Aug 8 - Fen Hike!

Today was quite a day. We started off with a scrumptious meal of scrambled eggs and bacon, and then we got ready for the field. Long and perilous, epic and grueling, the group hiked for around 2 hours to the bog we were promised would change our lives. Many soldiers fell along the way, but the traps (roots and holes) of the trail could not deter us; the will of an ISAMR member simply cannot be vanquished. Finally, after what felt like days of psychological warfare, we arrived at the promised land: the bog. This wasn’t just any ordinary bog, this bog was like a sneak peek at heaven.

The earth was soft as a cloud, and the Cladina Stellaris (a charming variety of lichen) paved the ground as if to say “Welcome to where the angels live. You are safe here.” We took a quick lunch break and commenced our epic work. At this point, the group was familiar with the data collection process, and in no time, probes, quadrants, soil samples, and flags were all put to work in a melodious symphony. After only a few hours, we collected every last drop of data.

“Woof woof!” That’s the sound you want to hear when you return to camp, especially when it comes from Stella, a charismatic golden retriever. Stella was accompanied by Kara’s mom, Sandra Cook, who is a local Churchill artist. Sandra taught us the ins and outs of drawing the iconic Churchill spruce trees (that have only one side with branches). Under her expert supervision, everyone drew a tree (or an object of their choosing) onto a beach rock that we collected days prior. Thank you very much, Sandra!

The evening concluded with a helicopter safety talk from Dr. Brook in anticipation of our journey ahead. This talk was very exciting, but the crackling fire—its soft warmth comforting our tired, cold bodies— and the dimly lit log cabin had everyone feeling very ready for a good night’s sleep. But plans always change. Victorious, we slept. But not for long…

Love,
Jacob and Kara