MNoutdoors RIP
Gone But Not Forgotten
Would kind of be nice to see where and what all of us do and or have done in the case of the retired or semi-retired people out there to see how and if there are similar backgrounds.
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What Do you all do for living or retirement, other than snowcats
- Thread starter MNoutdoors RIP
- Start date
MNoutdoors RIP
Gone But Not Forgotten
O.K. I'll start semi retired Mechanical engineer, worked in the industries for years designing automated process equipmnet. and did many turn-key projects from the ground to the plant running. some of which would require 1-2 years to complete. decided some years back that it was time to stay put.
did not want to travel away and work out of town so much. had always worked with Tracked machines since about the mid 80's and started designing repacement parts for machines that where no longer available and now supply some the original parts to the company's that first built them.
also worked in the oil and gas boom in the 70's as a high pressure pipe welder.
Brad
did not want to travel away and work out of town so much. had always worked with Tracked machines since about the mid 80's and started designing repacement parts for machines that where no longer available and now supply some the original parts to the company's that first built them.
also worked in the oil and gas boom in the 70's as a high pressure pipe welder.
Brad
NorthernRedneck
Well-known member
When I'm not out running the trail groomer in the wintertime, I work in a hardwood plywood mill on one of a plywood veneer dryer(first picture-not ours but very similar) along with two other workers. I also operate a veneer patching machine(small bottom right picture) which is on the same line as the top left picture(not me in the picture but I work there too)
On occassion, I also strap the loads of plywood once they are ready for shipment. (this takes place right behind the lliftruck in the middle picture) The bottom left picture is of one of the spreader crews assembling the plywood veneer ..........afterwhich the plywood goes into a press then gets trimmed, puttied, sanded, then graded before being strapped to go out the door.
When I'm not working or operating the groomer, I spend most of my time with my wife and two young kids doing outdoor-type things such as camping, snowmobiling, fishing, tubing, hunting etc.....
On occassion, I also strap the loads of plywood once they are ready for shipment. (this takes place right behind the lliftruck in the middle picture) The bottom left picture is of one of the spreader crews assembling the plywood veneer ..........afterwhich the plywood goes into a press then gets trimmed, puttied, sanded, then graded before being strapped to go out the door.
When I'm not working or operating the groomer, I spend most of my time with my wife and two young kids doing outdoor-type things such as camping, snowmobiling, fishing, tubing, hunting etc.....
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fogtender
Now a Published Author
Well did a bunch of stuff in my youth, but mostly as a heavy duty equipment/marine Mechanic over the years. Retired from a Federal Civil Service Coal Fired power plant after getting a knee blown out at work and the operation didn't repair it enough to run up and down seven flights of stairs every hour fast enough to respond to an emergency.
So now I have gone back to doing overseeing of HazMat cleanups and working as the Chief Engineer for the same company when their ships break down, I fix/oversee fixing them. Needless to say, I don't do retirement very well...
Started working ships/boats 12 and then at 16 I was on river barges as an oiler running the West Coast Rivers in Alaska. Went into the Coast Guard at 18 as an Engineman which later they changed the name to Machinery Tech. when they combined Engineman, Machinist Mate and Boilerman rates together. Last CG Duty station was inspecting Tankers and doing Federal Enforcement of Environmental Regulations and overseeing HazMat Cleanup, in Valdez Alaska when the Pipeline was first finished.
Did a stint as a Police Officer when I got out of the Coast Guard, but the pay was very poor, not much better than in the CG. Liked the work, but had a family to raise. Did long haul trucking for a number of years and trained almost 12,000 Alaskans for the CDL tests in the early 90's for the Alaska Trucking Assn.
Anyway, that is a short version.... If you get bored, you can go to my website at www.fogtender.com on the EXXON Valdez spill and here are some photos for the Slendang Ayu oil spill that was out in the Aleutian Islands where it broke in half.
Oh, for you hard core "Anti" oil buffs, take a look at the one photo where the cleaning crews are on the beach, see the green grass growing where everything else is brown still... That is where the oil from the ship washed up on the beach... Oil is 100% biodegradable and the grass was growing three times faster with the new fertilizer on it...
So now I have gone back to doing overseeing of HazMat cleanups and working as the Chief Engineer for the same company when their ships break down, I fix/oversee fixing them. Needless to say, I don't do retirement very well...
