Old sign for Toolik Field Camp
Life at Toolik Field Station has changed a lot over the years since its inception in 1975. The Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks runs the research station and coordinates the facility use. During the peak of the summer season, over a hundred researchers can be found at the site. Toolik Field Station is located just off of the Dalton Highway, which was built when the Alaska pipeline was installed. From this base, scientists can access sites in the Brooks Range, the arctic foothills, and the arctic coastal plain. Check out this map of Alaska with the inset of the Field Station; you can get a good idea of our general locationwe are here!
. For today I thought it would be fun to take you on a camp tour a labeled aerial photo of Toolik Field Station
Eating is a big social event; besides the gourmet food such as Thai Fish cakes and fresh arugula salad with wasabi-ginger dressing; one can catch up on lots of ongoing science discussions. We each get our own mug ,my coffee mug!
and proceed through the dining hall Dining hall with great windows to view Toolik Lake and the tundra beyond
.
After eating breakfast, we usually go to work in the field or a lab. At work in Lab 6, the Snowmelt Project Lab!
We can walk around camp, or borrow a bike. You can borrow a bike from the barn
We might want to take a break and go for a walk around the lake View of partially frozen Toolik Lake near inlet
or work out in the gym Toolik Health Club!
. Of course, nature calls from time to timeAn outhouse complex referred to as a Tower
and because there is permafrost, all septic and liquid wastes are trucked out to Fairbanks. We try to recycle or burn everything else all waste is categorized and put in proper bins
. We can wash up in the shower house,we have lovely indoor shower facilities!
and are allowed to take a shower a couple of times a week. Most people take it easy on the wastewater supply, and the sauna is a very pleasant place to get cleaned up the sauna on the shores of Toolik Lake
. There are lots of buildings for all kinds of things, Two canoes came out of that tent!
, and of course, our rooms. Some people stay in Weatherport tents Weatherport Tent city at Toolik Field Station
which look a little chilly when it snowsBrrr!
, and I'm enjoying the warmth and luxury of an ATCO trailer I live in here!
. It's cozy and sunny inside with a nice workspaceThis is where i write journals!
and plenty of room to move around in and store my stuff. All in all, life at Toolik Field Station is filled with incredible views in all directions, populated with great fun people, and is really pretty darned civilized for being located in such a remote region of Alaska!
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