A most amazing aurora picture from Churchill

Why, you ask, is the picture below so amazing? Read on.

Firstly, it's not really that much of an aurora but look at the rocket launcher. It's being light painted by an approaching vehicle from NatHab. As I was taking the 20 sec exposure I could see it coming up the road and then all of a sudden I could see the headlights sweeping over the rocket launcher and the blockhouse behind it. I crossed my fingers that it would turn out as good as I hoped!

Secondly, I took this picture wearing a tee shirt, jeans, and LLBean slippers. Incredibly the temperature is above freezing! In the past two years it never got above 0F and usually the windchill kept it at -20F or below quite easily. And even though the wind is blowing quite strongly, over 30 mph, the windchill feels at most cool. But I did have to hold on to my tripod to keep it from blowing over.

It's not unusual for me to go out to take pictures in my slippers and jeans but I'm usually wearing my parka, gloves, and Bomber hat and can only stay out for a little while unless I get out of the wind. Tonight there was no rush to get back inside.

There is a downside to this warm temperature - and the RAIN we might have tomorrow incredibly - and that is the Hudson Quest dogsled race is going on from Gillam to Churchill and these warm temperatures are going to be hard on the dogs because they will get overheated trying to pull in the soft warm snow. There is genuine concern for the mushers and their dogs up here as they continue the race.

The Ithaka - Finally

March 7, 2015

Another beautiful day, Churchill-wise, with low winds and high temps around 0F.  But tell that to my toes after being out awhile. I really have to always use foot warmers although I do plan to try out the plastic bag trick: sock liner, plastic bag that won't bunch up somehow, then the couple of wool socks. Note: if you are coming up here or anywhere really cold and plan to be outside for awhile, buy your boots at least two sizes too big so you can comfortably fit in multiple wool socks and foot warmers. I wear a size 9 but got size 11 LLBean boots and was considering 12s.

Back on track. Went out with the 4 North of 58 participants, Lesya, and Karen in komatiks out to the Ithaka.

Check the link but essentially it is a wreck of a small ship that was grounded during a storm back in the 60s on the very low slope tidal area (varies but can be from 1.2 to 6 miles of boulder strewn landscape which can make kayaking a daunting to life-threatening task for the possibly certifiable - read the book "Paddle to the Arctic" to see what I mean). It hasn't budged since. In the summer one can walk out to it. No vendors out there to sell hot chocolate or t-shirts.

Why the "finally"? Last year Linda and I went out and, for me, it was an unmitigated disaster as Linda has reported in her blog. My glasses frosted over, my ski goggles frosted inside, my two camera lenses frosted over, and all my batteries died. I walked around a little blindly and was glad I didn't die.

This year everything was working fine perhaps due to the use of Aquaseal Super Sea Drops on my glasses (thanks to Judith from Earthwatch). We walked around, inside, took pictures of it and the snow, and left with another check on my bucket list.

On the way back we stopped, with my toes protesting, to dig a 20 cm snow pit on the tundra and take temperature measurements in the two snow layers unearthed, weigh the layers, and check for snow type. Snow type is really fascinating. If you can see it. I can't with my glasses and goggles on and I was not about to take off the goggles just in case. Anyways, it's something the snow researchers use to characterize the many different snow pack crystals based on maximum size of crystals in a given layer as well as faceting.

Snow pack is of interest up here because of its water content. Snow pack is very variable up here. On the wind blown areas it is relatively low in depth but hard enough to sculpture which nature is good at. And it squeaks often with a hollow sound when you walk on it. In the forested areas it is deceptively deep and soft and it's fun watching others, not me, try to get back up when they fall in their mandatory snowshoes. The forested deep snow packs also have the most interesting crystals especially near the ground where they generally have melted and reformed into large faceted plates of great beauty.

Warmly back at the Center, for some reason I was quite tired and went to take a nap at 8:00 only to fall asleep. But there were no auroras that night and no social events of note.

All for now.

The trip up with one stumble

Friday/Saturday/Sunday/Monday/Tuesday February 13-17

Leaving on a jet plane, bus, train

Leaving a mostly shoveled roof and Linda behind, a fairly uneventful flight to Winnipeg. Making it past customs was a little hassle this time, however. After initial questioning  about why in the world I would be in Canada in the winter for over 45 days I proceeded to, I thought, exit the airport only to be told to sit in one of those red chairs over there. At least it wasn’t the Group W bench. Or was it? Becoming somewhat flustered I couldn’t even remember what  CNSC stood for and had to grab the contract out of my bag. Apparently there have been instances of people purportedly going to Churchill as “volunteers” but instead seeking out paying work. Anyways, after grilling me he figured I wasn’t bright enough to hold down a real job so let me on my way.

