It’s a good thing the days are so long here in Fairbanks, because even with the extended sunlight past 10:30 PM there aren’t enough hours in the day to fit it all in.
Today’s training was primarily the task of IT specialist Ronnie Owens. We spent a lot of time working with our computers, posting our first journal entries and photos and getting the hang of just navigating around the PolarTREC site. We also heard from past PolarTREC teachers about what to prepare ahead of time and what to expect once in the midst of our expeditions. It was all interesting and informative. My little notebook pages are getting packed with helpful tips and ideas for once I return home and begin my preparations for departure.
Claude takes a break from training and steps outside to catch some Alaskan snowflakes on her tongue.
However, along with the training we managed to fit in several other activities. We ducked out at lunch to visit a local extreme weather outfitter here in Fairbanks. We had a planned excursion to the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks Campus. While at the campus we managed to squeeze in a visit to the campus bookstore where I managed to outfit myself with enough UAF Nanooks attire to keep me looking good in a variety of weather. We dashed from the campus back to the hotel and changed into running gear in about 4 minutes flat and headed off to the Annual Drinking Water 5K Run/Walk. Ironically, the race’s starting line was a mile away and we had to jog the entire way to get there on time. That was a blast! Running along the Chena River at this annual event while being pelted with snow on May 5th – go figure. Check out the pictures in my photo gallery.
Claude Larson gets a behind the scenes tour of the Museum of the North basement where shelves and cabinets are filled with amazing sites. This is a Woolly Mammoth fossil.
It’s 10:00 PM and the sun is still up – and so am I. But not for long – as tomorrow will surely be as packed with as much good stuff as today has been.