Where there is smoke...

We all know how that proverb ends. In fact I know all too well, because it messed up my plans for Aboriginal Day. Bummer. Actually I'm not too disappointed because instead of stuffing my face with caribou and muktuk (dried whale), I was able to land a job as an EFF or emergency fire fighter. Seriously, I was hired on the spot. Best job interview ever.

Thursday is a territorial holiday, so most people were off work except the fire crew. I had been out until 1 AM on Wednesday at my research site (nicknamed Blueberry) setting up some electronics, so I had slept in and came into the office around 11:30. My boss was about to head into town when the Batphone (the fire line) rang and there was a report of smoke north of town. So he went by to check it out and it was indeed a fire. The crews were scrambled (just like fighter jets) and the helicopters took off from the base. All very exciting. On Friday we were supposed to be doing a fuel moisture experiment so while everyone in the office took on fire roles, I was left to get things ready for the next day. That took until about 5. By this time the fire was going pretty good and the firefighters were still out. I suppose I still could have gone into town to go to the feast, but I chose to stick around and see if I could be of help around the base. I went into town at 8 to play some frisbee and I guess it was a holiday because no one really showed up. I was able to throw for a bit with a guy I met from Simon Fraser who is in Inuvik for the summer, so that was good. I think it was because of the holiday so hopefully there will be more of a game next week. I'm going to dominate.

That night I had another slo-pitch game and we ended up 10-running the other team. I went 4 for 4 with 3 runs scored. It was a pretty decent game for me. Next game Sunday, looking to keep my .909 BA intact.

Then on Friday morning, the fire outside town was still burning, so I got to head out and map the perimeter with some of the firefighters and then come back and download the data. Then a huge storm came rolling in and there was a reported fire up near Tuktoyuktuk, on the coast. I was asked to head out in a fixed wing (Cessna 207) to do a smoke patrol which involved locating the fire, and describing its action as well as mapping it. On the way to EV-003 (each number is assigned a name in sequential order) another fire was called in, and we were diverted to check on that one. So I ended up being in the plane for a couple of hours. When I returned, another fire was reported down south, fortunately the water bombers had just arrived so they were dispatched along with another fire crew to fight that fire. There were also a large number of lightning strikes happening, so my boss said "Greg, you did a good job on the last smoke patrol, I'm going to hire you as an EFF and you are going to go out and do another smoke patrol tonight." I was like, yes please. So I just returned from another two hours in the plane, fortunately with no fires sited.

So it's been a busy couple of days. I will try to get some fire pictures up here in the next few days (I think I am allowed, but I'll have to check).

I was also keeping tabs on the NHL draft that was happening today. I did it via Jay Onrait's blog on TSN. The guy is hilarious. I encourage everyone to read it. Random thoughts about the draft:

1. Looks like the Leafs are finished with Redlight Raycroft. I thought it actually looked like a good deal for the Leafs at first. That was until a number of top-rated players in the draft slid past the position the Leafs would have drafted in if they had kept their pick. Average age of Leafs players...rising.

2. I love the new Washington Capitals jerseys.

3. Jim Balsillie is an idiot. So what if everyone knows you are thinking about moving the team, wait until you own it before you start selling season tickets in Hamilton. Now he probably won't even get the Preds. Dumb.

Steve Kokelj is in town tomorrow and Trevor arrives Monday and with all these fires and a short crew, there is lots of stuff to do around here. Looks like I won't be bored ever again.

May the force be with you.

You can call me Foxtrot-10

That's right. I've got my own call sign. I recently finished my aeronautical radio operator's course and I've been issued my radio. Rad.

