Aug 14 - Chopper Day 2!

We rose from our tents at 8:00 and got dressed for breakfast. With our power still out and a storm on the horizon, we were unsure about how the day was going to proceed. The helicopter arrived shortly after to pickup a select couple of kids in transit to the permafrost wells (Soren and Cassandra). Similar to the previous day, the wind blown from the helicopter’s blades overturned four of our six tents, sending the people in them on an unexpected ride.

The helicopter ride proved to be largely uneventful, with just a quick sighting of a mom and cub that only Cassandra managed to catch. We arrived at a bog that happened to be wetter than some fens we’d tested and got to work. It was a slow start, working with one less person than the previous chopper day, but we quickly got the hang of it and sped through the next two sites. O8ur previously pleasant, cool weather soon turned into a rainstorm and our exciting day of testing and exploring unfortunately got cut short.

The day back at camp began with chores. Teams of 2 split up to clean bathrooms, sweep floors, straighten up, and hang boots, in order to make Nester 1 a suitable living space for our expected Parks Canada guests later that day. We made a big batch of ramen, and after Ranger Lizette noticed raindrops, it was decided to postpone our trip to the field site to a future date. The rest of the afternoon was filled with rainy day activities, including a camp-wide game of assassin.

The evening involved a family dinner, along with the return of the helicopter, and the knowledge that our Parks Canada guests would not be joining us due to schedule complications. Lizette assisted us with our soapstone carvings and mittens as Julie turned leftover ramen into a stir fry. This rainy day was uneventful, but even an uneventful day is a good one when you spend it with friends.

Until next time,
Sam and Isabelle