4 June 2008 Setup Day 1

June 4, 2008 – Setup Day 1

Sleep was all but non-existent last night.  It was -17 F when I got in my sleeping bag and the wind was making the tent crackle and creek like an eerie haunted house.  It is so bright in the tent that it looks like someone turned on sun tanning lamps inside and there is no way to shut them off.  I cinched my -40 degree sleeping bag up tight and pulled my stocking hat down over my eyes.  I checked my watch at 5:15am and finally fell asleep a few minutes later!  I slept until 9:00 and found it to be the most enjoyable 4 hours of sleep I have ever had!

The sun is up 24 hours a day in the summer at Summit Camp. The tents (Arctic Ovens) are yellow and glow brightly 24 hours a day. It forces me to sing, "I wear my sunglasses at night…(you know the rest!).

I arose to a beautiful day atop the ice sheet.  The sun was shining (as always!) and there was only a slight breeze.  Throughout the day I tried to find some way to compare this weather to something back home in Montana and the best I could think of was ICE FISHING!  We are working in various plywood huts with their distinct wet wood smell and every time you exit you must put on every piece of clothing you own…just like ice fishing.  All we are lacking here to turn this into a true ice fishing experience is…well…water and fish!

We have been working feverishly today to get the scientific equipment set up so we can start taking measurements.  If you follow the journals, I will describe the experiments in detail, for now, I will just give the basics.  We installed an antenna that will allow us to launch large weather balloons (tied to a long rope) and the sensors on the balloon will be able to send weather info to our laptops.  We also calibrated and installed a sensor that looks at the various colors contained in sunlight to determine how much light and Ultraviolet radiation (the stuff that gives you sunburns) is making it to the surface of the snow.

Me (left) and Craig Clements (right) fight off the frigid temps to install a light sensor atop the Bally Building

There has been much concern about the bathroom "facilities” by the folks back home.  "Where do you go to the bathroom?” is a constant question.  Fortunately we have some amazing outhouses that provide us with an "ideal” spot to go potty.  There happens to be a flush toilet in the Big House but using it comes with some stipulations.  The sign reads, "If it is yellow let it mellow; if it is brown flush it down”!

Tent City, where all the sleeping tents are located, has two wonderfully crafted outhouses.

Stay Warm!!