April

One week has passed by quickly. The weather remained cloudy with light snow. In this arctic desert, snow flakes may come tumbeling out of the clouds all day leaving only a trace of accumulation. Not accounting for drifting, I would guess that there is less than 4 inches of total, current, snow pack here. Non the less Steve and I struck out on a fine ski this recent Sunday logging almost 20 km on lake Fergusen ( the local water supply) across its lenght and back. The sun came out, which shone brilliantly on the fresh white hills. In contrast, any crevice or bold releif in the rock, was sharply etched by the wind. As I moved my skis across the frozen lake I saw an arctic fox up ahead of us in the distance putting down yet another line of tiny paw prints. When we stopped for lunch in the shelter of a massive boulder an arctic hare bounced out form a bunch of shrub willow turning off into the snow blending into the color of his own.
Flights to greenland are ramping up as we prepare for two camp "put ins" next weekend. Put INs, are the innital flights or flight, into a camp in which the first LC 130 cargo planes bring in the crew along with all of the important life support systems they will need. Barring a jag of bad weather, several conclusive "missions" will be flown untill the camp is up to "summer" season speed.

I have yet to down load our recent photos which will take some figuring as I do not yet have my personal lap top on the island.
Tomorrow morning I intend to begin daily postings in order to help give a bettter feel of exactly what its like to live and work here.
As we do work over 60 hours a week, and still cook our won meals, bare with me as I bump along with this web log. I have yet to do it much justice.

The strangest thing about yesterday is that one of the 109th pilots brought us a pineapple.