Todd Palin — oil worker, champion snowmobiler, hunter and commercial fisherman — also has been boning up on mining lately in his role as Alaska's first spouse.

The companies that paid for the flights, a normal means of travel to remote and often roadless parts of Alaska, are both in the early stages of a lengthy approval process.

A month after the first visit, Todd Palin toured the Red Dog Mine, a lead and zinc operation in the northwestern part of the state.

That company is currently seeking permission to mine a new deposit, which would extend the life of the mine to 2031.

Your description isn't accurate, Merrie. You forgot to add shadow-governor to his resume.