Today we moved to the field station and we travelled by boat. Ten people in one boat and the captain and four people, all our gear and the captain in the other boat. We were very concerned about wrapping our personal computers in plastic bags so they wouldn't get wet. There were a few dry bags available to load up. The weather in Longyearbyen was gorgeous but it became cold as soon as we were out in the water. The sea was quite rough with 3-4 foot swells and white caps. I couldn't take any pictures because everything and everyone was wet. The survival suits served a very good purpose to keep us warm and dry.
The docks at Longyearbyen where we will depart for our field area in Isfjord radio.
The people boat. It looks more like a carnival ride.
The zodiac is attached to the Cargo boat
After we arrived, we unloaded the gear and moved into our houses. The students are staying in one house, the teachers in another house and we eat in yet another house. Isfjord Radio is an important communication center historically but has now been converted to a hotel. The accommodations are very nice and it will be nice to have breakfast and dinner meals prepared.
Docking at Isfjord Radio in Kapp Linne, our field area
Our biggest job, once we were settled, today was to retrieve the zodiac- our small boat that we will use on the lake to collect samples. We dropped it off at a more convenient location but we will need volunteers to swim across the ocean inlet and retrieve it because it is too deep to cross. Of course the volunteers will need to remove their clothes, jump in the water, swim across, get the zodiac, paddle back and then dress in their outer gear. Wes Farnsworth and Jordan Mertes volunteer! They are American students but have been working at UNIS and living in Longyearbyen, so they are more accustomed to the Svalbard weather. The are the toughest guys I have met.
Jordon, wearing only his starwar's underwear, dives in to the Arctic ocean to retrieve the Zodiac.
Wes jumps in to help retrieve the zodiac.
Wes and Jordon paddling back to shore with the Zodiac. Jordon later asks is Wes paddling or just resting.