We have finally arrived! After 12 days of travel and waiting, we have finally arrived at Lake El'gygytgyn. This morning we woke to clear and calm weather... perfect weather for a helicopter flight. (No, not April Fools!) We hauled all of our gear out to the airport, waited for the paperwork and proper clearance, then loaded the helicopter.
Loading the chopper at Pevek airport.
Julie, Addie, and Christina on board the Helicopter
T-Mart with Northern
We flew across Pevek Bay, then miles and miles of tundra en route to Bilibino. In Bilibino we picked up the drill bits and other necessary equipment that were needed for drilling at the lake.
Typical landscape view on the flight from Bilibino to the lake.
Newton and the Bengal in the cockpit of the helicopter.
Julie brought along a detailed topographic map of the region and we were able to follow the course of our flight. After about an hour and a half, we knew were getting close and smiles were shared all around when we looked out the windows for our first view of the Lake El'gygytgyn. Since the weather was favorable, we asked the pilot to fly out over the lake and circle the drilling platform before dropping us down at camp.
Our first view of Lake E
Camp from the air.
We flew over the platform before landing
When we got off the helicopter, we received a warm welcome from almost everyone in camp. New introductions mixed with greetings from long time friends. The three primary scientists, Julie Brigham-Grette, Martin Melles, and Pavel Minuk met briefly to transfer camp leadership. The time was short as the same helicopter that delivered us was the beginning of the flight home for many others.
Hello and good-bye, as our team arrived, others boarded the Helicopter to return to Pevek.
Kristina Brady and Anders Noren from LaCore at the University of Minnesota
As soon as the gear was unloaded, the day shift drilling crew took the new tools directly out to the rig and began work. All of the new arrivals hauled our gear into our assigned baloks (sleeping quarters), took a tour of camp, and ate a late lunch. I traveled with the crew change bus out to the rig for a quick look around and then returned to camp with the day crew
I rode the crew change bus out to the drill site for a quick peek at the drilling operation.
Sunset over the crater rim.