Adams Grader Traditional Cache

Stop by the Alaska State Department of Tranportation facility just outside Valdez along the Richardson Highway and inspect the very nicely restored Adams Leaning Wheel Grader.

Instructions for using the grader included leaning the wheels in the direction the dirt was being moved to counteract the side pressure of the dirt on the mold board (the scraper blade). The wheel hubs were to be greased each day. The edge of the mold board was to be kept sharp and when not in use, the mold board was to be greased to prevent rust.

The grader on display in Valdez was rigged to be drawn by a tractor. There is an older model grader by the Western Scraper Company of Illinois on display outside the DOT office in Fairbanks on Peger Road that is rigged to be drawn by horses. (See Pedalpushin's Wheeled Scraper cache.) This University of Wyoming newsletter has a short story and some photographs of other Adams leaning wheel scrapers. If you can provide more information about these scrapers or, even better yet, a photo of this Valdez scraper in action, I'll post them to this cache page.

I started this cache off with an Alaska Mint eagle token and a Red Cross of America lapel pin.

Note on cache maintenance:  Daddy Ladybug travels routinely to Valdez on business, but local cacher Roscoe Pyle has agreed to help with routine cache maintenance in the event of any problems requiring immediate attention.