This morning our crew met for breakfast and final planning. Every detail needs to be taken care of, since tomorrow we leave for Coldfoot and will no longer have access to internet, cell reception, or all but the simplest of stores.
The plane's weight limit of 1200lbs is our biggest hurdle. The added weight of everything we bring must be under 1200lbs. Our body weight will account for about half the limit, our personal belongings ~200lbs, and most of the remaining will be food. Fortunately, the May field crew from NAU gave us a complete inventory of food in the cabin, so we could save weight and skip some things like peanut butter, rice and toilet paper. Much of our day was spent grocery shopping. We tried to shop light, but planned for variety to keep us full and happy. Produce is heavy, so had to be limited. For example, if we each ate an apple a day, we'd need to bring over 20lbs of apples! Fruits and vegetables will be treats to supplement beans, pasta, rice, and lots of trail mix. We bought powdered milk and soups and stayed away from anything in glass jars. We won't have refrigeration, but the cool arctic summer means that we can still bring cheese (phew).
After food shopping, we headed to a gear store to pick up a few last minute things, then returned to our rooms to take care of our own things. At dinner, Anna Liljedahl, a Co-PI on the project from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, joined us to talk about the project and her current research. We made plans to depart by 6:45am tomorrow, starting early so we have a better chance of catching good weather and flying tomorrow afternoon. Tonight I will finish packing, make phone calls to say goodbyes, and take my last shower for three weeks.
Ellie Broadman, Chris Benson, Rebecca Harris, and Darrell Kaufman before leaving for their expedition. (Credit: Anna Liljedahl)
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