Back up...but HOW?
Persistance pays off...for about five years I have been following PolarTREC expeditions. Tracy in Toolik Lake, Lollie on the Oden...teachers exploring polar areas and sharing it with students and classrooms around the world. I applied for the 2010 expedition season hoping "this would be my year". After a lengthy process, I received a call from Janet at PolarTREC asking if I wanted to interview for a position on the Polar Seas...the FIRST winter sampling expedition EVER!
I excitedly said yes, of course. Talking with Carin Ashjian, my Principal Investigator from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, during the interview was super cool. She shared how "unknown" this expedition would be. 6 weeks in the Arctic during the WINTER...January - February 2011 on a polar Icebreaker. 6 weeks in the DARK...6 weeks with no sunlight!! The purpose of the expedition will be to sample the water for microscopic organisms...to discover what they do in the winter. This will be extremely helpful to model exactly what is happening in the polar ecosystem throughout the year. She pointed out things to consider: 6 weeks in the dark, 6 weeks in the cold, being on an Icebreaking ship, working in a nearly completely frozen environment. Without hesitation, I agreed that this mission is something I would definitely WANT to be a part of!
Two days later, Kristin from PolarTREC, called to invite me to join the expedition! Screams erupted from my daughters and my "daughter" from Mexico (an International School to School Exchange Student staying in our home). Since then, things have moved very quickly.
The girls who were SCREAMING for excitment
Now, I am in Fairbanks, Alaska at PolarTREC Orientation and Share Fair 2010. In the previous journal, I posted a reflective journal on the experience...but WHAT is happening??
Fairbanks is a small town in the Interior region of Alaska...it is about the size of Xenia, Ohio!! Check out their website at Explore Fairbanks! The website says that if you visit Fairbanks for three days, you have an 80% chance of seeing the Northern Lights...if I am here for 9 days, what is the probability I will see them? Anyone want to figure THAT one out??
We visited Polar Field Services. We got the opportunity to look at all the Arctic gear and try things on! You can see how nicely arranged the equipment is and what I look like in a Mustang suit. More on that later, I will be wearing the Mustang Suit ALOT since I will be on a ship expedition!
Visit to Polar Services Warehouse to look at Arctic gear up close
My first experience in a Mustang suit...I think it is a little large!
Today we are learning much...practicing resizing photos and posting to the internet. Please check back as things will be continuously changing!