It has been a crazy week here in the Delta, lots of field time in new places. Chris Burn (a professor from the Geography Department at Carleton) was in town last week and couldn't get in touch with his field assistant, so he called me. I had the privilege of accompanying CRB into the outer Delta, cruising in a chopper (Eurocopter A-Star for those aerospace boyzzz) for 12 hours of field work. It was a beautiful day. Had my first glimpse of the Arctic Ocean in 2007 and there was lots of ice left, but some open water (right) was indeed visible. A visit to a somewhat famous field site in permafrost circles (Illisarvik), watching a helicopter sling fuel barrels with ease, a visit to Tuktoyuktuk, some flying around the pingos (Below. Note the large fire that happened about three weeks ago on the largest pingo in Canada and also a national landmark) and a quick nap on the tundra. CRB has almost a dual personality going on. He has a reputation for being a very tough teacher and marker (all true) but is great to help out in the field. He is also great in the classroom and is probably my favourite professor that I've had at Carleton, he really teaches you and gets you to think and improve. I've come to realize that marks are overrated and that most marks these days are hugely inflated. That's a rant about the education system that will have to wait...

Then on Friday I was out with the forestry crew setting spruce budworm traps on the Peel River. This involved another long day, but the boating was beautiful and we went as far as the NWT/Yukon border on the Peel. Unfortunately I think we just missed seeing the site for the RCMP Lost Patrol. Maybe I'll get there before I leave and be able to fill in that tale. Andy (the recurring character in this blog who is the renewable resource officer for Ft. McPherson) came with us and we did some cabin checks including this cool one on the banks of the Peel (stage right). On Saturday we were back down south setting more traps, this time on the Arctic Red River, which I think was a nicer river which cooler scenery (I think if I posted pics, they would mostly look the same, it's more of an experience thing). Lots of geese on this trip. Also a half hour of bush whacking after getting kind of lost in the woods. It's amazing how disoriented you can get! Thankfully we found our way back to the boat. On both river trips we noted bear and wolf tracks on the shore, but no live sightings yet. These days included short visits to Fort McPherson and Tsiighetchic (both nice little hamlets with no more than 500 people) and trips across the ferry on the Mackenzie River. Not exactly on the scale of ferries from Vancouver to Victoria, but an experience none-the-less.

I also got my ball season started off. I was a bit late to my first game because of my trip with CRB, but once I arrived I played some CF and managed to go 3 for 3 in my first game. However, it was all for not in a losing cause. We played again on Sunday and I played well but was frustrated with myself when I I made a dumb mistake on the basepaths and got doubled off after a line drive that was miraculously caught by the 2B. It was right after a great play stretching a single into a double, with a sweet slide that just beat the tag. So for the game I went 3 for 4 but need to think a bit more on the field and improve my fielding. I'll try to take some photos at my next game. All in all, it's pretty fun so far.

Also, I found the ultimate players in Inuvik and I am getting ready for some serious disc on Thursday. Can't wait since it's easily been more than a month since I've thrown.

The 21st of June is National Aboriginal Day which is big here, so I should have a story or two to share on Friday. It's also the summer solstice so that means 24 hours of daylight. Fortunately I will be up till 5 AM on the 22nd doing some research work so I will have some good photos of the midnight sun for everyone.

Peace out.

Mackenzie Delta Update

Well, 4 weeks has come and gone pretty quickly I must say. I survived the time alone and now it is starting to get busy around here with fire season just around the corner (lots of new people). Looking forward to doing some training (hover exit, firefighting 101 etc.) this coming week.

There's been some exciting moments to share. I shall attempt to do this in list format Click on photos for a larger version.

1. I got to shoot a real gun. Yesssss! I was able to go to the gun range with the renewable resource officers for a BBQ and some gun shooting (I guess that is pretty redneck). I was able to take a 12 gauge shotgun for a test drive and after working through some of the basics had an opportunity to try my hand at some skeet shooting. I went head to head with the girlfriends for best score and came out on top with 14 of 25 pigeons hit. It was a great time and Andy helped out with my shooting prowess a lot. The second photo on the left is a direct hit on one of the pigeons (see top left of photo for clay pigeon explosion). I hope I can get another chance to shoot later this summer. However I don't think I would be able to shoot at anything that is alive, haven't developed the guts to do that yet. All the guys said that duck hunting is fun though. The BBQ was also delicious and I used the opportunity to chow down. I'm not sure where it all goes, but I can certainly pack it in when required. A good time for sure.

