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Monday, October 29, 2007
Wolves
I checked the Environment Canada weather this morning for Alert and it
said it was going to be sunny. Waited all day but there was no sun, it
was clear, that was the closest it came.
I went out for a walk after lunch and it was cold. There was no wind so
the -28°C was really -28°C, the coldest yet with no windchill. I saw a
couple of the wolves, they hang near the back of the kitchen, even
though it is next to impossible for them to get in the dumpsters, they
still hang out there. It was hard to take a picture with low light, the
one actually came up to me and was about 3 ft away. This is one of the
young ones, so it has been around humans from birth. I think he moved
his head at the last second.
This one is a little better. I think there are 8 of them in total.
Some of the sunny skies today.
Just as I was uploading this entry the power went out and the fire alarm
sounded, again, this time it was in the power plant, that wouldn't be a
good thing. The all clear was given in about 20 minutes. It seemed a
little more serious as you walked through the halls in pitch black, with
only emergency lighting every so often to give us light.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween
Happy Halloween from Alert. This is the first Halloween I have missed,
and hopefully it will be the last. Looking forward to heading home. They
aren't making it easy for me, this morning they informed us that there
would be a 24 hr delay due to mechanical problems with the Herc in
Trenton. If it doesn't get off tomorrow, it could mean another week up
here. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Home Sweet Home
We ended up leaving Alert on Friday at 10:45am, it was nice to be
getting on the aircraft. We had to stop in Thule for refueling and to
pick up a guy there. Here we are getting off the airplane and heading
into the OPS building.
We got some good news while we waited, we were not going to Iqaluit for
the night, instead we were going directly back to Trenton. We would be
home a day early. It was avery long flight, just over 7 hours from Thule
to Trenton, not to mention the 1.5 hours from Alert to Thule. In the end
it was worth it, there was no sun in Thule, but there was daylight. We
flew through sun and then back into darkness. I still had another 2 hour
drive home after we landed. And finally on Saturday morning I saw the
sun again, you don't realize how much you miss it until you haven't seen
it for 3 weeks. Here is one of the air crew checking the aircraft before
we took off from Thule.
Today Claudia, Angela and I were playing road hockey and there was an
older gentleman walking down the street. I was wearing my Alert fleece
and as he passed he was looking at us. Then I heard him holler "When
were you in Alert?", after telling him I was there for the last three
weeks, he told me he was there 25 years ago, he was in construction and
he built alot of the buildings. He was curious if things have changed,
he remembers making alot of money because there was nothing to spend it
on, I told things were still the same.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Back in the field
After a couple of days at home, I'm back in the field. I was originally
scheduled to travel to Experimental Lakes Area near Kenora on Monday,
but due to my delay in Alert, my trip was pushed back a couple of days.
I flew into Winnipeg ans stayed in Kenora on Wednesday night. Thursday
morning I opened my curtains to see about four deer.
On the way into the site I saw a pair of bald eagles. Here is one in the
trees.
Here is the other one in flight.
Shortly after that a rabbit ran along the road. On the drive from
Winnipeg last night there were alot of deer along the sides of the Trans
Canada. The weather has been good, some snow and mild temperatures.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Fresh Snow
It snowed last night.
It was a light snow that covered all of the trees.
Close-up.
The path from the site.
A sunshine recorder.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
More eagles before heading home...
We finished most of what we had to get done before heading home.
On the way out we saw more eagles, we stopped to watch this one.
We had one of the students throw a snowball in the direction of the
eagle so it would take off.
Some of the scenery.
Heading into Winnipeg.
The Winnipeg Airport.
Some of the fire fighting water bombers.
A British Airways aircraft on the tarmac.
We ended up catching an earlier flight out of Winnipeg. I should be
sticking around Toronto for awhile.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Regina Bound
Heading out to our Bratt's Lake site, south of Regina for a few days.
While waiting at the gate, noticed a lot of commotion down on the ground.
One of the ground crew guys was taken away in an ambulance. Closeup of
the fire truck.
