he logistics required to optimize mine production and meet targeted deadlines are substantial and require external support across several sectors. From providing equipment to managing water, mining projects have specific needs often fulfilled by experts and specialists. There are numerous companies available to meet the needs of Alaska mining projects, from setting up field camps to providing equipment, supplies, and transportation. With so many moving parts to manage—in addition to the challenges of transporting supplies to extremely remote locations in a timely manner—mines often rely on third-party logistics managers to coordinate these needs.

Located in Fairbanks, Horst Expediting and Remote Operations (H.E.R.O.) was founded for the purpose of managing those moving parts. Company founder Josh Horst believed there was a void in the camp services industry and launched H.E.R.O. with the goal of providing affordable and personalized services to projects in Northern Alaska.

“I worked at a remote project in the Brooks Range in 2006 and 2007, and I loved it,” says Horst. “The location was beautiful and rich with wildlife, the work was physical and adventurous, and the mining history in the area was fascinating. As my duties evolved into being the person responsible for the camp and ordering supplies to be flown in from Fairbanks, I realized there was more demand than there was supply for a company in Fairbanks to support camps like the one I was working at, so I decided to start a business and become that service.”

The camps H.E.R.O. builds are relatively small and short-term compared to other companies and other industries. “Our camps typically accommodate fewer than twenty-five people for one to three months,” explains Horst. Smaller camps typically come with smaller budgets and shorter timelines to prepare the camps.

With these projects, H.E.R.O. is tasked with creating a safe and comfortable temporary home for workers that collectively overcomes several limitations brought by the following:

• The type, size, and schedule of transport services available to that location;
• The ground, vegetation, and access to water at the preferred camp pad;
• The size and fuel type necessary for power and heat generation;
• What is allowable under the permitting authorities; and
• Requirements for safe and responsible handling of waste.

“Of course, this is Alaska, so we need to plan for the prevailing weather conditions and wildlife concerns,” says Horst. “Every day in our short summer season feels precious, so efficiency and long workdays are the norm.”

H.E.R.O.’s routine work consists of receiving lists of supplies needed at a particular camp, locating vendors who have those supplies in stock, purchasing those supplies and boxing them for shipment, and delivering them to the charter service responsible for flying the supplies to the camp.

However, “Routine gives way to problem solving when the supplies that are needed are not stocked in Fairbanks and are needed on site right away,” says Horst. “Many of our clients use specialized equipment that require parts to be rushed into Fairbanks from vendors in the Lower 48 or outside of the United States. We work very hard to streamline these shipping processes to make sure the parts are received in Fairbanks as quickly as possible and then loaded onto a flight to the camp with as little delay in Fairbanks as possible. As these items often don’t maximize the payload of the chartered aircraft, we simultaneously work to determine what additional items (food, fluids, lumber, et cetera) might be needed at the camp so we can add those items to the load and give the client the most benefit possible for the cost of the aircraft charter.”

On occasion, camps may not be situated on a runway. “In those instances, the logistics sometimes necessitate packaging materials so that they are prepared to be lifted by helicopter off our trucks and trailers,” explains Horst. “We work with our clients to determine a safe and efficient location to meet their helicopter, and we will go there at a designated time to send supplies to the camp via sling load. We may also send materials to a remote community by charter aircraft and then sling those materials to a nearby camp by helicopter.”

Mine operators have fewer worries when support contractors tackle problems on their behalf. Horst says, “The uniqueness of each individual job and the logistics challenges that come with them are a big part of what makes this work so much fun.”

There’s no question the mining projects across Alaska present unparalleled challenges when it comes to managing logistics and overcoming extreme weather obstacles. “The projects with the most complicated and restrictive access always give us a special sense of satisfaction,” says Horst. “Those are often smaller camps or claim staking jobs where we are intimately involved in the project and there is great camaraderie and personal connection with the client.”

The success of companies managing logistics for mining projects relies heavily on developing and sustaining relationships with suppliers. Networking is key to accomplishing all the services H.E.R.O. offers, whether setting up field camps, sourcing and procuring supplies, managing and consolidating freight, overseeing charter flights, maximizing flight payloads, or supporting contractors in the field.

“We’ve built some useful tools, mostly spreadsheets, which are shared with the clients in the field, which help us track orders, personnel, and flights,” shares Horst. “The most significant thing we’ve done though is hire great people and build collaborative relationships with the people who work at the transportation services and vendors we rely on.”

The work required to conquer these issues yields a sense of pride within the companies working together to manage everything. Horst says, “We’re all in it together, we truly believe that, and when all of us do our jobs the best we can, we overcome some impressive obstacles on behalf of our clients.”