Location: Lat: 72 20.033 N Long: 145 59.64 W
Sunrise: 10:08 am Sunset: 5:00 pm
Today we officially have one week left on board the Polar Sea - we disembark on Sunday, November 1st and then I make the trek back home to the San Francisco Bay Area. I am both excited to return home to my students, my husband and my cat, but also sad to be leaving this rich experience that I have been able to be part of.
Unfortunately, the weather has not changed enough in order to fly safely - so we were grounded yet another day. However, we remain hopeful for better weather conditions tomorrow.
We have been surrounded by thick multi-year ice floes that require much more force to break through than before. Today we had to use the turbine engine for the first time this trip to break through a ridge of ice.
Sun bouncing off the ice on a clear sunny day in the Arctic.
Nothing around as far as we can see, except for ice.
The Polar Sea cuts right though the thick ice - the blue color means it is muliyear ice (ice that has survived at least 2 summers).
It is mesmerizing to sit and watch the ship cut through the thick ice. As we are moving from one location to another, I often enjoy standing on the bridge to watch the ice. Despite being on board for 5 weeks, the ice is one sight I don't tire of. Here is a short video clip to help you imagine what the ice looks like as we cut through it.
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