Back at Devon Island

[jay]

Here again... for nearly a month, this time. I've been here every summer since 1998, had nearly every birthday here since, had three different sweeties fall in love in IM from here... and worked on field exploration technologies, robotics, automated drills, and geophysical studies of the impact structure.

Unexpected good things: the cook seems great, so far; the weather has been excellent. And Charlie was here, and actually saw lemmings this time. (inside joke)
Unexpected bad thing: it has been warmer and drier than usual, and everything is dust and drying up. Our water supply is a trickle... I don't know what we'll be drinking in August, at this rate.

Sarahs in Cambridge Bay Yesterday morning, we departed Edmonton, stopped in Yellowknife, then continued on to Cambridge Bay... our cargo-convertible 737 held 24 seats and mostly cargo up front. Here, dangerpudding and compilerbitch disembark.

In Resolute It was sunny, 50F and clear when our small Beechcraft landed in Resolute...

On our way to Devon Island This morning, we bundled ourselves and our gear into a Twin Otter headed for Devon Island... here's an inside photo.

NW Passage Ice Interesting... the breakpoint for the pack ice in the Northwest Passage was back down to near the oint where we crossed. In past years, it had been receding.

On final approach This year's base camp, viewed from the Twin while on final approach to land. There are new tents (one near the core, the other a beige storage tent on the far right. I'm usually in the second from the right...

Moving in For nearly a month, this time... it helps that this place feels sort of like home. My 11th season? Whew. The orange pyramid is my tent... kind of getting on in years after 8 seasons itself.

Comments

[serolynne.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I look forward to following your time there. Thanks for the travel stories :)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

And thanks for your own travel accounts, which I enjoy. As well as good luck with the inspection, today.

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

Our water supply is a trickle... I don't know what we'll be drinking in August, at this rate.

Scotch? : )

I'm glad you made it to camp safely.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

It's a dry season, no? Otherwise? I'd expect it to be scotch. ;)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Yes, a dry camp this year... if they next ban chocolate, I think there'd be more griping. ;)

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

Just as well you left your Scotch at home, then. : )

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Heh. One not-to-be-named group has used "oral disease-prevention medicines" to "reduce oral bacteria and viruses due to spread bugs"...

[elainegrey.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the visual guide!

Hmm, no Starbucks hidden behind that pile of rocks in the distance, eh?

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

As long as it isn't a polar bear, I'm OK with that. :)

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

Giggle, they indeed changed the layout of the main buildings... it doesn't look precisely like the cake anymore ;-)

I like seeing what your tent looks like. A cheerful bit of color against the landscape...

So glad you are all up there safely! :-)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

The tent is on its last legs... the zippers are going, and the fabric has faded almost to yellow (it was originally dark orange).

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

Wishing you and the tent good luck through tonight's storm, then... I love you :-)

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

What a schlep. Amazing that it's warmer and dryer, yet the pack ice isn't as far back.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Personally, I think that a change in seasonal winds is pushing more ice southward, as well as keeping away most precipitation?

Water, water, everywhere

[entheo.livejournal.com]

Thats even more bare than when I was camping out in the deserts!

Our water supply is a trickle... I don't know what we'll be drinking in August, at this rate.
Ive got an Idea! Harpoon that pack ice and drag it back to camp ;)

Re: Water, water, everywhere

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

LOL... It'd be 20km of canyons, lashed to ATVs... (wink).

Re: Water, water, everywhere

[entheo.livejournal.com]

Only 20km to your water supply, *piffle*
When I was a lad we had to drag the glaciers back to camp with only a hank pick and our walking boots, and only hydrochloric acid for drinking in the morning!