how emerging technologies will sup - port responsible mining in Alaska in the next 50 years. What do you see as our biggest chal- lenges? And opportunities? Our main opportunity is Alaska … Mother Nature has gifted us natural resources. Resources that are needed and benefit us as a society. Our big - gest challenge is one in the same… its Alaska. Large vast land with huge potential, but limited infrastructure. Limitations on transportation, stable/ cost effective power, communication (internet) and that’s just Fairbanks from this winter! All joking aside, we all know our challenges. They have been discussed many times. I do be - lieve there is a solution out there that will benefit all Alaskans. Its open dis - cussions with the industry, with our communities and working out what are the best solutions for these chal - lenges on all levels. What keeps you awake at night? Several things always weigh on my mind when trying to sleep. First and foremost, it is always the safety of our crews. My mind is always spinning thinking of the drillers drilling re - motely, the multi helicopters operat - ing simultaneously, or the geo crews working remotely in pairs. I have never been able to leave until I knew we had everyone out of the field and completed the night shift change over. However, I do take ease knowing we have executed the proper risk man - agement procedures, trained our crews right, and have the right supervisors to execute. However, my mind then drifts to the geology … and it is always the uncertainty in our profession that keeps me up later. Every time I think we have done our work; we start to understand what is going on geologi - cally … Mother Nature throws a curve ball, and your drilling was not what you expect, or the ore in the heading just died early. It is always more com - plex than you thought. I have had to learn through the years that “tactical patience” is needed and that you only fully understand an ore deposit … once you have mined it all out! And with that thought I finally get to sleep. What attracted you to join the Alaska Miners Association? And what does AMA mean to you? I joined AMA moving back to Alas - ka when I started with Pogo. My first convention was a Fairbanks spring
Photo Courtesy Dave Larimer
Dave is a proud combat veteran who first came to Alaska on active duty.
convention. I loved hearing the tech - nical talks, understanding what is go - ing on around me, and what the in - dustry had planned. Getting to know all the vendors that turn into your contractors in the future. As the years go on, I appreciate getting together in the Fall state convention, still love hearing what is going on, and catch - ing up with peers and acquaintances lying to each other on our great re - sults…because we all know we results are “still pending”! What do you do for fun? I do love the Alaska outdoors. However, my perception of fun in the Alaskan outdoors has changed over the
years. Vanessa, our dogs (Charlie and Kevin) love camping, but we pull our RV trailer. Backpacking or tent camp - ing … nope…too much like the Army days. Hiking … we will pass … too much like work and spent too many years as an Infantryman walking up and down mountains … were busting out the ATV. Dip netting … YES! But I am not risking my life scrambling up and down the cliffs of the Copper River … we are getting charter! Hobby wise, I do enjoy home dis - tillation. We have so far made sever - al batches of “jet fuel” and contin - ue to refine our techniques to have some whiskey to share in the coming months.
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Summer 2022
The Alaska Miner
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