2. Allergies. Holy f*&% they are bad right now. I think it is a combination of pollen from the trees (ironic a bit given my research subject) and the fact that Andy's dog was around one day last week (more so this). I can't seem to shake them and needed to go and get some eye drops because my eyes occasionally just go nuts and I can't see a thing.

3. Ending my semi-retirement from sports using balls. I guess I've played soccer, but that comment was more directed at baseball. I haven't played for a few years (other than wiffle) and it's mostly been the ol' flatball (frisbee) for the past few years. Well due to the lack of ultimate being played around here (trying to change that) I've joined a slo-pitch team as previously mentioned. The EGT (E. Gruben Transport) team is hopefully ready to roll and we'll have some success during the season. Games start Tuesday and I've been training hard to get ready (yeah...sure). I think hitting a home run would be awesome, and I would definitely Sammy Sosa it for sure. I'll keep you updated on the only home run chase that actually matters this year!! Barry who?

4. Games were supposed to begin today, but that was pushed back due to the fact that I probably picked up enough glass off the ball diamond to reconstruct about 4 40s of Vodka. i wish I had a picture of this. Saturday was field clean-up day and so I dusted off my ground crew cap to go and help. In total I think an entire wheelbarrow of glass was removed from the field. Welcome to Inuvik where if slo-pitch is the official sport, underage kids drinking and throwing bottles at the fences in the ball diamond is a close second. Seriously, I think diamonds in places like inner city New York would be more respected than this one. Well once the glass was picked up and the diamond was resurfaced and raked, it looked much much better.

5. First trip on the river took place yesterday. What a questionable trip. I randomly met a guy at the field clean-up and he said he was going out to his cabin after to see how it was after the winter. Well I ended up being the only person along with him who stayed to do some raking and so he invited me along. I was like, yeah what the hell. First there was a quick stop at his house to grab a cooler of beers (along with consuming a couple) and to eat a couple of burgs. Then off to his boat, which floated but was in some disrepair (i.e. the plug was missing so it was replaced by a branch whittled down and hammered into place). Yikes. Too late to back out now though. So we went a nice 30 minute boat ride up the Mackenzie River to Airport Lake and his cabin (disclaimer: his cabin was more like an industrial trailer used in mining camps that he had purchased and moved out this past winter. Needless to say it looks a little out of place). I helped get a little bit of work done around the place. This guy finished 5 beers over the course of the two hours (saving time by drinking two in the boat on the way) so I was limiting my consumption of beer to 2.5 in case I needed to jump in and drive the boat. I suppose he is a Newfie and they can hold their booze. Anyways the boat leaked while we were working on the trailer, so we we needed to bail it out before leaving...superb. A little north wind made the ride back a bit chilly, but we made it back in one piece. An adventure for sure. I heard from my boss this morning that this guy is a known character in town. Nice.

5. In a research update, I am still waiting for some stuff arrive from Arizona for my M.Sc. project and it should finally come in this week. The whole plan of arriving early to capture the beginning of tree growth is kind of shot now though. Hope this won't adversely affect anything. I called the guy from Arizona and I was glad I did because I think he has severe brain damage from all the recreational drugs he consumes (he always sounds like he is high when I talk to him on the phone). He wasn't going to send a bunch of stuff that I required and had e-mailed him
about three times already (spanning February to April) and the he had confirmed via e-mail. Wow. Great business management going on there. Thumbs up. So there should be more river trips coming up soon.

6. A wildlife viewing list that I will try to keep updated monthly.

Lynx, Lesser Scaup, Common Eider, Northern Pintail, Greater Yellowlegs, Beaver, Muskrat, Golden Eagle.

7. The Sens lost. Disappointment reigns supreme. I watched the last game at the Mackenzie Hotel by myself. it was probably for the best. As Jeff Pelton said, I probably had a few tears in my beard. Well I am consoled by the fact that it was still a great season and amazing playoff run that hopefully will be repeated next year. I also hope that all the support I heard about in Ottawa carries through to next year, although I'm sure after they lose their first game next year, the same people who were cheering madly on Elgin St. will be calling to trade Alfredsson again. Idiots. Oh well, looking forward to the off-season.

