Altec Makes a Special Delivery to Alaska’s North Slope

“Customer First” is one of Altec’s strongest commitments. This is evident in the equipment we build, which provides our customers with the solutions they need to get the job done. Customers are at the forefront of every decision we make to offer the best possible products and services. This commitment was recently exemplified in a unique situation—to an even more unique customer.

After removing the boom, front tires and platform ladder for shipping purposes, a newly purchased AN650 was successfully delivered to the Alaskan North Slope’s most scenic village, Anaktuvuk Pass. With the help of Altec Service team members, Ron Steele and Shawn Hedleston, the 50-foot aerial device made it to the hands of the customer—all in “one piece”.

The Anaktuvuk Pass, a village of about 400 people, is located on a historic caribou migration route. The native Inupiat people, who still comprise 83 percent of the village’s population, nicknamed it “the place of the caribou droppings”. The Anaktuvuk Pass has two general stores, a post office and a small airplane landing strip. The village’s economy is largely based on subsistence farming of Caribou.

When Altec account manager Nick Zevenbergen made the call to Steele and Hedleston to ask for their help in the delivery, they gladly accepted the challenge. When the Borough purchased the AN650 earlier this year, they requested a July delivery deadline. In the Arctic Circle, traveling becomes difficult in late summer/early fall due to thick fog, inconsistent weather patterns and for the Anaktuvuk Pass villagers, the caribou. Between the months of August and September, thousands of caribou make their way through the pass. The small village stops day-to-day activity to hunt the year’s caribou bounty.

“When I originally spoke with Ron to ask for his help in completing the delivery, he suggested taking an extra pair of hands in case there are any setbacks,” says Zevenbergen. “I’m glad he made the recommendation.”

This is the third AN650 the North Slope Borough has purchased this year for overhead distribution work throughout the village. With the first arriving on a barge, the second delivered on a track unit called a rolligon and the third being taken apart and flown in on a cargo plane, each delivery was more unique and challenging than the last.

Steele and Hedleston began their “adventure” in Anchorage at the service bay of Chugach Electric, another Altec customer, who graciously allowed the use of a service bay and some equipment to remove the boom. After measuring the cargo plane dimensions, the group realized they would need to make further alterations before it would fit. To make it work, they had to also remove the platform ladder and the front tires.

Once the group had the truck packed and ready for takeoff, they took a small prop plane the extra 60 miles to Anaktuvuk Pass to await the truck’s arrival. After a two-day weather delay, the cargo plane in Anchorage departed for its final destination—Anaktuvuk Pass.

There are no hotels in the village, so the people were kind enough to lend the travelers a modular home until the cargo plane arrived. Meanwhile, they took in the sights, met some of the locals and ate…Hot Pockets.

“We were warned that the food situation was going to be pretty slim in the village,” says Steele. “Food shipments are very inconsistent due to weather, so they have to price their convenience items really high.”

At the local general store, Steele noted the price on a box of cereal was $7, while the price of one frozen Hot Pocket was $4. Caribou is their bread and butter in Anaktuvuk Pass. They thrive and depend on that food source more than a frozen item shipped in on a cargo plane.

“Thanks to the dedication of the service team, the North Slope Borough received the equipment they need to keep their village connected,” says Zevenbergen.

Altec is committed to providing our services and solutions to the most remote portions of the globe to the bustling big cities of the world. Whatever your location, situation or limitation, Altec does what it takes to ensure communities receive the equipment needed to succeed.