Today I start packing!
I rarely wear anything on my feet other than flip flops. In the rain flip flops. Hiking flip flops. Dressed up nicer flip flops. For the 4 weeks of my trip I will in required to wear shoes! Not only that, but much of the time I'll be in heavy boots. One of my co-workers has lent me a beautiful pair of Sorel boots designed for wear in snow --- think after skiing. They are warm, they are perfect and together the weigh over 5 pounds ( or the weight of about 20 pairs for flip flops). I really shouldn't whine it could be worse. Army style boots (which I considered) are heavier and far less stylish. I am also taking a pair of Converse high tops to wear in the kitchen. I'll be shopping for them in the morning. I'm thinking shocking orange or pink. At the bottom of my duffel bag will be my flip flops waiting for the flight home.
They tell me to pack for dressing in layers. Normal temps are from 20 to 50 degrees. But of course that's normal it could get much colder. It could also rain or snow. Below zero is not unheard of. Did I mention wind- lots of wind. So in the bag goes all the long underwear I can find in the house, sweats, jeans, ski parka, socks (lots of socks), gloves for outside, gloves for inside, glove liners (whatever those are), and knit hats. Okay let's face it, I'm going to take a large chunk of my winter wardrobe and a number of items borrowed from friends who spend more time in the snow than I do. In case you were about to ask there, are no washing machines or dryers. I can hand wash clothes and hang them up and watch them freeze!
Today I received the "forms" I need to fill out so I can go. They look very similar to the forms (medical, insurance, liability) that everyone completes for scout camp. The difference is in the details: reference to immediate or timely medical care are replaced with acknowledgements that medical care may be several hours or even several days away. Luckily, I didn't find any reference to sub standard cooks being used as Polar Bear bait.
10 days and counting.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Will They Miss Me While I'm Gone?
What will happen when I drop out of my normal life for a month?
I have three children. Greg is an adult and lives in Santa Rosa. If I'm lucky I see him once a month. I'm sure he'll "miss" me in the sort of passing thought; "I wonder how mom?" is way. (Note to self: Send him a link to my blog!) I'll miss him because I can't see him or call him.
Willy and Claire are both high school students at Pathways. They have never been away from me for more than a week so this is going to be a big change. How will this affect them? Will they miss me while I'm gone?
They are two of the most responsible "kids" I know, so they'll be okay! When dad leaves for work in the morning the house will get very quiet so they may just sleep till 2:00. Normally they take care of getting their own food even when I'm around so I don't worry there. (Note to self stock the frig and cupboards). Removing food from the frig before mold takes over may be an issue.
Actually, they should be busy much of the time: A two day backpacking trip and week in Yosemite are already on the schedule. When they are home there are plenty of adults ready and willing to transport them as needed: dad, grandparents, home schooling and 4-H families, Kiwanis and Key Club friends.
So will they miss me? You bet your life they will, just like I'll miss them every minute I'm gone. Okay in reality if I'm lucky enough to see a polar bear, I won't be thinking about them. On second thought I will be wishing they were with me to see it.
Then there's my hubby, Greg. In 30 years of marriage we've rarely been apart for this long. Both of us have had a couple 3+ week long business trips and Greg had two longish projects with the Red Cross. The difference is that this time I'm going to a place with limited communication and absolutely no giving up and going home option. Sometimes I miss him when he's spends too much time working, so we are both going to missing each other .
In truth I think I'll be doing most of the missing my kids, husband, friends, and the whole Cloverdale community. They will all have each other, I'll have mostly strangers. But I'll have the untouched beauty of nature, the excitement of adventure and a once in a life time opportunity. Hopefully, the trade off will work.
11 days and counting.
I have three children. Greg is an adult and lives in Santa Rosa. If I'm lucky I see him once a month. I'm sure he'll "miss" me in the sort of passing thought; "I wonder how mom?" is way. (Note to self: Send him a link to my blog!) I'll miss him because I can't see him or call him.
Willy and Claire are both high school students at Pathways. They have never been away from me for more than a week so this is going to be a big change. How will this affect them? Will they miss me while I'm gone?
