June 9, 2008 – Skiing to Work
Ate a large breakfast this morning so I would have energy for a 10 km (6.2 mile) Cross Country skiing trip to work on a piece of equipment. One of the researchers, Jochen Stutz (UCLA), is studying gasses that escape out of the snow (it is much more technical than that but he will explain his research in a later journal). He does this by shining a specialized light at reflectors (called Retroreflectors) far in the distance. One of the reflectors wasn’t "reflecting” properly so we formed a team to move it to a new location.
Craig Beals and a team of others set out on a Cross Courntry skiing expedition to fix a piece of equipment 5km from camp.
Craig Clements has been working hard to get temperature sensors built and put up on the Swiss Tower. Today, he strung his cables and sensors up the 50 meter (165 ft) tower. The sensors will show the difference in temperature between air near the ground and air at various levels up to 50 meters. Chris the Medic helped with most of the hard work. I joined them after I returned from the ski trip only to fall asleep at the base of the tower in the snow! It was a beautiful day for a nap on ice!
Craig Clements climbs the Swiss Tower to place temperature sensors at various heights. Notice the moon in the background.
Food update:
Lunch: Leftovers from the past week, a hodgepodge of wonderful food.
Dinner: Garlic and onion pork chops with sweet potatoes, asparagus, and salad. I also tried my first true vegetarian meal (I couldn’t pass it up). It was basically a meat loaf without meat. It was called mushroom loaf with carrots! It was really good. There is always a vegetarian offering at meal time. Often times it looks very good but I have to have my meat proteins to function properly. I must really be a Montana boy! For dessert we had warm apple cobbler! Yum…
It has been 7 days since my last shower. I think it is about time! Maybe tomorrow will be my lucky day!
Stay Warm!!
PS. I have had a few suggestions for a new "closer" but most people thought I should stick with the same old one. So, for now, it will remain...Stay Warm!!