June 5, 2008 – Setup Day 2
First things first: While I was writing this journal at 10:30pm, we looked out the window and saw an amazing sight. It was a "halo” with Sun Dogs (see pic description for more info). Barry Lefer and I ran out to get this picture.
![Sun Dog](/files/members/craig-beals/images/craigsundog.jpg "This is the first and last time I will ever be able to say there was a "halo" over my head! This "halo" is called a Sun Dog. It is caused as sunlight passes through ice crystals falling through the sky. Sunlight hits the crystals and it spreads out, much like what causes a rainbow when it rains.")
This is the first and last time I will ever be able to say there was a "halo" over my head! This "halo" is called a Sun Dog. It is caused as sunlight passes through ice crystals falling through the sky. Sunlight hits the crystals and it spreads out, much like what causes a rainbow when it rains.
Sleep was a little more abundant last night. I am optimistic that tonight will be even better! I borrowed a sleeping mask (a beauty mask) from Tony Cummings and I think it is going to change my life (at least the amount of sleep I will get)!
It has been another whirlwind day. We got the "sky cam" installed and operational. It takes a picture of the whole sky once every minute. You can then take the pictures and turn them into a time lapse video of how the sky is changing. Pretty cool if you are a science nerd! I hope to show you some pictures tomorrow in my journal.
Lunch: Had Thanksgiving wraps! A wrap with turkey, stuffing, cranberries and cream cheese all rolled up in one! Crazy huh?! It was GREAT! Also had red lentil soup! It was spicy and tasted like nothing I have ever had before....maybe kind of like gumbo but without the gumbo ;( Hard to explain....anyway it was awesome! Then there was cake. White cake with white icing. It was decorated like summit camp! Would have gotten a picture but it was already mostly eaten by the time I even went looking for cake!
After lunch Craig Clements (a professor from San Jose State in California) and I had "tower climbing training". There is a tower here called the Swiss Tower (named because Swiss scientists built it), it is basically like a radio tower you would see at home but it is for attaching science instruments to. That way you can get readings about the atmosphere from high in the sky. Anyway, Craig and I will be installing temperature sensors on it. The medic, Nick, gave us the proper safety and climbing instructions and in a few days we will be going up!
For dinner we had taco bar, enchiladas, nachos, etc. For dessert, Chipotle Chocolate Caldera Cake with raspberry topping!
Many people have asked me about the sleeping conditions on email. So, here are a couple pictures of my tent. Sorry for the mess inside, I wasn’t expecting visitors!
Stay Warm!!
![My Home](/files/members/craig-beals/images/arcticoven.jpg "This my home for the next 6 weeks. The tents are called "Arctic Ovens" because they have two layers. These two layers are supposed to help keep it warmer than the air outside. No heaters in here!")
This my home for the next 6 weeks. The tents are called "Arctic Ovens" because they have two layers. These two layers are supposed to help keep it warmer than the air outside. No heaters in here!
Home is where the heart is! The is Arctic living at its finest. The floor is plywood and I have two foam mats underneath my sleeping bag. My sleeping bag is rated to -40 degrees but it still gets chilly at night!