Arctic Circle
Concern over an incoming front prompted us to leave Fairbanks early this morning. We had a scheduled flight, but Dirk, the Coyote Air pilot, will only fly if conditions are safe. The forecasted rain…
Postcards
Here's the result of the last assignment in my science classes for Spring 2017: Alaskan postcards drawn by EHS students. More Alaskan postcards drawn by EHS students. I asked every student to…
The team before
This morning our crew met for breakfast and final planning. Every detail needs to be taken care of, since tomorrow we leave for Coldfoot and will no longer have access to internet, cell reception, or…
Bellingham Bay
I left home a week ago, but am only now headed to Alaska after spending time in Washington. Flights to Alaska usually have layovers in Seattle, so I knew I needed to extend my layover to visit three…
Iridium set up
Be honest. When was the last time you were in a place that didn't have cell phone reception or wifi? We rarely experience a moment anymore when our friends and family aren't a quick call, text, email…
Packing
The final countdown is here – I leave home tomorrow morning. It's hard to believe that in just over a week we will be in Lake Peters, where it will be 30˚ cooler than Boulder! I am scrambling to…
Arctic Field Training 2
Spring and summer are busy for teachers. End of year grading, standardized tests, juggling summer schedules to accomodate work and play, conferences, summer jobs, and planning for the next year...…
Brooks Range
The north facing slope of the Brooks Range as seen from Toolik Field Station, Alaska. Photo by Susan Steiner. In Rebecca's final audio journal, the field team finishes up work and packs up before…
PolarTREC researchers at Northern Arizona University
When I was asked to join the Arctic Glacial Lakes project I didn't completely understand what we would research. Sediment cores, hydrology, glaciers... but what was our question and who was asking it…
Hiking with the research team
What is it like to finally meet the people with whom you'll spend three weeks at a remote Arctic field camp? When I returned from orientation and told my students more about my expedition, they were…
Museum of the North
When I graduated from college, I flew to Hawaii to volunteer for the National Park Service. I wanted to spend my summer on tropical beaches and my newly minted Ecology degree was my ticket to the…
Orientation break
I arrived in Fairbanks late last night, exhausted but taking in every detail, from the cold air that made me cough to the roads coated in snow. After a short night of sleep, I was expecting to wake…