Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

(background photo from interwebs 4-desinger)

News from Antarctica

Over the past few weeks Drew has sent us updates from the ice, here are a few of the highlights that I want to share.

~
November 20, 2016

Heya!

Last time I flew down on a C17 just like this time. Later in the summer, the snow surface can't take the weight of a C17 so they use the C130s. I didn't get to fly on the LC130s (the modified ones with skis) since they're usually used for the flights between McMurdo and South Pole. I saw one on the ice when we landed this time though, pretty cool!

So far the training is boring "death by powerpoint" reiterating standard fire and waste management safety. Coming up is vehicle training and field camp and outdoor safety training which is much more interesting. Unfortunately, it's all done inside though; we do it in a lame loading bay.

We did sign up for Thanksgiving on Saturday so we get to look forward to that! Say hi to everyone for me.

~
November 21, 2016

Heya!

We've got some weather down here for sure, high winds and snow since yesterday afternoon. The breakdown is in three ranks: Condition 3 is normal weather (low wind, high visibility, not too cold); Condition 2 is shitty weather and out of town travel is restricted (high wind, poor visibility, pretty cold); Condition 1 is the worst (think blizzard in Barrow) and even travel between buildings in town is not permitted. We had condition 2 in town earlier yesterday and condition 1 out at the airfield on the ice for a while. I hope it clears up in time for us to drive out to our site without any trouble. Good thing I'm pretty familiar with the cold and the dangers therein!

Most of the training we have left is more practical things. The snowmachine training was a joke for us and the instructor knew it. He said something like, "You probably all own seven snowmachines each!" He actually let us go after he said his minimum required speech. In a little bit we have the Mattrack (lifted F350 on tracks) and Pisten Bulley walkaround which is always a good refresher. The last training is an outdoor recreation safety lecture that's required to do any recreation out of town, including access to the observation tube. They sink a manhole-sized acrylic tube down below the sea ice and you can climb down and gawk at all the weird life. We missed our opportunity for this last year, so we plan to go right after the required training today. Should be cool!

~
November 22, 2016

We got to go out to the site with most our gear today. It's prettier out there than I remember! I noticed a black dot out on the horizon on the trail out there and investigated with my long lens. Out on the ice shelf was a very lost seal that was either dead or really sleepy. We'll see if he still slumbers tomorrow morning; reminds me of that sleepy squirrel we saw in Germany.

Anyways, hope you're having a great day!

~
November 29, 2016

Camp setup is long done and work is well underway. We've stopped for lunch today after raising the last equipment vault up to the surface. Now we need to calibrate the sensors, do some upgrades, tidy up the miles of power cables, prepare to move BOB; still lots to do.

I haven't put many pictures up lately since I've been taken a bunch of timelapses. I've had some neat ideas for those I'm trying out so we'll see.

Lunch today is a choice between ravioli who's "best by/freeze by" date was seven years ago or canned chili mixed with boxed Mac and cheese. Yesterday I had brown rice and half a can of salmon covered in hot sauce: yum!

Hope you have a more creative lunch than me.

~
December 6, 2016

Mornin!

We had a snow day here yesterday too, snow blowing sideways from (seemingly) all directions at once. I didn't bring my boots to my tent for the night and had to trudge through shin-deep snow to get to the kitchen because the path had been filled in. We didn't do much yesterday but set some calibrated sensors back out and pull another pair for calibration. Then I drank hot chocolate! We have it so difficult out here...

I don't know why all the old food and I've never worked up the courage to ask. Maybe they get a good deal on it? I think 2002 is still the oldest package we've eaten.

Anyway, I better get back to breakfast. Love you!

~

Love you too son!  See you at Christmas!

If you want to check out his photos on Flicker follow this web link click HERE!

Trumbo

Trumbo ~ movies worth watching.

In 1947, Dalton Trumbo (Academy Award Nominee Bryan Cranston) was Hollywood’s top screenwriter until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs. TRUMBO (directed by Jay Roach) recounts how Dalton used words and wit to win two Academy Awards and expose the absurdity and injustice of the blacklist, which entangled everyone from gossip columnist Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren) to John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Otto Preminger. The film also stars Diane Lane, John Goodman, Louis C.K., Elle Fanning, and Michael Stuhlbarg.