They are two of the most responsible "kids" I know, so they'll be okay! When dad leaves for work in the morning the house will get very quiet so they may just sleep till 2:00. Normally they take care of getting their own food even when I'm around so I don't worry there. (Note to self stock the frig and cupboards). Removing food from the frig before mold takes over may be an issue.
Actually, they should be busy much of the time: A two day backpacking trip and week in Yosemite are already on the schedule. When they are home there are plenty of adults ready and willing to transport them as needed: dad, grandparents, home schooling and 4-H families, Kiwanis and Key Club friends.
So will they miss me? You bet your life they will, just like I'll miss them every minute I'm gone. Okay in reality if I'm lucky enough to see a polar bear, I won't be thinking about them. On second thought I will be wishing they were with me to see it.
Then there's my hubby, Greg. In 30 years of marriage we've rarely been apart for this long. Both of us have had a couple 3+ week long business trips and Greg had two longish projects with the Red Cross. The difference is that this time I'm going to a place with limited communication and absolutely no giving up and going home option. Sometimes I miss him when he's spends too much time working, so we are both going to missing each other .
In truth I think I'll be doing most of the missing my kids, husband, friends, and the whole Cloverdale community. They will all have each other, I'll have mostly strangers. But I'll have the untouched beauty of nature, the excitement of adventure and a once in a life time opportunity. Hopefully, the trade off will work.
11 days and counting.
Monday, June 27, 2011
All the Comforts of Home
Well maybe not all the comforts!
The kitchen has everything ovens, stoves, microwave, frig, freezers, dishes, pots, pans, and so on. It even has running water straight from a glacier stream! No worries, we have a water heater and propane for the stoves so we can get hot water.
Showers- 1 shower, 25 people, you do the math.
Restrooms- Somewhere between Girl Scout camp pit toilets and community event porta-potties. (Closer to the pits.)
Beds- Cots or mats in tents, government issue sleeping bag for me! Private, but not all that warm.
Electricity- YES from generators. No need for night lights though, the sun NEVER goes down.
Phones- I'm told some people have cell phone access and are paying dearly for it!
Internet- YES! Thank You NASA! I should have access whenever I want it!
Land transportation- We all learn how to use quads, but NEVER leave camp alone. The bears are bigger than we are!
Medical- Nurse on staff, nearest hospital 2+ hours by air (if there happens to be a plane on the island), basically; don't get hurt!!!!!!
Entertainment- Whatever DVDs people bring up with them and "educations" from the various research teams.
12 days and counting.
The kitchen has everything ovens, stoves, microwave, frig, freezers, dishes, pots, pans, and so on. It even has running water straight from a glacier stream! No worries, we have a water heater and propane for the stoves so we can get hot water.
Showers- 1 shower, 25 people, you do the math.
Restrooms- Somewhere between Girl Scout camp pit toilets and community event porta-potties. (Closer to the pits.)
Beds- Cots or mats in tents, government issue sleeping bag for me! Private, but not all that warm.
Electricity- YES from generators. No need for night lights though, the sun NEVER goes down.
Phones- I'm told some people have cell phone access and are paying dearly for it!
Internet- YES! Thank You NASA! I should have access whenever I want it!
Land transportation- We all learn how to use quads, but NEVER leave camp alone. The bears are bigger than we are!
Medical- Nurse on staff, nearest hospital 2+ hours by air (if there happens to be a plane on the island), basically; don't get hurt!!!!!!
Entertainment- Whatever DVDs people bring up with them and "educations" from the various research teams.
12 days and counting.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Permission to Leave the Country
At 51, (Yes teacher Julie is that old!) I have only been out of the country a handful of times, and those were only trips to Mexico before Passports were required. I had heard horror stories about Passports and was not looking forward to the process.
The first step was to prove I was born in the US. (My sympathies to Obama, it's not always an easy task.)
I had absolutely no idea where "my" copy of my birth certificate was --- somewhere in a box in Cloverdale, in storage in Arizona?
So, I called the clerk of Contra Costa County. I was given great instructions and told the whole process would take 2 -3 days. I emailed the form and my credit card number. Went to my local Notary, had her verify my identity and fax it to the clerk. Start to finish less than two hours and I'd have a birth certificate by the end of the week.
