Preparing for the trip is an ongoing task and takes more time than I expected. I’ve been working closely with Robbie Score of Polar Field Services. She is helping me to organize all of the logistical parts of the trip. For example, she helped me organize my flights and she has also booked my accommodation at Toolik Field Station. We tried to get that done as quickly as possible, as there are three types of accommodation from my understanding – beds in rooms that are warm, cold, and colder – and they decide who gets which spot based on how early they booked and how long they’ll be there. Since we’ll be there for three weeks, we should get the warmer rooms, but we won’t know until we arrive.
Robbie has also been tasked with putting together all of the outwear I will need for the field. It’s so great that PolarTREC includes the use of this vital equipment, as it would be very expensive to buy for one trip, and several people can use them at different times, so nothing is wasted. Normally, Robbie would send the gear to me in advance for me to try on before the trip, so that we could make exchanges for different sizes if necessary, but since I live so far away, we’ve decided it makes sense to ship the clothes to her colleague in Alaska instead. I will then arrive in Fairbanks a day early, to meet with Larry Gullingsrud. He will help me to make sure that everything fits correctly and find replacements if necessary.
Robbie has sent me a list and photos of the equipment she will send, and it includes:
- Fleece jacket
- Fleece pants
- Winter jacket
- Insulated pants
- Gortex rain pants
- 2 Kinds of gloves
- Glove liners
- Neck gaiter
- Balaclava
- Hat
- Insulated rubber boots
- Bunny Boots (not shown)
- Gaiters (not shown)
- Twenty degree sleeping bag (not shown)
- Sleeping bag liner (not shown)
I also need to decide which clothes to bring with me. It’s important to bring work clothes that are made from synthetic materials or wool, as the conditions will be cold and most likely wet from snow. Cotton absorbs water and holds it close to your skin, rather than wicking it away like synthetics and wool. This can lead to hypothermia, and in extreme cases, death. Hence the saying “Cotton kills”.
I’ll be in the field for three weeks and might be able to wash my clothes once while I’m there, so I will be wearing clothes multiple times. This is another advantage of wool, as it doesn’t stink after multiple wears. This is pretty much how I normally travel, but the difference this time is that I’ll have to bring more underwear than normal.
As I slowly start to pack, I also have to leave a mostly empty suitcase for all of the gear I will pick up in Alaska. The good news is that I can then fill up my suitcase on the way back with American foods and snacks I can’t find in Europe. I’m looking forward to the challenge.
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