The weather in Regina was good when we landed and stayed that way
through most of the day.
It was only about -25°C with the wind chill, so it wasn't much colder
than what we left in Toronto.
As you can see there isn't much accummulation where it is flat, but once
you stick an object on the ground, the drifts start to form.
As it turned out this was the only day with the sun.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Blizzard Conditions...
Woke up on Wednesday morning to a blizzard warning from Environment
Canada. A blizzard warning is issued when winds of 40 km/h or more, are
expected to cause widespread reductions in visibilities to less than one
kilometre, due to blowing snow, for at least four to six hours. We made
it to the site and finished up what had to be done, but had to leave
early due to the conditions. The winds were averaging 44 km/h and wind
chill values were -30°C.
I took these pictures from the warmth of the car while waiting for my
sherpa.
Back in Regina, the conditions were much better and we were able to
catch an earlier flight back to Toronto.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Cold in Kapuskasing
Drove up to Kapuskasing with a colleague on Tuesday. It is about a 10
hour drive from Toronto. We have a couple of sites to visit over the
next couple of days. Kapuskasing is the site of the GM Cold Weather
Development Centre. Temperatures hovered around -20 to -25 while we were
there.
Tembec is the major industry in Kapuskasing. The mill specializes in
stud lumber.
I tried to make it look like the the train engine was spewing smoke.
There is quite abit of snow on the ground, close to 1 metre.
This picture reminded me of the reflection you would see on a lake.
Gas prices up here reached 114.5.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Bettles, Alaska
Bettles is further north than Iqaluit, Nu but not further north than
Pond Inlet (or Alert). A map showing where Bettles is located.
The site was on the north side of town. Some of the trees had to be cut
down and cleared. The ground was like walking on sponge. It wasn't flat
and some places would suck you in. Below it a few feet is the permafrost
layer.
This building was made in Fairbanks and brought up to Bettles on the ice
road last winter. There was no power at the site yet, it seems the
National Park Services gets tied up in the same red tape and levels of
bureaucracy that we encounter when setting up our sites. They had a
portable generator for the training of the operators.
The airstrip at Bettles is quite busy, they are three air taxi companies
that fly in and out a couple of times a day.
It was very quiet and peaceful at the site, save for when the generator
was going. Also the constant hum of the mosquitos in your ear was
distracting.
This guy was hanging on the wall in the lounge of the lodge I was
staying in.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Third Time Zone...
I'm in my third time zone in three weeks. This week I'm in Regina, will
be here all week. The weather should be good for most of the week.
My ride for the week, a Honda CRV, notice how clean it is.
In case you forgot how flat the prairies really are.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The Living Skies
It rained Tuesday morning, and when it rains out here it gets messy. The
soil sticks to your shoes and you grow a few inches. We went to Dog
River (Rouleau) and had lunch at the Dog River Hotel. Not sure what will
happen to Rouleau now that Corner Gas has wrapped up for good. The CRV
after traveling the Rouleau road.
A few sunset photos from the site.
Along the RY Trail and Correction Rd.
The land of the living skies.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Moonbeam
After a few days at home I was off to Moonbeam, Ontario for another air
tower installation. We drove from Toronto to New Liskeard the first day
and then up to Moonbeam on day 2. This is the last of my travel until
the new year.
Where is Moonbeam?
Monday, February 02, 2009
Back on the Road
I am back on the road after staying put during December and January. I
am at the Experimental Lakes Area this week. I flew into Winnipeg and
was able to see Auntie Fumi in the morning. I dropped off some videos
for Dad. From Winnipeg it is about a 4 hour drive.
Crossing the border back into Ontario.
The weather was good, sunny but cold.
Map showing where ELA is.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Following the Path
The camp manager has a new puppy, it is a 12 week old Newfoundland dog.
His name is Taiga.
There was a path behind the building, so I followed it.
Some snow caught in the tree.
This one looked like a sea serpent.
The path leads up to the top of a ridge behind the site. I found a cairn
at the top.
The cairn is dedicated to the spirit and people of ELA.
Looking towards the southeast.