Started working ships/boats 12 and then at 16 I was on river barges as an oiler running the West Coast Rivers in Alaska. Went into the Coast Guard at 18 as an Engineman which later they changed the name to Machinery Tech. when they combined Engineman, Machinist Mate and Boilerman rates together. Last CG Duty station was inspecting Tankers and doing Federal Enforcement of Environmental Regulations and overseeing HazMat Cleanup, in Valdez Alaska when the Pipeline was first finished.
Did a stint as a Police Officer when I got out of the Coast Guard, but the pay was very poor, not much better than in the CG. Liked the work, but had a family to raise. Did long haul trucking for a number of years and trained almost 12,000 Alaskans for the CDL tests in the early 90's for the Alaska Trucking Assn.
Anyway, that is a short version.... If you get bored, you can go to my website at www.fogtender.com on the EXXON Valdez spill and here are some photos for the Slendang Ayu oil spill that was out in the Aleutian Islands where it broke in half.
Oh, for you hard core "Anti" oil buffs, take a look at the one photo where the cleaning crews are on the beach, see the green grass growing where everything else is brown still... That is where the oil from the ship washed up on the beach... Oil is 100% biodegradable and the grass was growing three times faster with the new fertilizer on it...
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Selendang Ayu after breaking in half.jpg -
Stern section of the Slendang Ayu.jpg -
Selendang Ayu after breaking apart.JPG -
Me at Scan Bay.JPG -
Grass is growing up through the oil and soybean mix with no problems.jpg -
Notice the green band of grass, that is where the oil is at from the Selendang Ayu oil spill.jpg
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socal4t12
Member
im 35,,,still working. im a fire crew captain for cal-fire. during the summer we chase all the major fires up and down the state. during the winter we do alot of project work in the local forest and for other sponsors. we also get alot of time off in the winter,,,,thus a snowcat will get more use that a boat. i do alot of timber work for our department and run a log mill here at our fire camp. for the last 2 summers my crew has amassed over 1750 hours on fires alone each year.
i started getting into the cat scene about 5 years ago,,,,and purchased my thiokol about 3 years ago. its going to be a project,,,but its coming apart nicely. im sure with all the help here,,,it will go back nicely as well. i found the forum and all in it. im tying to register all the old thiokol 600/4t series cats that are still out there. if you find any, own one, or know someone that does, please post it here in the history section,,,,youll see the trheads.
i started getting into the cat scene about 5 years ago,,,,and purchased my thiokol about 3 years ago. its going to be a project,,,but its coming apart nicely. im sure with all the help here,,,it will go back nicely as well. i found the forum and all in it. im tying to register all the old thiokol 600/4t series cats that are still out there. if you find any, own one, or know someone that does, please post it here in the history section,,,,youll see the trheads.
BigAl
Gone But Not Forgotten
Boy ! That is a good question ! What do I do when I am not playing with and restoring snowcats ???
I retired out of Construction after a accident that busted me up pretty good . I went on to own quite a few different companies and finally officially retired and sold them all at 47 years old on doctors orders . I still dabble a little in Commercial Properties throughout the U.S. but for the most part I just fiddle fart around
.
I been restoring Snow cats for a few years as a hobby , but that will be coming to a end very soon . I am currently restoring my Kristi #113 KT3 and then will do my Snow Trac #344 ST4 . No more after that . I am burned out .
I guess I mostly bounce between Idaho , Panama and California . The summers will find me at the ranch in Idaho trying to get it back in shape after years of neglect . Fall usually finds me hunting for 1 or 2 months ,chasing Elk and deer around the place , Though I think I am about done hunting anymore .I watch the Elk calve and grow up on the ranch and its not really hunting anymore . My wife has most of the Cow Elk named in the herd . I am finding I get more enjoyment just relaxing with a drink and watching them each evening from the deck
. I let the younger fellas chase them now 
.
My Dad is in California and very ill so I come down quite often to help out and care for him . California is my least favorite place and I will sell my home here when Pop passes .
From now on winters will find me in Panama on a island in the Caribbean relaxing , working with and teaching the local Indians and staying involved with our school children charity that my wife and I set up many years ago .This is what we enjoy the most and are considering making the jump to live there full time .
I retired out of Construction after a accident that busted me up pretty good . I went on to own quite a few different companies and finally officially retired and sold them all at 47 years old on doctors orders . I still dabble a little in Commercial Properties throughout the U.S. but for the most part I just fiddle fart around
.I been restoring Snow cats for a few years as a hobby , but that will be coming to a end very soon . I am currently restoring my Kristi #113 KT3 and then will do my Snow Trac #344 ST4 . No more after that . I am burned out .
