A researcher who has been here since the middle of February remarked that even God took a day off on Sunday, so we should be allowed to sleep in one day a week. The OASIS scientists have been working very long hours since February without any days off. On Sundays at the BASC, there is no breakfast in the cafeteria. They serve brunch at 11:30 AM, so sleeping until 9:00 AM was a luxury I enjoyed.
Dog with Betsy Wilkening. Photo copyright UCAR Photographer Carlye Calvin
Sandy Steffen with OASIS Canada set up a reverse outreach event for us to learn about the residents of Barrow. We had the opportunity to meet Geoff Carroll who works for Alaska Fish and Game. He invited us to join him and his dog sled team for a ride through the Arctic tundra and sea ice.
Geoff Carroll with lead dog Diamond at end of ride. Photo copyright UCAR Photographer Carlye Calvin
Geoff is an amazing and very patient person. In 1986 he led a dog sled team to the North Pole. He immediately taught us how to harness up the dogs to the sleigh. Carlye Calvin and I rode on the sled out of town, and to our surprise he stopped and asked us who wanted to drive. I immediately took him up on the offer to lead the 11 dog team across the field. It was so much fun. Geoff would echo the commands of "haw" to turn left, "gee" to turn right, and "whoa" to stop. Ours were not as commanding as Geoff's words. The dogs needed no help when it came to the word for go, "keeta". I quickly got used to balancing on the runners as we bounced over the uneven snow pack.
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The majority of Geoff's dogs are Greenland Huskies. He has one Alaskan Husky. The Greenland Husky does much better in the Arctic than the smaller and quicker Alaskan Husky that is used further south. At the end of the day we led the dogs back to their places in the kennel. They were each given a frozen treat to eat and enjoyed the rest of the day in the sunshine. We enjoyed our brief retreat from the regular work day.
Mary with lead dog Diamond. Photo copyright UCAR Photographer Carlye Calvin
Frosty beard on sled dog. Photo copyright UCAR Photographer Carlye Calvin