Sometime late Friday afternoon, a man in an orange suit just "suddenly” appeared at the Gambell lodge. Vince, the helicopter manager for the Healy, was there to pick several of us from Gambell and whisk us away to the Healy – someplace offshore about 50 miles south of the community. I was going with three other people: Kathy Turco (Alaska’s Spirit Speaks: Sound & Science), Art Howard (a videographer with Polar-Palooza), and Bobby Ungwiluk (a senior at John Apangalook School). We went with Vince to the airport and waited for our ride. The helicopter had already made one flight from Savoonga (the other community on the island) to the ship with Perry Pungowiyi – a whaling and walrus captain from Savoonga. As we waited for the helicopter, members of the community came out to see why we were all dressed in orange suits and to meet the incoming Bering Air flight. We must have looked totally ridiculous J
Art Howard attempting to zip up his rather tight safety suit.
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Kathy Turco on the Healy with her sound equipment.
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Bobby Ungwiluk - a Senior in school
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Perry Pungowiyi on the Bridge.
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A young man and boy came to chat with us while we waited. They wanted to relay a big hello to their dad and grandpa, Mike Apatiki, whom was already on the ship. (Mike was hired by the National Marine Mammals Laboratory to be an observer for the scientists studying ice seals on the ship.)
Mike Apatiki preparing for flight.
After taking the son’s photograph, were heard the distinct sounds of a helicopter approaching. It was time to head out to sea.
The helicopter landing at the Gambell airstrip.
It’s hard to find words that describe how it feels to be in a helicopter – but the first word that comes to mind is "exhilarating”! I got into the front seat and just stared out the windows, watching the water and ice pass below my feet. Bill, our pilot, said it would take about 40 minutes to reach the ship. Five minutes out from the ship, I saw the ship’s silhouette – our first view of the ship. Landing a helicopter on the deck of a ship, surrounded by ice and fog, is something that I’ll never forget. 
US Coast Guard Cutter Healy
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- **A bowhead whale sleeping in the ice.*
Within hours of getting off the helicopter, we had been briefed on ship details and routines, assigned rooms, met many of the Coast Guard crew, met many of the scientists, and had eaten our first meal. Whew! Time was moving fast on the ship and continues to do so – becoming a blur of "stations”, "Plans of the Day”, and "Uno” (but that is another story).
Later that night, I caught up with Bobby down at the mess hall getting "mid-rats” (food). We were in good company since midnight is when the "night team” of scientists goes to work and the "day team” goes to bed. I asked Bobby why he was still up – he said he was too excited. Me too. J
Want to know learn more about the Healy? Check out their official website. There are some great sections on the history of the ship and details about what makes this floating city operate.
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