Most of the buildings at Summit Station can be seen in this panoramic.
Here at Summit Station, Sunday is a "day off" for the residents. There are still lots of jobs that need to be done, but everyone is encouraged to take off as much as possible. They definitely deserve the time off since most of them work a 60-70 hour week from Monday through Saturday.
So, what do you do on a day off in the middle of the Greenland ice sheet? Well, believe it or not, there are lots of choices. Most people slept in a bit and enjoyed a leisurely morning. Then, there were various activities that people were doing. Some of the activities included going for a bike ride (fat wheeled bike for the snow), cross country skiing, watching movies, and just relaxing and spending time socializing. It really seemed to help everyone recharge a bit.
Being a day off, Sunday is also a good day for people to do laundry and take showers. Due to the water and power restrictions, the general rule up here is one load of laundry per week and two showers per week. To many, two showers per week might seem kind of gross, but it really isn't that bad. There is essentially no dirt up here and it isn't often that you sweat.
Virtual 5K
Coming up to this altitude, I was interested to see whether or not my body would be able to handle running (or, more accurately, jogging). I went last week and didn't do too well. I completed about 2 miles, but had to walk a bit. I'm guessing that it was mainly due to the lack of oxygen.
Before I left, I signed up for a virtual 5K that was raising money for the Denali National Park. I figured it would be a good challenge for me up here. So, today, I completed the 5K out on the skiway. It was slow (about 30 minutes), but I actually went the whole 3.1 miles without having to walk.
It amazes me how well the human body adapts. In the human body, the red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the cells. This oxygen is what powers the cells through a process called cellular respiration. As you spend more time in a low oxygen environment, your body produces more red blood cells so that it can move the lower amount of oxygen more efficiently around your body. Isn't biology amazing?!
PolarTREC teacher Steve Kirsche after running at Summit Station (10,500 feet, 8 degrees Fahrenheit).
Polar Profile
Name: Nate Bourassa
Job Title: Heavy Equipment Mechanic
Nate Bourassa works as a heavy equipment mechanic at Summit Station.
Home: Asheville, North Carolina
Length of Time Working in Polar Regions: Nate has been working in the polar regions since 2010. He has worked in both the Arctic and the Antarctic
Length of Current Assignment to Summit Station: Nate has been at Summit for 3 month on his current assignment. He will be here for 6 months total.
Job Description: Nate's job is to repair and maintain any equipment that breaks.
Favorite Part of Working at Summit Station: Nate says that his favorite part of working at Summit Station is the fact that it requires such a high level of ingenuity to work here. He often has to find ways to repair equipment with what he has here, not what he really needs or wants to repair it.
Hardest Part of Working at Summit Station: Nate says the hardest part of working here is being away from his wife and family.
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