A cab ride and twenty dollars lighter, I arrived at the hotel with plenty of daylight left. So, what’s a visitor to do? Of course, walk, in very cold windchill, over to Chinatown to shop at Sun Wah market. Oh, boy, we are going to have Hot and Sour Soup this Friday, Chinese New Year! Even found the correct vinegar, don’t ask me to spell it. But the durian was too heavy to carry plus I don’t think they would have let me back in the hotel much less the train with it.

Then it was as if an invisible hand (Boston Globe April 1 readers reference)
had directed me down King Street to the Chinese market where I passed


Well, as a poutine newbie I replied that I would go natural. There were many available toppings but I’ll be back plus it’s a small franchise so any time I’m in Canada…..without Linda.
They were quite delicious - french fries, cheese curds, and gravy with a taste of black pepper. I got the snack size so I wouldn’t ruin my dinner.
Dinner? By the time I walked back to the hotel with a fruitless stop at Toad Hall for the Dutch Blitz expansion pack I needed a nap. And then another nap. And then it was 1130. So I just stayed in bed. Dinner would wait for another day.

Saturday - time to recharge the MacAir. But where was the charger? Oh, in the outlet in the kitchen at home (to be continued, sigh!).  Where is the nearest Apple store? All the way across town, many miles and even more kilometers. So I learned to ride the Winnipeg bus system out to Polo Park which turned out to be a significantly sized upscale mall - well, of course, it has an Apple store! Grabbed the charger then headed to the pharmacy to pick up a bunch of items I didn’t want to carry up on the plane. Had an encounter with some sketchy characters in the mall

Back onto the bus - I found out, luckily, that I could get a transfer that would enable me to do a round trip - and off in downtown at Portage Place. Portage Place where there is a Staples that had the charger I needed for the same price and within walking distance of the hotel. But I learned a lot on the bus ride which should come in handy in the future. To make myself feel better I indulged in a Mama burger, fries and A&W root beer at the food court, one of my guilty pleasures. A little more shopping at the elusive Family Foods supermarket and it was back to the hotel to drop everything off and get rested for the walk over to The Forks and to Thida’s for takeout Thai later.

I did manage to watch a bit of the Tournament of Hearts curling on TV starring Manitoba's own Jennifer Jones. I’m sure she had nothing to do with me watching. Was quite remarkable how skilled the players were in drawing and hitting with the stones. That’s not to take anything away from the broom people as I would break my leg and ruin my back trying to do what they do.

Valentine’s day…….I needed my love to keep me warm! So I had to settle for some medium hot ginger stir fry from Thida's Thai. Got one to take on the train, too.


Sunday - packing and checking out then hauling the gear to the train station.

Train was delayed. So VIA bought us lunch at the little cafe in the station. What a surprise! New owners and I hope they make it as the Italian panini was tremendous. Train left an hour late which shouldn’t be a problem especially with getting me some time to head into Thompson for some last minute stuff tomorrow afternoon.

Got to know the train conductors, Tracey and Kevin. And met a couple from Hartford who are going to CNSC for the aurora program but coming up two days early and staying at Blue Sky B&B, Gerald and Jennifore’s BB in town - they want to make sure they see the aurora after having failed elsewhere. Gave them some info. Their flight up confirmed my suspicion that flying into O’Hare, weather permitting, rather than to Toronto/Montreal makes for a better customs experience! But you never know!

Another couple, Tom and Margaret, are venturing up on their own through Saturday staying at the Tundra Inn where they’ll get a night out in a tundra buggy, dog sledding, but no Laura The Cook. It’s the Seaport for them as I doubt the rumor that Gypsy’s is open will be false.

One other couple, young, have yet to be communicative. Parlez vous Francais?

Saw a snowshoe hare out the train window.

Talked until a little after 10, then fell asleep in the middle of a Game of Thrones a la Linda.