Week 1 passed
Week 2 passed--- I called----It was on the clerks desk, he/she would handle it that day.
Week 3 passed--- I called----They had never heard of me!---As it turned out in the last step of the process someone had misspelled my original last name. So they had a birth certificate for Julie Nierman, an envelop addressed to Julie Nierman Carter, and a receipt written out to Julie Hierman. ALL the computer records had me down as Hierman. The fix took 5 days!
Now I had my Birth Certificate and I needed to apply for a passport. On the way to get my picture taken I dropped by the Cloverdale post office to make an appointment. Only one clerk in Cloverdale is trained to do passports and she was leaving on a week long vacation in 15 minutes! I thought about going elsewhere but ended up in the Coverdale Post office 10 days later. It took about 20 minutes with interruptions. The 2-3 weeks the postal clerk expected turned out to be just over 4 weeks. But I now have permission to leave the country. Funny thing, I may not actually need it since I'm flying on all military/government flights!
15 days and counting...
The first step was to prove I was born in the US. (My sympathies to Obama, it's not always an easy task.)
I had absolutely no idea where "my" copy of my birth certificate was --- somewhere in a box in Cloverdale, in storage in Arizona?
So, I called the clerk of Contra Costa County. I was given great instructions and told the whole process would take 2 -3 days. I emailed the form and my credit card number. Went to my local Notary, had her verify my identity and fax it to the clerk. Start to finish less than two hours and I'd have a birth certificate by the end of the week.
Week 1 passed
Week 2 passed--- I called----It was on the clerks desk, he/she would handle it that day.
Week 3 passed--- I called----They had never heard of me!---As it turned out in the last step of the process someone had misspelled my original last name. So they had a birth certificate for Julie Nierman, an envelop addressed to Julie Nierman Carter, and a receipt written out to Julie Hierman. ALL the computer records had me down as Hierman. The fix took 5 days!
Now I had my Birth Certificate and I needed to apply for a passport. On the way to get my picture taken I dropped by the Cloverdale post office to make an appointment. Only one clerk in Cloverdale is trained to do passports and she was leaving on a week long vacation in 15 minutes! I thought about going elsewhere but ended up in the Coverdale Post office 10 days later. It took about 20 minutes with interruptions. The 2-3 weeks the postal clerk expected turned out to be just over 4 weeks. But I now have permission to leave the country. Funny thing, I may not actually need it since I'm flying on all military/government flights!
15 days and counting...
Thursday, June 23, 2011
What's for Dinner?
Today I spent most of my day working on the food order for camp----
Here's the situation: 21 days, 3 meals a day, 7-25 people in camp each day, and unknown dietary issues (vegetarians, allergies, etc...) Staple food can be ordered through Sysco in Vancouver. Perishables will be purchased in Yellowknife.
Questions race through my mind like: How many slices are in loaf of bread? How much milk will all these people need? Do adults really eat Fruit-Loops? Do we really need two types of mustard? What can I do with the 3 cases of clams that are in storage in camp? Crunchy or smooth peanut butter? Have I mentioned that I'm a teacher, not a caterer or short order cook.
Other issues---
Refrigeration for the night in Yellowknife maybe a problem----Anything left on the plane during the night not in a thick container may freeze.
Freezer space at camp is limited. Actually the whole place is a refrigerator, so why am I worried?
A long 4 weeks ago, I had theories about menus and rotating meal plans. Now that I'm in the thick of things, I'm just hoping to not be caught on day 20 with 3 cases of clams, 4 packs of Ramen, and the last box of Girl Scout cookies.
So all of this is confusing enough, but I also have to work within a tight budget. Let's just say you couldn't buy a Happy Meal for what I have to spend on each person per meal. But no worries, by day 20 each team member will be so ready to come home that they'll be happy to get their 1/2 of a Thin Mint.
Here's the situation: 21 days, 3 meals a day, 7-25 people in camp each day, and unknown dietary issues (vegetarians, allergies, etc...) Staple food can be ordered through Sysco in Vancouver. Perishables will be purchased in Yellowknife.
