You may be surprised to learn that there are no commercial flights directly from the U.S. to Greenland. Most scientists work with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and their contractor, CH2MHill’sPolar Field Services to make travel arrangements to Greenland on the 109th Air National Guard flights (near Albany, NY). They are the only group that operate the LC-130 planes that can land on the ice sheet runways at Summit and NEEM field stations.
U.S. participants about to board LC-130
Along the way passengers get to peak out the windows and see the glaciers and fjords from the air.
Glacier entering a fjord seen from plane
After a 4am wake-up call and a 6 hour long flight, we arrive in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. Hungry (no food served on these flights), we headed to the new restaurant in town to try the local food: Musk Ox Thai style!
Musk Ox Thai Style
Kangerlussuaq is above the Arctic Circle, so in summer the sun doesn’t set. 24 hours of sunlight can trick you into thinking it’s too early to go to bed. Vince, Taylor, Evan, Jeannie, and Marie had fun exploring the Field School before calling it a day.
Exploring the Field School
Check out their reactions on the Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joint-Science-Education-Project-JSEP/187353734617058