I guess I mostly bounce between Idaho , Panama and California . The summers will find me at the ranch in Idaho trying to get it back in shape after years of neglect . Fall usually finds me hunting for 1 or 2 months ,chasing Elk and deer around the place , Though I think I am about done hunting anymore .I watch the Elk calve and grow up on the ranch and its not really hunting anymore . My wife has most of the Cow Elk named in the herd . I am finding I get more enjoyment just relaxing with a drink and watching them each evening from the deck
. I let the younger fellas chase them now . My Dad is in California and very ill so I come down quite often to help out and care for him . California is my least favorite place and I will sell my home here when Pop passes .
From now on winters will find me in Panama on a island in the Caribbean relaxing , working with and teaching the local Indians and staying involved with our school children charity that my wife and I set up many years ago .This is what we enjoy the most and are considering making the jump to live there full time .
NorthernRedneck
Well-known member
I been restoring Snow cats for a few years as a hobby , but that will be coming to a end very soon . I am currently restoring my Kristi #113 KT3 and then will do my Snow Trac #344 ST4 . No more after that . I am burned out .
[
See everyone........he's SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST!
sorry.......couldn't resist that one!
MNoutdoors RIP
Gone But Not Forgotten
Pretty intresting stuff we have all done........ still waiting to here from some ...... like Mtntopper,Mainer...... come on guys...... 
Briarpatch
Member
Briarpatch here and I am still working! I have been in Healthcare for the last 20 years working as the Safety and Envionmental Health Director. I have spent the last 9 years at a major level 1 trauma center here in Denver, but before moving to Colorado from Wyoming, I worked for BLM as a Wildland Firefighter for about 5 years, and covered a lot of states fighting fires (Montana, Happy Camp California, Boise Idaho), and prior to that I worked in open pit uranium mine as Safety Director until the Three mile Island incident put the Uranium industry in a tail spin.
I hope to retire in about 10 years.
I hope to retire in about 10 years.
P
Pigtails
Guest
Well, You're probably not going to hear what Mt did. I went from Car hopping, hehe, to waitress, to night club cook, to motel maid, to grocery store mgr, to owning our own wholesale to retail business. What a trip. Now we play in the snow. It's been a good life. Wouldn't trade it for the world. Still waiting to see whats around the next corner.. hehe. The next 20 years.
P
Pigtails
Guest
Pretty intresting stuff we have all done........ still waiting to here from some ...... like Mtntopper,Mainer...... come on guys......
AND GALS........
P
Pigtails
Guest
Boogie, see if I buy anymore duck tape...
MNoutdoors RIP
Gone But Not Forgotten
Sorry gals........... Pigtails,Pirate girl, Pixie and the rest that have to start with a pee
suppose I better not say more or I may be Duct taped.
pixie
Well-known member
Dishwasher to head cook but hated being indoors.
Started as a laborer for a commercial building construction company. There was no work in the winter so I groomed at local alpine ski areas or made snow when there wasn't any.
Worked mostly as a carpenter traveling alot, working on everything from prisons to fancy retail stores. Worked on wooden boats for a while. Got sick of being away and now do framing, siding and plumbing helper for local friends when they need help. Until a few years ago, I still ran groomers part time.
I always worked hard at living cheap which is handy when you have a snowcat ( or old truck ) monkey
Started as a laborer for a commercial building construction company. There was no work in the winter so I groomed at local alpine ski areas or made snow when there wasn't any.
Worked mostly as a carpenter traveling alot, working on everything from prisons to fancy retail stores. Worked on wooden boats for a while. Got sick of being away and now do framing, siding and plumbing helper for local friends when they need help. Until a few years ago, I still ran groomers part time.
I always worked hard at living cheap which is handy when you have a snowcat ( or old truck ) monkey
alaska120
Mayor McCheese
Now? Unfortunately (or fortunately) for the last 10 years an elected official. Before that I worked Civil Service as a firefighter, drove over the road trucks for two years in northern Alaska, worked some construction jobs and before that I was a military firefighter for 9 years.
My better half is a freight manager for Crowley Maritime barge lines in the summer and a bum in the winter. No boats in the winter as the rivers are all froze up...
My better half is a freight manager for Crowley Maritime barge lines in the summer and a bum in the winter. No boats in the winter as the rivers are all froze up...
Briarpatch
Member
Alaska120, What branch of service were you in as I firefighter??? I was also a military firefighter (Crash, Fire & Rescue) in the Air Force. I was stationed in Lubbock Texas all four years. Where were you stationed?????
Briarpatch
Briarpatch
alaska120
Mayor McCheese
Well, I was also USAF.