Light-O-Sphere

If I was asked to choose between light and dark, the choice would seem obvious! Any light is better than no light, and even when winters light rides low on the horizon it fills me with joy. 

May the coming week bring you happiness, and remember to spread joy to the world!

Earthquake ~ 3.6

High Five Friday for Thankfulness

High five Friday for a thankful Thanksgiving filled with fun memories with Mom.  Anchor-town does have more possible daylight than Fairbanks, which make winter walks very enjoyable.

Get out and catch some rays wherever you are on this big ol' planet!

Diversion Needed

“Human kind,” TS Eliot famously wrote, “cannot bear very much reality”. In times of stress, our survival and sanity depend upon diversion and on our ability to keep our eyes focused on the ball that rolls before us, not the drama unfolding in the darkening sky behind. *

* Look closer: What a background can reveal by Kelly Grovier

I find myself in need of a diversion from the sky behind me. But where should I look?  What direction other than the Eye of Mordor should catch my gaze?  Any suggestions?

Treasured Gifts

Fragile is this life, and long is the trail that leads to the ocean. Walk gingerly my friends and cherish each day. These gifts only endure a short while.

To my family and friends around the globe, I am thankful for each of you as you are all treasured gifts in my life.

All I Want for Christmas...

All I want for Christmas is my own island. Oh wait there is one!

Mist Island: island, 0.1 mi. across, in Port Snettisham, 0.5 mi. SE of mouth of Mist Creek and 30 mi. SE of Juneau, Coast Mts.; 57"59'- 20" N, 133"50'40" W name published in 1895 by USC&GS.

What do you want for Christmas?

Immortality

Photo by A. Winkelman - taken at Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador

"If you care about your reproductive legacy, the secret of immortality is to stay put and outlive your neighbours, then plant your seed in their place." She is speaking, of course, about the Great Basin Bristlecone Pine.

Ageing - the long and short of it by Caroline Wood.

But whether or not we can artificially extend our lifespans, Daniel Munro offers some personal philosophy: "We are already a very long-lived species and should not seek what we don't have."

High Five Friday for Home Towns

High five Friday for home towns filled with people that you love who love you back! Have an awesome weekend!

Poka-yoke

Poka-yoke is a Japanese term which means mistake proofing. To avoid (yokeru) inadvertent errors (poka).

Somedays I sure wish I could poka-yoke my life but life is messy, more days than I wish to admit to. Humans make mistakes, and there is no one setting, rule or device that we can own that will prevent those mistakes in life that we all make.

My hope for us all is that each mistake can be a learning tool, and that they are easily recoverable from. 

 Poka-yoke on my friends.

This Holiday Season Remember to...

This holiday season remember to gift durably, wisely, and keep in mind the 'buy it once' school of thought.

Happy upcoming holidays to each of you, and may it be one where we each spend our time and money on more love and memories than we do stuff.  Oh... and good food!

Winter Sunsets

First this... 

... then this...

... oh wow... look at it now...

... to this beautiful view.  

Winter does provide some fabulous sunsets.

My hope for you today is a glorious sunset that ends a great day.

A Creek a Mountain & an Igloo

A creek... Carlo Creek area just south of Denali National Park.

Look familiar?

A mountain... Denali making its own weather.

An igloo... The Igloo, a gas stop and lodging from days gone by, now it is just an iconic landmark marking what feels like the halfway point between Fairbanks and Anchor-town.

Summer, winter, spring or fall, it is always a good drive with an ever changing view out the window.  

Healy & Lunch at the Totem Inn

Healy, just north of Denali Park is a quiet place in the winter months but there is always a gas station open, and a few places to get a bite to eat. The Totem Inn is a no frills cafe that serves up a good reuben sandwich.

Snowy Drive North of Healy

This stretch of road was recently upgraded to a four lane, which is very helpful when a big rig wants to travel faster than you do.  Once we reached Healy the skies cleared and the traveling was easier.