All of the residents of Summit Station pose for a group photo. (photo courtesy of Rachel Murray).
Our team headed out to the drill site this morning to take down the site. We packed up the rest of the tents, partially filled in the snow pits (they'll fill in the rest of the way on their own in a fairly short period of time), and packed everything on sleds to bring it back. We also planted flags around the site to mark an area that has been disturbed. That is just in case anyone decides to work out there in the future.
After completing all of the sampling required, the team breaks down the drill site and prepares to transport everything back to Summit Station.
PolarTREC teacher Steve Kirsche breaks through what was the backlit wall of the snow pit.
In the afternoon, I spent more time exploring the station. I also conducted a dry run for tomorrow's live PolarConnect event. If you are interested in taking part in the live event, it is not too late. The information is below.
Live PolarConnect Event on Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Upcoming Event: There will be a LIVE PolarConnect Event from Summit, Greenland with the team on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. Find out more about the event time and register here.
The Green House
In my previous journals, I've discussed several of the major buildings that are here at Summit Station. Today, I will talk about another building called the Green House. Despite the name, this is not a place for growing plants. It is a multi-purpose building.
The Green House at Summit Station serves many purposes.
When you first walk in, there are a few labs for the science technicians to do their work. Among other things, this is where they monitor the weather balloon launches. After the labs, there is a lounge area. This lounge is often busy at night as a place to gather and socialize or watch movies.
The lounge in the Green House is a place for residents to gather for many reasons.
There are also several rooms for people to live, an emergency kitchen, and some offices. This building is especially important for wintering over. During the winter, there are only about 5 people on station. The weather is very harsh, with temperatures frequently hitting 60 to 70 degrees below zero. On top of that, the winds can be very strong and it snows a lot. The green house is set up to be the place that residents can weather out storms if need be.
The other important aspect of the Green House is the medical clinic. Kevin Hayes is currently serving as the medic on station. He is a paramedic and takes care of all medical needs for the residents. It is a pretty good system that they have set up. Kevin can take care of minor injuries. If something major happens, he can call the University of Colorado and a doctor can talk him through what needs to be done. This level of care is very important because if something went very wrong, it could take several days for a plane to be able to come here and evacuate a patient.
The clinic at Summit Station is well equipped to handle many medical situations that could arise.
Polar Profile
Name: Kathy Schroeder
Job Title: Chef
Kathy Schroeder is the chef at Summit Station.
Home: Madison, Wisconsin
Length of Time Working in Polar Regions: Kathy has been working in the polar regions since 2007. She has worked in both the arctic and antarctic regions.
Length of Current Assignment to Summit Station: Kathy is currently doing a 4 month assignment to Summit Station.
Job Description: Kathy's job is to plan the menu, order the food, and cook the meals for the residents of the station.
Favorite Part of Working at Summit Station: Kathy says that she enjoys the comfort of Summit Station. Many of her assignments in the past have been small field camps which don't offer all of the amenities that are available here.
Hardest Part of Working at Summit Station: Kathy says that the hardest part of working at Summit Station is the repetition in her job.
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