Ejumakated at Chanute, AFB
Shipped to Abiline, TX (home of the B-1B)
Spent three tours in '90 and '91 in the sandbox
Shipped to King Salmon, AK (a choice assignment!)
Shipped to Eielson, AK
They wanted me to go to N. Carolina and I said no so without a new tour in AK I bailed. Drove trucks for a few years then civil servie FF at Clear, AFS in AK. Broke my back (blew three discs) and got into politics.
Ejumakated at Chanute, AFB
Shipped to Abiline, TX (home of the B-1B)
Spent three tours in '90 and '91 in the sandbox
Shipped to King Salmon, AK (a choice assignment!)
Shipped to Eielson, AK
They wanted me to go to N. Carolina and I said no so without a new tour in AK I bailed. Drove trucks for a few years then civil servie FF at Clear, AFS in AK. Broke my back (blew three discs) and got into politics.
Briarpatch
Member
Alaska120, What year were you at Chanute?? I went through the school and P-4 school in 1976. Reese AFB is where I ended up. They had T-37's and T-38's. I understand that Chanute is closed as well as Reese.
Briarpatch
Briarpatch
mtntopper
Back On Track
I have had a lot of fun in life and it just seems to get better the longer it lasts...
IH Implement/Truck Dealership: Worked in shop and parts department while attending college. Great boss and fun job.
Major Line Auto dealership: Parts Department Manger. A real learning experience of how to manage others. 5 years
Large Surface Coal Mine: Supervised all purchasing and warehousing. This job still provides me with great dreams. 6 years
Off Highway Equipment Distributorship: Sold heavy equipment and services to the mining industry such as Fiat Allis, Allison Transmissions, Kim Hotstart preheating and Euclid trucks. 1 year
Kim Hotstart Manufacturing, Manager of sales and tech support to the major industrial engine OEMs, product distributors, and other product development for the industrial equipment and engine markets around the world. 15 years
GE: I contracted to General Electric to get feedback from the surface mining industry as to their unique position and how to gain a larger market share in the mining industry. They paid me well to consult and never used what I brought them. The only real dead end job that I really disliked as it was a waste of my talents and time.
Business Startup and Business Owner: Wholesale to retail that we started for Pigtails and I to just enjoy and intended to be a mom and pop type business. The mom and pop disappeared quickly as we grew to 22+ employees in a couple years. It was a great time for us and we still miss the excitement of our small/big business. Because of a major auto type accident and health problems that I encountered for a couple years we sold it to the employees and retired for a couple years.
Snow cat operator, grooming snowmobile trails running a PB270NG and a PB300W. I did this for something to keep me busy and got hooked on snow cats. 2 years
We now dabble in snow cats, snow machines, industrial/commercial real estate properties, mountain properties and the development of these to maximize our investments. I will probably never really retire totally until the good lord calls. Life is dull without something happening either good or bad.
I guess we are up to date. Who knows what adventure we will take a liking to tomorrow and off we will go again chasing our dreams that intrigue and interest us again.
IH Implement/Truck Dealership: Worked in shop and parts department while attending college. Great boss and fun job.
Major Line Auto dealership: Parts Department Manger. A real learning experience of how to manage others. 5 years
Large Surface Coal Mine: Supervised all purchasing and warehousing. This job still provides me with great dreams. 6 years
Off Highway Equipment Distributorship: Sold heavy equipment and services to the mining industry such as Fiat Allis, Allison Transmissions, Kim Hotstart preheating and Euclid trucks. 1 year
Kim Hotstart Manufacturing, Manager of sales and tech support to the major industrial engine OEMs, product distributors, and other product development for the industrial equipment and engine markets around the world. 15 years
GE: I contracted to General Electric to get feedback from the surface mining industry as to their unique position and how to gain a larger market share in the mining industry. They paid me well to consult and never used what I brought them. The only real dead end job that I really disliked as it was a waste of my talents and time.
Business Startup and Business Owner: Wholesale to retail that we started for Pigtails and I to just enjoy and intended to be a mom and pop type business. The mom and pop disappeared quickly as we grew to 22+ employees in a couple years. It was a great time for us and we still miss the excitement of our small/big business. Because of a major auto type accident and health problems that I encountered for a couple years we sold it to the employees and retired for a couple years.
Snow cat operator, grooming snowmobile trails running a PB270NG and a PB300W. I did this for something to keep me busy and got hooked on snow cats. 2 years
We now dabble in snow cats, snow machines, industrial/commercial real estate properties, mountain properties and the development of these to maximize our investments. I will probably never really retire totally until the good lord calls. Life is dull without something happening either good or bad.
