 2025 has come with its own set of chal- lenges. A new administration in D.C. is working to roll out major reforms around critical minerals and resource development in Alaska. The intentions may be strong, but government change rarely moves quickly. The result? A no- ticeable slowdown in exploration work across the state. Still, we see this year as a pause— not a stop. All signs point to 2026 being a breakout year, not just for Alaska but for the industry as a whole. We’re bracing for what might be one of the busiest seasons in our company’s history—and we’re excited. But success is a funny thing. At Alaska Minerals, we’ve always believed that if you’re the only one winning, it doesn’t really count. Whether it’s fellow businesses in our industry or the folks on our team, success has to be shared to mean something. That’s a philosophy Michael Jr. brought with him from his days in Hollywood, where he saw far too many executives taking home oversized paychecks while the crew doing the heavy lifting struggled to get by. When he stepped into a leadership role at Alaska Minerals, Michael made it his mission to make sure everyone benefits from the company’s growth. He’s already secured health benefits for full-time employees—something he hopes to build on as a small way to say thanks to the hardworking men and women who’ve helped his dad shape this company into what it is today. That spirit of community extends beyond our staff, too. Mike Sr. has long believed in supporting local, and that’s only grown stronger with time. Whether it’s buying tools from the mom-and-pop hardware store down the road or sourcing food from nearby
working on remote mineral explora- tion projects, Mike noticed a major gap in the industry: no one was offering reliable, soft-sided temporary camps suited to Alaska’s extreme conditions. So in 1985, he decided to do something about it—and Alaska Minerals was born. What started as a niche operation has grown into the state’s go-to pro- vider for remote camp services. Today, Alaska Minerals is still going strong, with Mike leading the way and his son, Michael Jr., stepping into a larger role. Together, they’ve expanded far beyond mineral exploration. The company now supports environmental cleanup projects and remote construc- tion efforts across the state. We’ve also partnered with FEMA as a contingency provider—something we hope never becomes necessary, but we’re ready just in case. More recently, Michael Jr. has found a way to blend Alaska Minerals’ rugged capabilities with his more creative side. With a background that includes a brush with Hollywood, he’s teamed up with a UK-based production company to help outfit a camp for an upcom - ing Discovery Channel series. It’s a surprising twist, but one that reflects the company’s spirit of versatility and adventure. While mineral exploration remains at the heart of what we do, the Alaska Minerals crew is always on the lookout for new challenges. From drill rigs to disaster prep, and now even into film production, we’re proving that inno- vation thrives in the wild—especially when you’ve got the right team behind it. What are your goals for your compa - ny, your clients, and your employees? Are there causes or nonprofits in particular that you support? Over the past five years, Alaska Minerals has seen incredible growth— something we don’t take lightly. While the pandemic forced many companies to close their doors, we were tested and pushed in ways we hadn’t imagined. But in the face of adversity, we grew – rising to meet each obstacle, support- ing one another, and emerging on the other side stronger, more united, and
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These aren’t your average field tents. Alaska Minerals provides turn- key camp solutions that come with all the essentials—and then some. Think fully outfitted office units with Starlink internet and streaming TV, perfect for staying connected even when you're off the grid. And when it comes to food? We don’t mess around. At the heart of every camp is the kitchen—and the cook who runs it. Alaska Minerals outfits their kitchens with commercial-grade equipment and staffs them with seasoned chefs who know how to keep spirits high and stomachs full. Meals are made from scratch using fresh ingredients, deliv- ering that comforting, home-cooked feel—even when you’re 200 miles from the nearest road. Morale matters, and at AkMin camps, it’s built right into the menu. And don’t worry about the cold. Every tent is equipped with ther- mostatically controlled Toyotomi heat- ers that keep things warm and toasty, even when the temperature drops to -40°F. It might be wild out there, but the living? Surprisingly comfortable. Whether you're running an ex- ploration program or supporting a long-term project in the backcountry, Alaska Minerals makes sure your team can focus on the work—because we’ve already handled everything else. And if there’s anyone who knows the ins and outs of Alaska’s rugged mining indus- try, it’s Mike Smith. He’s been in the game since 1973, cutting his teeth with exploration companies like Anaconda, Boyles Brothers, and Layne-Chris- tiansen. His early days were spent as a drilling coordinator, but it wasn’t long before he was handed a much bigger task: designing, building, and running a remote 60-man camp deep in the Alaskan wilderness. That camp, created alongside the late Bill Ellis—one of the founders of Alaska Earth Sciences—is still up and running today by Contango Ore at Johnson Tract, a lasting legacy of Mike’s boots-on-the-ground exper- tise. Back in those early days, while
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The Alaska Miner
Summer 2025
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