jay | Back at Devon Island

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.