I guess we are up to date. Who knows what adventure we will take a liking to tomorrow and off we will go again chasing our dreams that intrigue and interest us again.
mtntopper
Back On Track
Now Boggie, are you not sorry you asked? You can clearly see now that DB and I are two separate people with nothing in common.
You may want to check out PBinWA as he does act strangely at times and lives close to the actual site.
MNoutdoors RIP
Gone But Not Forgotten
Now Boggie, are you not sorry you asked? You can clearly see now that DB and I are two separate people with nothing in common.
You may want to check out PBinWA as he does act strangely at times and lives close to the actual site.
No, there are many similarities you both hang out in the Mountains, and from time to time spend a little of that cash you have buried under the rock or was the stump,
Damm, have to start digging come spring. that brings me to my theory see you dabble in snow cats because the ground freezes and in the fall when you and Pigtails claim you are out driving around " Hunting" yes you are hunting for all the spots you hide your money. Then after you find some off it you can not rebury it close to home so you invest it in snow cats till spring then you sell one or two cats and take that bundle and bury it closer to home then come the next fall you start the cycle all over again. Ever Jumped out of a Airplane?
Now Boggie, are you not sorry you asked? You can clearly see now that DB and I are two separate people with nothing in common.
You may want to check out PBinWA as he does act strangely at times and lives close to the actual site.
Hey, watch it there Grandpa! My mom says I was ornery when I was small but I wasn't ornery enough to hijack a plane at the innocent age of three!
I'm only semi-retired at the moment! I figure by the time I turn 40 this year I'll start admitting to it!
MNoutdoors RIP
Gone But Not Forgotten
Well, I think when I fully retire I'm going devote my time to harassing MTNTOPPER full time.
Snowtrac Nome
member formerly known as dds
Im retired army national guard did 3 avtive duty tours in korea and 1 in oif i also worked as a civil service tec for the AKNG and resighned when i retired i now work as a fleet manager for a local fuel company worked on snow tracs and bombies as a kid at alexander lake lodge than my dad bought 1 out of a pipeline surplus auction we replaced the broke vareator shaft amd put a 15k price tag on it i thik to make my mom happy we never got to play with it sold 2 weeks later ive been hooked since than decided after i remarried and took on 3more children and the new wife that snowmachines were going to be labor intensive and expencive so i started looking for a snow trac thre are plenty of dead ones around while researching parts and info found your site just a wonderful source of info now that my trac is running we are looking frward to beating back cabin feaver this winter we will be traveling all over the seward penensula in the winter and dredging for gold on the weekends this summer
NorthernRedneck
Well-known member
Well, after re-reading this older thread, I'll give an update on my status. I'm no longer a mill worker since the mill shutdown last January. I now work in child welfare working with foster children and their foster parents.
I'm also a happily married father of two young boys. I've been operating snowcats since 1991 for the local snowmobile club along with doing regular trail maintenance including brushing, signing, mapping etc. I first operated a bombi with a smaller drag for a couple years till we upgraded to a Tucker 2000. We ran that one till we got our first Lamtrac in 1999. In 2005, another operator was running the Lamtrac grooming trail about 30 km's away when it broke through a creek. The insurance decided against repairing the machine so we found a newer one for sale in Michigan for a very good price. We bought it and it's been good to us so far aside from some track issues 2 yrs ago.
I'm also a happily married father of two young boys. I've been operating snowcats since 1991 for the local snowmobile club along with doing regular trail maintenance including brushing, signing, mapping etc. I first operated a bombi with a smaller drag for a couple years till we upgraded to a Tucker 2000. We ran that one till we got our first Lamtrac in 1999. In 2005, another operator was running the Lamtrac grooming trail about 30 km's away when it broke through a creek. The insurance decided against repairing the machine so we found a newer one for sale in Michigan for a very good price. We bought it and it's been good to us so far aside from some track issues 2 yrs ago.
Well, I'm a nurse, I don't own a snowcat.. but I think I could nurse a Kristi member.
Wayyyyyyheyyyyyy!
Wayyyyyyheyyyyyy!
NorthernRedneck
Well-known member
Well, I'm a nurse, I don't own a snowcat.. but I think I could nurse a Kristi member.
Wayyyyyyheyyyyyy!
Yep!!! Them Kristi member's need all the help they can get......
Bobcat
Je Suis Charlie Hebdo
Well, I'm a nurse, I don't own a snowcat.. but I think I could nurse a Kristi member.
Wayyyyyyheyyyyyy!
