A day at the beach, night in an igloo

I will finish this later as the lights are coming out - you probably won't get a second notice so you'll just have to check back in a day or so. - Brian

Seems like there is just no time to write - between washing dishes, gettng in and out of cold weather clothes, loosing sleep to the Northern Lights, napping, sleeping, and all those little things that are time sinks...so, sorry if I haven't been posting too much. This will try to be a catch up post although I'll probably forget a lot that maybe I'll post later.

Northern lights - yup, they've been out almost every night although we have had a few cloudy (ah, sweet sleep) nights. But enough nights that the groups coming up are happy with what they've seen. The last group, in fact, was basically camera-less (you can't count iPhones - they just won't do it). The lights are very ephemeral and often by the time I've got my cold weather gear on or at least most of it (hard to run a camera with mittens so I usually just have my glove liners on and pay the price) they have changed shape, intensity, subtle color, and motion. But then if you wait a bit, they're ready for an encore. If you haven't frozen by then.

Last night was basically windless although the slightest breeze is definitely felt. The Road Scholars stood in wonder just gazing while I snapped off about 65 fair pics. With the 6 to 8 second exposure I am using it is possible to get pics with identifiable people posing in front of the lights - if the hold still and are willing to put their backs to the lights: I'm still perfecting this technique.

Road Scholars watching

Stars are in focus so blurriness in NL due to its movement

That's me with the devil eyes

Next subject is EarthWatch. This particular group, with members (ranging in age from 21 to 65) from New Orleans, Holland, India, Belgium, Japan, Turkey, Russia, Canada, USA(two from New Orleans), Scotland, United Kingdom, and Germany, is investigating climate change effects on snow packs and tree recruitment. Much of this research has been going on, at established stations, for over 12 years by new EarthWatch teams each year under the guidance of Peter, Steve, and Luanne. The tree recruitment is especially interesting as Churchill is just above the tree line so changes can be documented. The snowpack data gathering can be quite labor intensive especially when the pits or cores get to be 1 meter or more - and then there is all the determination of layers, temperatures, water content, etc. Washing dishes in a warm building seems like a preferred alternative. They go out usually twice a day being hauled in komatiks (see pic below) by snowmobile. If the windchill isn't high enough, being pulled in a snowmobile makes up for it! I am hoping to survive my upcoming ride in one.

Komatik sleds used to transport gear and people, These are used

 by EarthWatch

EarthWatch getting ready to head out - twice a day in any weather which means darn cold

One of the old rocket launchers. CNSC wants this one preserved and I agree.

RustyBear geocache easily found attached to back of sign.

Entrance to quinzhee with snow block door

Paul cutting blocks of snow

Trimming the blocks to size with machete

Igloo bricklayers

Tim exiting quinzhee

The quinzhee stove was red hot

 

Irene showing off her bangcicles

Brian auditioning for Laugh In

Considering how much we have spent at the liquor store, I should be the poster child for Operation Red Nose - the program to not drive home drunk.