Wow, I'm going to the Arctic. After a whirlwind of emails and interviews, I never thought I'd actually be going to the Bering Sea on the USCG Icebreaker, Healy. Yet before I set sail, I've got a trip to Fairbanks for orientation. Nothing could really prepare me for the trip. All I could think was it is going to be cold. Still with the cold, it has been some serious learning and excitement as dreams are coming true for all of us gathered here to be the PolarTREC class of 2007.
So real dreams of if your body core is losing heat, than you might be in the first stages of hypothermia. As Tuck from Learn to Return, continued his survival seminar with us, those dreams began to turn into second guesses for many of us. Could that really happen crossed my mind as images from many of Tuck's slides stuck in my head. Still I should have no worries. I'll have the Coast guards and anyway it's only the International Polar Year, no real pressure.
After a hard day of becoming educated on awareness and to be prepared for anything out on the expedition, all of us teachers were treated to a wonderful dinner at Gambardella's Pasta Bella. It was a real celebration of the accomplishments of each of the chosen teachers and the crew that made it all possible from ARCUS. I enjoyed a delicious Chicken Parmesan and even a great dessert of snickers pie. The night was young and I couldn't wait to go to the Ice Park.
The Ice Park was a great treat for all of us. I was amazed by the amount of International ice sculpture entries. Going into the park was so surreal, with the captivating sculptures of ice and how just a little light could truly change the experience. The artistry that was displayed was breathtaking but then again some of that could have simply been the coldness. I was already using my survival skills as I went along admiring the art made from ice and so trying not to let my fingers feel like ice by moving my arms as Tuck had instructed us earlier in the day. Still I fought with getting my gloves off to capture a few of the sculptures on film to only find that trying not to shake was my next hardship to getting a good picture. I got it!! Here's a few that made a real impression on me.
Chambered nautilus carved from ice at the Ice Park in Fairbanks, AK
A chambered nautilus carved entirely from ice at the Ice Park in
Fairbanks, AK.
Ice Henge located at the Ice park in Fairbanks, AK
Ice Henge located at the Ice Park in Fairbanks, AK.