Questions race through my mind like: How many slices are in loaf of bread? How much milk will all these people need? Do adults really eat Fruit-Loops? Do we really need two types of mustard? What can I do with the 3 cases of clams that are in storage in camp? Crunchy or smooth peanut butter? Have I mentioned that I'm a teacher, not a caterer or short order cook.
Other issues---
Refrigeration for the night in Yellowknife maybe a problem----Anything left on the plane during the night not in a thick container may freeze.
Freezer space at camp is limited. Actually the whole place is a refrigerator, so why am I worried?
A long 4 weeks ago, I had theories about menus and rotating meal plans. Now that I'm in the thick of things, I'm just hoping to not be caught on day 20 with 3 cases of clams, 4 packs of Ramen, and the last box of Girl Scout cookies.
So all of this is confusing enough, but I also have to work within a tight budget. Let's just say you couldn't buy a Happy Meal for what I have to spend on each person per meal. But no worries, by day 20 each team member will be so ready to come home that they'll be happy to get their 1/2 of a Thin Mint.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Getting There is Half the Fun
So how exactly does one get to Devon Island?
Well I tried to get a map from mapquest.com and it didn't work.
So here's how it really works--
July 9 early morning I take a C130 (The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport aircraft) from Moffett Field (NASA facility in Mountain View)
The first stop is Vancouver to pick up supplies (including 1/2 the food)and spend the night
July 10 leave Vancouver and head to Yellowknife ---
In Resolute we say goods bye to our big plane. We separate supplies by what needs to get to the Camp first. Hopefully within a few hours we start sending supplies and people to the Island. Small aircraft will do the shuttling. Weather conditions can stop the transport at any time---so those who go first take food for the first 7 days just in case.
17 days and counting
Well I tried to get a map from mapquest.com and it didn't work.
So here's how it really works--
July 9 early morning I take a C130 (The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport aircraft) from Moffett Field (NASA facility in Mountain View)
The first stop is Vancouver to pick up supplies (including 1/2 the food)and spend the night
July 10 leave Vancouver and head to Yellowknife ---
At the edge of the Arctic, in the heart of the wilderness, lies a city of youth, energy, adventure and prosperity. Yellowknife is a culturally rich capital thriving with diversity, and home to about 20,000 people. Located on the shores of the beautiful Great Slave Lake, only 512 km south of the Arctic Circle, we are known for our outdoor recreation, midnight sun, aurora borealis and an unusual blend of northern culture... a City where history is found throughout a modern, bustling metropolis.
At this time we do last minute supply purchasing (including the other 1/2 of the food) and spend the night. This is the time when you check to make sure you have your toothbrush, socks and pillow
July 11 we fly to Resolute Bay
Resolute Bay is a young community, created in 1947 as a weather station and military airfield. In the following years, Inuit from Port Harrison, Quebec and Pond Inlet moved to Resolute creating the 200+ human population that now calls Resolute Bay home
In Resolute we say goods bye to our big plane. We separate supplies by what needs to get to the Camp first. Hopefully within a few hours we start sending supplies and people to the Island. Small aircraft will do the shuttling. Weather conditions can stop the transport at any time---so those who go first take food for the first 7 days just in case.
17 days and counting
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
And Substantially East
So where exactly is Julie Carter going:
Devon Island, the largest uninhabited island on Earth, is located in Baffin Bay, Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada.
More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devon_Island
Houghton Mars Project---Research camp
The Haughton meteorite impact crater, on Devon Island, Nunavut, in the Canadian high arctic, is 20 km in diameter and formed 23 million years ago. It is one of the highest-latitude terrestrial impact craters known on land (75°22'N, 89°41'W).
More info: http://www.marsonearth.org/about/crater.html
Google Earth has images
18 Days and Counting
Devon Island, the largest uninhabited island on Earth, is located in Baffin Bay, Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada.
More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devon_Island
Houghton Mars Project---Research camp
The Haughton meteorite impact crater, on Devon Island, Nunavut, in the Canadian high arctic, is 20 km in diameter and formed 23 million years ago. It is one of the highest-latitude terrestrial impact craters known on land (75°22'N, 89°41'W).
More info: http://www.marsonearth.org/about/crater.html
Google Earth has images
18 Days and Counting
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