Lab desk
Due to the remote location of the field work for this expedition, there will often be limited or no communication between the ship and the rest of the world. In such a case, PolarTREC staff will…
Stormy View
Nobody told me that there was going to be "hazing" on the ship - weather hazing that is. We sailed for about 4 hours, and then the ship started pitching and rolling a bit, then a bit more, then a lot…
Kirkenes
I was testing WhatsApp with Janet Warburton, program coordinator of PolarTREC, at about 7:20 pm on 9-10-21, when I noticed a change in the engine sounds. All of a sudden we were moving away from the…
Crane crate
Well, it’s 10:00 am ship time on Friday morning - the ship is set to Moscow standard time, which is an hour ahead of the dock 15 feet away - and we are still in port. There was an issue with the…
Mooring Device
After arriving in Kirkenes and getting settled, I finally got to meet members of the team and go over to the warehouse where the equipment for the expedition is being staged. I am glad that someone…
Kirkenes advertisement
Well, to quote one of my favorite series, Game of Thrones, "Winter is Coming." While I'm not so worried about the approach of the White Walkers from across the Wall, I noticed a distinct change in…
Ski jump
Thanks to one of the community workers in Lillestrom, I was able to arrange for a COVID test and be released from quarantine on Friday. Otherwise, I would have had to wait until today (Monday). So…
Scooter
I need to start off by clarifying one of the quarantine restrictions. We are allowed out of the hotel for 2 hours at a time - not a maximum of 2 hours a day. Many days I have left the hotel after…
Breakfast
Lots of people have been asking about the food in quarantine. The hotel staff delivers 3 meals (and 1 snack) a day. And while the overall variety and quality are not what you would find in a high-…
Airport Holding Area
Norway takes their COVID-19 regulations very seriously. To combat the spread of the virus, Norway has very strict entry restrictions and testing requirements. Because I cannot prove vaccination…
Packing Picture 1
It has been a very hectic few weeks. I found out I had a new preparation the week before school started. It's Physical Science, which I have taught before, but as my wife reminded me, not since we'…
Students in the Hallway
And, we're back! For teachers, the end of summer meets the beginning of the school year like the start of the 100 meter sprints at the Olympics. Instead of the event lasting 9.58 seconds, however,…