Today was pretty cloudy and the whole tenor of the scenery changed. This is supposed to be much more like it normally is. We got to drive the Deltas quite a bit today and I'm feeling really good about them. With their age, they've all had slight mechanical modifications over the years, so each is slightly different. Something to get used to. I drove one out to Happy Camper School in the morning. That's over to Scott Base, down onto the transition between shore and th Ice, and then part way out the ice road. Happy Camper School is a 2-day survival school that everyone must take in order to be out on the ice, to go to the Pole, or to remote field camps. All the scientists who are going out have to take it, as does any RPSC employees who's duties take them out. Even those who might want to be able to go out on a morale trip must take it in order to be qualified to go. Covers building a snow wall, sleeping trench, using and trouble shooting the stove. I'm told that we shuttle people will get to go in November and I'll be looking forward to it. Especially when it's warmer!
I found out that us early vehicle operators will be the trainers for the ones still to arrive. An added impetus to getting it all down exactly right!
Another word on equipment: we were issued these big white boots that everyone calls bunny boots. While we don't use these in shuttles because they interfere with gas and brake pedals, they are part of our ECW (extreme cold weather) gear and we have to carry them in our bag whenever we go out on the ice roads. They are very warm and have an air chamber around them that you control with a little valve. On the plane the valve had to be open, but in use in cold weather you close it and they really insulate well. Yesterday it was very cold out checking out vehicles and you could really tell the difference in wearing my driving boots--my feet got quite cold in them and I don't think it would have happened with the bunny boots.
Another word on equipment: we were issued these big white boots that everyone calls bunny boots. While we don't use these in shuttles because they interfere with gas and brake pedals, they are part of our ECW (extreme cold weather) gear and we have to carry them in our bag whenever we go out on the ice roads. They are very warm and have an air chamber around them that you control with a little valve. On the plane the valve had to be open, but in use in cold weather you close it and they really insulate well. Yesterday it was very cold out checking out vehicles and you could really tell the difference in wearing my driving boots--my feet got quite cold in them and I don't think it would have happened with the bunny boots.
 |
| The tiniest of openings allows the wind to find its way in with its snow. |
No comments:
Post a Comment