Looking southwest.
I didn't have time to explore the path any further.
Trying to take my own picture with the new camera, not as easy as with
the point and shoot.
Some moss hanging from a branch.
Lots of rabbit tracks, but didn't see any while I was there.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Saskatchewan Day Trip
I did a day trip out to our site just south of Regina. I was able to
catch an early flight out of Toronto and land by 11:00 local time. I was
there to replace an instrument. I lucked out with the weather, the
forecast all week was for -30°C windchill. It turned out to be sunny,
-15°C and very little wind.
There was still a lot of drifting snow from the winds earlier in the
week.
My rental vehicle for the day was a Jeep Liberty.
I finished what I had to do and then it was back to the airport for the
last flight back to Toronto. I saw a snow owl on the way back, actually
saw it when I was going to the site and it was still on the same power
pole when I went by 5 hours later. It was quiet at the airport when I
checked in as I still had a couple of hours until my flight. I was back
home before midnight, it made for a long day.
Monday, February 23, 2009
A New Site
This week I'm out in Alberta to install a new precipitation monitoring
site, actually I'm re-installing the site. It was shut down in 2003.
Waiting for my flight in Toronto.
Esther is about a 4.5 hour drive from Edmonton (where I flew into) or
about 3.5 from Calgary. It is close to the Saskatchewan border.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
In the Middle of Nowhere
It was cloudy most of the day, but just before leaving the site the sun
came out.
The site is in the middle of grazing land.
My ride for the week is another Jeep Liberty.
Looking towards the north.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Who would've thought...
When I planned to come here, I figured getting a hotel room would be the
least of my worries, wrong. It turns out there is major work in the area
on the Keystone Pipeline Project. This is an undertaking by Trans Canada
Pipeline. As a result I spent the first two nights at the Antelope Inn
in Oyen and the third night at the Super 8 which is 4 km north of Oyen.
The only room I could get was this one with three queen beds.
I found this project overview information on the Trans Canada Pipeline
website. The 3,456-kilometre (2,148-mile) Keystone Pipeline will
transport crude oil from Hardisty, Alberta to U.S. Midwest markets at
Wood River and Patoka, Illinois and to Cushing, Oklahoma. The Canadian
portion of the project involves the conversion of approximately 864
kilometres (537 miles) of existing Canadian Mainline pipeline facilities
from natural gas to crude oil transmission service and construction of
approximately 373 kilometres (232 miles) of pipeline, pump stations and
terminal facilities at Hardisty, Alberta. The U.S. portion of the
project includes construction of approximately 2,219 kilometres (1,379
miles) of pipeline and pump stations. A picture off of the internet.
The pipeline construction is approached like an assembly line, with
workers and equipment travelling down the pipeline, completing various
operations in sequence. A welding hut photo from the internet.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Where's Richard?
This was the first morning that the sun was out, but it also meant it
was going to be a cold one.
The road into the site, definitely one site where a 4x4 is required.
This is what some of our newer buildings look like, vandal and rodent
proof.
The temperature was -24°C and with the wind it was -34°C windchill.
This is something new that we have started using, it is a Satellite
Personal Tracker, also known as SPOT. It allows us to check-in with the
office while we are in the field to let them know we are okay and have
made it to where we are suppose to be. It has four functions, it can
send an e-mail for help, an e-mail to say OK, a 911 emergency request or
it can track your movement. A lot of times we are in areas where there
is no cell coverage, this allows us to still check in with the office.
It uses the GPS satellites to pin point your location and then it uses
the communication satellites to send out an e-mail to people on your
list. Each e-mail has a Google maps link that shows where you are. It
also allows you to have shared
web pages that show your movements. They say that if that couple
from Montreal who got lost near Golden, BC had a SPOT they would have
been found within hours and not 10 days later.
A few more photos as I was leaving the site to drive back to Edmonton.
The huge holding tanks near Hardisty, AB.
A Google maps satellite view.
The setting sun in Leduc, AB. Staying out near the airport before flying
back to Toronto friday morning.
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