Why Not Drill Clan Before Late January?

Here, paraphrased, is Dave Webb's explanation:

Exploration drilling costs about $500,000 per month. Add to that about $300,000 per month to use helicopters. But, in winter there's no necessity for choppers when drills can be moved on skidders for about $5,000 per month.

Also choppers need daylight. At Tyhee that means they can only fly in between 10am to 3pm in winter. Whereas a skidder needs frozen ground, lakes and ponds but can work 24 hours per day.

Although it is cold now in YK, the ice is only centimeters thick, so by mid-January until mid to late March, it'll be thick enough to operate the skidders safely.

There you have it.

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