Ice Roads show on History Channel

[BillyVance 35]

I don't know if this has been posted before but I just watched this show earlier tonight. Those truck drivers hauling loads in northern Canada in the dead of winter across frozen lakes are fucking badasses!!!

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[DeNReN 0]

pfffft.... try hauling a car with bald tires across the parking lot during a snow storm...while the owner is in the waiting area watching a doc on the ice roads in northern Canada......

[eeneR 3]

Yes I am a dork and have been watching it from the start.

My excuse however is my father is a retired diesel mechanic and I grew up crawling around the big rigs. My brother is now one too.

Anyway, yes those guys are freaking nuts!!!!

She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway."
eeneR
TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto

[squirrel 0]

I used to drive the show trucks that travel with Nascar, and other big events, and do some freight driving on the side. Couple of weeks ago I was asked if I wanted to do some ice driving..."sure, if the money is right, and paid upfront" was my response. I figure its a good way to pay off another house.

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?

[kingbunky 3]

i've been watching! pretty cool, but i could do without all the 'dramatic ice cracking sounds' they play every time they show a truck on the ice. running the ice roads was something i always wanted to try during my 'commodity relocation engineer' days, but i never pursued it at the time and i've been off the road for about 12 years now, so i would guess it's unlikely i'll do it now. kinda funny seeing hugh out on the ice and his three drivers sitting in the bar.

"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart."
MB4252 TDS699
killing threads since 2001

[simplyputsi 0]

No disrespect to those guys, but ummmmm me thinks there is possibly a safer, easier way to get done what they are doing. Why have all that risk?

Skymama's #2 stalker -

[millertime24 8]

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No disrespect to those guys, but ummmmm me thinks there is possibly a safer, easier way to get done what they are doing. Why have all that risk?

Exactly. There are aircraft out there capable of hauling MOST of the shit those trucks are hauling.

Muff #5048

[simplyputsi 0]

I think the issue is cost effectiveness (sp), but I still think another way is out there.

Aircraft fuel is pretty spensive, I be interested in seeing the numbers compared.

Other vehicles can go over ice without a problem ya know.

Skymama's #2 stalker -

[millertime24 8]

Another thing you have to look at is the long haul. Didnt they say those mines were worth billions? For a fraction of that I would think you could build a railroad or something. I dont know. Maybe this *is* the cheapest way of doing it. Greedy diomand mining bastards.

Muff #5048

[squirrel 0]

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No disrespect to those guys, but ummmmm me thinks there is possibly a safer, easier way to get done what they are doing. Why have all that risk?

Exactly. There are aircraft out there capable of hauling MOST of the shit those trucks are hauling.

capable yes, cost effective no. if it was more cost effective to move by air, we would be doing just that on all freight. compare air freight charges to ground freight charges...ie fed ex vs. a ground truck

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?

[BillyVance 35]

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No disrespect to those guys, but ummmmm me thinks there is possibly a safer, easier way to get done what they are doing. Why have all that risk?

Exactly. There are aircraft out there capable of hauling MOST of the shit those trucks are hauling.

capable yes, cost effective no. if it was more cost effective to move by air, we would be doing just that on all freight. compare air freight charges to ground freight charges...ie fed ex vs. a ground truck

Plus, would you really want to be flying a plane in -40F conditions???

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[kingbunky 3]

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Another thing you have to look at is the long haul. Didnt they say those mines were worth billions? For a fraction of that I would think you could build a railroad or something. I dont know. Maybe this *is* the cheapest way of doing it. Greedy diomand mining bastards.

i would think that if there was enough land to build a railroad, there would be enough to build a year-round highway. the problem is, there's so many lakes that a railroad (or a highway) would be incredibly expensive to build, not to mention 3 times as long. if there was a cheaper way of doing it, they'd be doing it.

"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart."
MB4252 TDS699
killing threads since 2001

[normiss 900]

and that's ground level!

brrrrrrrrr!!!

[BillyVance 35]

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Another thing you have to look at is the long haul. Didnt they say those mines were worth billions? For a fraction of that I would think you could build a railroad or something. I dont know. Maybe this *is* the cheapest way of doing it. Greedy diomand mining bastards.

i would think that if there was enough land to build a railroad, there would be enough to build a year-round highway. the problem is, there's so many lakes that a railroad (or a highway) would be incredibly expensive to build, not to mention 3 times as long. if there was a cheaper way of doing it, they'd be doing it.

