Our plan is to fly into the Arctic Refuge landing on skis on a frozen lake, but uncertainties about the solidity of the lakes, and wind direction and speed at the moment of landing, require us to have several back-up plans. As a result, we have to prepare five possible camp locations, and five complete sets of intensive survey plots, a total of 30, which means a big headache for the GIS mapping team. Jim Johnson, a member of our crew based in Anchorage, calculates that we need 220 hours to run all the GIS maps, including another 135 rapid survey plots for the helicopter crew all across the coastal plain of the Refuge. We have five days before we leave! Fortunately Jim figures out that with multiple computers the rapid plots can be completed. Our plan is to have Rick Lanctot, the Alaska Shorebird Coordinator who is working with us this season, bring them when he joins us on June 8th.

(Click image to enlarge) Every piece of gear has to be thoroughly checked out and tested in Anchorage. Once we’re on the tundra, there is no way to get a replacement.

(Click image to enlarge) Robin bonds with Shadow, our travel partner for the drive north, and trusty companion for Tamara on her drive back to Anchorage alone.

(Click image to enlarge) Our pile of gear grows during the week as we collect borrowed and purchased items we will need, while our fears of fitting into out pickup truck for the drive north grow as well.

While the men are busy working on plot selection, Robin Hunnewell, also of Manomet, together with Ayme Johnson & Metta, are provisioning the team for 3 weeks on the tundra. Running around Anchorage with a pick-up and a van we meet at the warehouse each day to set up and test all our gear, as well as prepare and pack nearly $2000 of food and supplies for our team of nine.

On Thursday, Robin & Ayme finish laminating maps at the office. At 8 pm after pizza while working, several of us head out to the Fly by Night club, a local musical comedy review where we let off steam and celebrate Stephen & Metta’s ninth wedding anniversary. Jim and Ayme keep working, missing the opportunity to celebrate Jim’s 35th birthday at the same time.

(Click image to enlarge) We finally have everything assembled, and are ready for the marathon loading session.

(Click image to enlarge) Robin shines as the organizer for the loading effort, finding just the right space for each piece of gear.

(Click image to enlarge) The last few pieces of gear just fit into the back of the truck.

Friday afternoon Stephen, Robin, and Metta pack the truck at the warehouse for the long drive to the north slope. Looking at the photos of our gear pile before and the packed truck afterwards, we realize that folks back home will be perplexed about why this is such a psychological stress. The challenge is getting EVERYTHING we need for survival in the arctic for a crew of nine into ONE pick up truck. Then five of us, our stalwart colleague Tamara who will drive all the way up just to bring back the empty truck, and her 80 lb. black lab Shadow, have to spend a very long day from Fairbanks to the north slope in the extended cab as well. Jim and Ayme will finish the GIS work and their packing, and then join us in Fairbanks on Sunday. We all meet at a local brew pub for a last night celebration and feast. Finally we have time to bond and laugh and tell stories about previous field seasons while building excitement for this one.

(Click image to enlarge) We did it! Hooray Robin!

(Click image to enlarge) This is the view of Denali on the road down the hill from Rick Lanctot’s house, our auspicious start for a long drive north.

(Click image to enlarge) We rendezvous with the crew and tie on the last few boat bags.

Saturday morning we come down the high valley from Rick's house to a glorious view of Denali and the Alaska Range in the distance. An auspicious beginning, we are treated to views of Denali all through the drive. Arriving in Fairbanks we make our way to the home of Steve Kendall, ornithologist for the Arctic Refuge, who will be back with his camp on the Canning River this year. Steve will also join our rapid survey crew for a week during the busiest period of surveys. Steve and his crew have invited us to a cookout together with Joe Liebezeit and a crew from the Wildlife Conservation Society that will be working in the oil fields again this year. Each camp will be doing a part of a cooperative study of shorebirds on the coastal plain of the north slope. The mosquitoes quickly realize a bonanza of mammals, about 40 including dogs, has congregated, so they feast on us while we feast on BBQ corn, chicken, salmon, and salads. It’s interesting to see the different ways people handle the insects, from complete disregard to intense frustration and slapping. Our strategy is to drink a beer quickly enough that we won’t mind too much for the rest of the evening.