Monday - as is Via’s new serving-meals-to cabins/sleeper berths policy, had a good breakfast of oatmeal, cranorange muffin, yogurt and coffee. Last night’s supper was the heralded coconut chicken curry. Will be getting into Thompson about 1 PM, an hour late so we made up a little time overnight. But it turns out to be Louis Riel Day in Manitoba, essentially the founder of the modern province. Interesting story so check the link. Will the stores be open, will Brian get a haircut, will Sarah get her Scotch glass? Stay tuned.

No haircut but yes on the other two. Walked into town with Bill, -20F but very little wind. Finished my pre-Churchill shopping, had lunch at the deli.

Saw a small flock of willow ptarmigan in their white winter feathers out the train window. Expect I'll see more in Churchill.

They speak Aussie! From Brisbane but living for awhile in Augusta, ME. Hope they stay safe as they are doing it on their own and they want to rent a snowmobile. Disappointed when I told them they would not see polar bears most likely. And if they did chance upon one it’d be a mother with cubs and we all know that is not good.

Will get repacked tonight as I’ll probably oversleep tomorrow morning.

Two Friday the 13ths - an omen ignored?

Not only that but I am leaving on February 13th for the solo journey back to the land of lights and dishes. I'll just ignore the 13th part. The reason for the solo journey is Linda, who I count on to keep me warm at night on the train ride and in Churchill, will be staying in Fiskdale for awhile helping Melanie and Andrew with our new and first grandchild, Charlotte. But she will be coming up to join me March 10.

So I expect to be in Winnipeg on February 13th weather permitting which is asking a lot given what New England and the midwest have gone through of late. Looking forward to Thidbeau's Thai restaurant and it's ginger stir fry, a drink at the Fort Garry although I am staying somewhere else, seeing what is going on down at The Forks (similar to Boston's Nathaniel Hall marketplace) and outside on the Red and Assiniboine rivers, and a visit to Chinatown which would not be high on Linda's list. I'll save the Humanitarian Museum for our trip back together in March - it should be open by now, we've only been waiting 3 years!

This trip will be a reunion for us as we will be joined by our dishwashers in arms from our 2013 trip, Lesya and Andrew. Looking forward to FINALLY hearing about their adventures in New Zealand, Ontario, Alberta, Prince Edwards Island, and all stops in between. And we will be once again reunited with Laura the Cook so expect to see a few more pounds on me when I get back. She's already planned the Chinese New Year's dinner which happens a couple of days after I arrive! And I know Heidi, the volunteer coordinator, will the thrilled to see me:

Earthwatch 1 will be almost over when I get there but hope they'll forgive me when I bust out a bottle of PermaFrost. It was a big hit last year. And will finally find out who the mystery woman is who is in all those pictures with Steve - or maybe I just wasn't paying attention.

I've been brushing up on my Australian so I can converse with Sarah although maybe now that she's been away from the bush for so long maybe she's talking more like a Canadian!

Will definitely enjoy having coffee with Sharon and Patsy again after following their adventures on Facebook.

Kim, Philip, and LeeAnn have been mostly silent over the last year but I'm sure we'll have some catching up to do. And maybe Jackie will be back???

And then the polar bear crew will be back in March which is always interesting and fun even though we know we'll never get a helicopter ride to help them with their research....sniffle, sniffle.

Also in March will be the very intense aurora photography week which I had hoped Linda would do this year but too many complications. Maybe next year? But David Marx and Jim Halfpenney are always very gracious in letting us sit in on their lectures where we learn a lot about astrophotography and post-production. Some year it would be great to take the course, not have to wash dishes, and get to shoot all those venues and wee-morning hours they do with their students!

There is a new CNSC director this year who we know nothing about and who will be doing the North of 58 week so we are looking forward to that.

And last but not least are Alan Dyer and Roger "Starman" Woloshyn who will impart their knowledge to the visiting hoards and provide us with wake up calls during the middle of the night when the lights come on. Oh, and Roger, I'm sure, will continue to provide me with a winning cribbage record. As long as I don't count my record against Laura.

Our only disappointment this year is that the Schools On Tundra, Canadian high school students, will not be back this time. They were a great group and even gave me a chance to use about the 12 French words I know. Maybe next year.

So, back to Friday the 13th. With all the positives above I am just going to ignore that whole Friday the 13th thing. Keep tuning in.

(This should have been posted back on February 12 or 13th. Oh, well)