And don't forget that paved roads don't hold up well in -40 to -60F temps in remote country areas. Sure, Alaska cities have paved roads, but they can maintain them within reason. Out in the middle of nowhere, it makes no sense. The ground is going to be frozen several feet deep. Might as well just cut and flatten a channel that gets covered with snow and ice, and call it a road.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[simplyputsi 0]

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if there was a cheaper way of doing it, they'd be doing it.

you keep telling yourself that

one would think that is true. What kind of supplies do they haul? How much does it weigh, frequency.

It could be that is seems to work, and has worked for years so no one looks for alternatives.
Find an alternative and maybe you have something.

Skymama's #2 stalker -

[BillyVance 35]

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if there was a cheaper way of doing it, they'd be doing it.

you keep telling yourself that

one would think that is true. What kind of supplies do they haul? How much does it weigh, frequency.

It could be that is seems to work, and has worked for years so no one looks for alternatives.
Find an alternative and maybe you have something.

Trucking is pretty much the only viable way to get supplies in the winter up there to those godforsaken towns in the middle of nowhere. Besides the job pays so damn good you can make a year's worth of salary in just two months doing ice trucking runs! But damned if I want to do it. Maybe if I was single with no kids and could hear...

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[kingbunky 3]

from what i can see in the show, they're hauling fuel and ammonium nitrate to make explosives (amfo), concrete, heavy equipment, and a lot of construction materials for the new debeers mine that isn't in production yet. some of the loads are approaching 50 tons, so flying them in isn't an option. they could probably use military sized hovercraft in the summer season, but i imagine that would be cost prohibitive as well.

"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart."
MB4252 TDS699
killing threads since 2001

[squirrel 0]

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Besides the job pays so damn good you can make a year's worth of salary in just two months doing ice trucking runs! But damned if I want to do it. Maybe if I was single with no kids and could hear...

thats exactly how i got ahead finacially. i worked on the road for 5 years, away from home 11 months of the year, hell, didnt have a home...stayed out the the strip clubs, bought houses instead. i am married now, and she drove with me for a few years. but we are real home bodies now, been to 48 states...have no real desire to go anywhere, ...um...well maybe back to Belize!

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?

[Andrewwhyte 1]

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Plus, would you really want to be flying a plane in -40F conditions???

I remember working on an ice island in the Arctic a while back. I was living on a barge some ways away. In the morning I would go outside and do busy work until it warmed up above -42C so the helicopter would be able to start.

[eeneR 3]

Here is the website for those who don't know what we are talking about.

She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway."
eeneR
TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto

[sundevil777 102]

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some of the loads are approaching 50 tons, so flying them in isn't an option.

Plenty of planes can carry 50 tons.

When one of the truckers was loading up a really large diameter drum, another guy mentioned that it was too big to bring in by plane. I'm guessing that during the summer, planes take in cargo. In the winter, the trucks.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[masterrig 1]

Helluva show! Really interesting, to say the least. I just don't know how, those drivers can sit in those seats... thay gotta have enormous balls!
I drove trucks for 26-yrs. and never blinked, Driving the ice roads, I'd have to give it a second thought. Those guys are tough.


Chuck

[BillyVance 35]

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Helluva show! Really interesting, to say the least. I just don't know how, those drivers can sit in those seats... thay gotta have enormous ICE balls!
Chuck

Fixed it!

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[Andrewwhyte 1]

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Plenty of planes can carry 50 tons.

When one of the truckers was loading up a really large diameter drum, another guy mentioned that it was too big to bring in by plane. I'm guessing that during the summer, planes take in cargo. In the winter, the trucks.

Sure they do, but most of the cargo goes during winter. Air freight is mostly limited to time sensitive stuff like produce, dairy, personnel and equipment that is needed due to unforeseen events.

[wildblue 7]

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Plenty of planes can carry 50 tons.

When one of the truckers was loading up a really large diameter drum, another guy mentioned that it was too big to bring in by plane. I'm guessing that during the summer, planes take in cargo. In the winter, the trucks.

I'm guessing it's cheaper to do it by trucks than to build/maintain a big enough runway at each mine.

it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality