What am I doing in Barrow, next to the Arctic Ocean?
After my PolarTREC orientation in Fairbanks, I happened to have spring break. So, I was able to use some of the time to visit classrooms in Barrow, Alaska. The visit was just amazing: a save landing in an Arctic snow storm, getting stuck with the truck in the snow drift, the frozen Arctic ocean, the visits with the local middle and high school. I wanted to make it easy on all supporters from BASC (the Arctic research center in Barrow that also takes care of all science related visitors) who helped me to get around and offered to walk… "No, Elke, that is too dangerous! It is polar bear season!” was the answer. Yes, I was in the Arctic. The ocean was still frozen. Sometimes polar bears "get lost looking for food”, I was told. So, I was driven everywhere. Thanks everyone at BASC (Barrow Arctic Science Consortium: http://www.arcticscience.org)!
The little town of 5000 was fascinating in the snow storm.
March 25, 2007, Barrow, Alaska. We landed in the storm. This sign reminds us that boating is possible in the summer time.
In front of the "Hotel" of BASC. Great accomodations:nice and warm with firendly help.
March 26th, 2007, The famous sign in Barrow,with bowhead whale bones. The Arctic is behind me.
March 26, 2007: Elke discussing her future work at the South Pole with students of the Hopson Middle School in Barrow Alaska.The Class presentations were organized by Jill Exe, the 8th grade teacher Science teacher. I am looking forward to the communication between the Arctic and Antarctic
The following pictures were taken by Jill Exe after I had left . I am also glad she took these photos because I only saw Barrow in the snow storm!
March 31st, 2007: Jill Exe took a walk around Barrow in beautiful weather. The weather changes quickly in the Arctic. This is a view of the Arctic Ocean ice.
Warnings beore going on the Arctic ice
Preparing the whaling canoe
Jill Exe: "Someone must be practicing putting up their wall tent by their home..probably preparing for whaling".
Jill walked past the home of her fromer student
"Baleen Palms" In Barrow, Alaska. A crafty person put together with driftwood and baleen from a bowhead whale
Spring spirit: building an igloo in the back yeard with ice sculptures
Im Maerz ist noch Eisbaersaison in Barrow, Alaska
Nach meiner PolarTREC Oreintierung in Fairbanks hatte ich gerade meine Freuhlingsferien . So konnte ich einen "Abstecher” nach Barrow am Arctischen Meer machen um dort Vortraege in der Mittle –und Oberschule zu geben. Der Besuch war sagenhaft: die sichere Landung im Schneesturm, das Steckenbleiben in den Schneewehen, der geforene arktische Ozean, der Besuch mit den Schuelern. Ich wollte es allen von BASC einfacher machen und zu Fuss gehen. "Nein, Elke, das ist zu gefaehrlich! Wir haben noch Eisbaerenseason!”. Ja, ich war wirklich in der Arktis. Der Ozean war noch gefrohren. Manchesmal gehen dann Eibaeren "verloren wenn sie nach Nahrung suchen”, so sagte man mir. So wurde ich sicher umhergefahren Dank der Hilfbereitschaft aller von BASC. Das ist das wissenschaftlichen Zentrum in Barrow das sich auch um alle Wissenschafts-Besucher kuemmert.
Anbei einige Photos von Jill Exe, deren 8. Klasse ich besuchte