7. Some pictures from a recent trip (Thursday) down the Dempster. The first was just after a truck passed. With the right conditions, it gets amazingly dusty and you can't see a thing in front of you. Kind of scary when travelling 100 km/h. The second is a photo is of a nice surprise we got when another car passed up also going at high speeds. The jingle for Apple Auto Glass played in my head for the rest of the trip.

Good times in Inuvik. Hope everything is well as always. Comments are always appreciated.

Adios.

Happy June 1st

June is here and so is the sweet weather. It's currently 14 degrees in Inuvik and it is supposed to get up to 20 with nothing but sun (no seriously, the sun doesn't set anymore so I'm in the midst of 24-hour daylight) for the weekend. I've been working on a phenology project for the past few days (basically looking at the blooming of various trees across the region) and I have managed to travel down to Tsiighetchic a couple of times now.

The hamlet is actually located across the river and is only accessible by boat and because of the ice break-up the ferries have been docked, however the ferries are starting to run tomorrow so that means that the road to Dawson is now open. Hopefully I will get a chance to visit sometime this summer. The route to Dawson is the famous Dempster Highway. An all-weather (thus unpaved), year round road. It's supposed to be a great drive.

This week there has been a meeting of the region's renewable resource officers at the bunkhouse. A couple of them (Andy who hails from Parry Sound but is the officer for Fort MacPherson and Ian the officer from Aklavik) are staying at the bunkhouse so I have some company until Tuesday. There is also a cook for the meetings, so I've been mooching on leftovers for the week., excellent!! The meeting are mostly legislation and a refresher for each of the officers. However, there was a fitness component on Wednesday and I got a chance to take part. I'm proud to note that in the three laps of the obstacle course, I set the best time of 2:47 with the next best time coming in at 3:00. I soon got the nickname rabbit from one of the older guys... Here is a picture from the strength part of the course (dragging a simulated bear carcass):

Tomorrow there is some time at the shooting range and then a BBQ, so I get to tag along and perhaps work on my sharpshooting skills.

Looks like I am also playing softball this year and I am the new statistician for the Inuvik Slo-Pitch League. That's definitely going on the CV!

I have also decided that having no MSN is good for the soul. I am much too reliant on technology as it is, so phasing out a small part of it is a very good thing. My previous reaction is simply a reflection of this dependence that I need to wean myself off. Checking e-mail twice a day and the occasionally blog posting is about it and it is very refreshing.

As the final note, I'd like to say Happy Birthday to my friend Matt Chiasson back in Ottawa. He's turning 21 and unfortunately I won't be there to celebrate. Hope it's a good one!

Lates.

Grinding my gears

I'm quite angry at this moment in time. I only have a single internet connection this summer and unfortunately, it is a Government of Northwest Territories connection. So apparently every connection signal travels to Yellowknife and then returns to Inuvik. This means they are monitoring everything, which I'm sure is a good idea and is not new to those of you who work in the government. So I posted videos via YouTube which is now blocked (I can understand this one because watching the videos sucks a lot of bandwidth), I can't listen to CBC Radio 3 or even read the blog because the site is blocked (again I can understand the internet radio thing), but when it crosses the line is blocking ports so that I can't use MSN. This is the primary way in which I keep contact with people. What the fuck! And in my situation, it's not like I can just go home and log on to MSN there, this is the ONLY connection I have all summer. This is bullshit. I am pretty confident every single thing I do on the internet (Facebook, my fantasy baseball on Yahoo! and probably even this blog will be shutdown within a matter of days. If that happens I am going to starting taking names and kicking ass. I understand the reasoning behind it, and maybe my e-mail to the tech guys in Yellowknife will work, but if not, looks like I've got e-mail to keep in touch with people. Apologies if I don't get a chance to talk to anyone until September.

I realize this is completely lame on my part. I should be able to get by without MSN for 4 months and I will probably have to suck it up and do so. Maybe it will be refreshing and put an end to some time wasting. It's just that with the whole living alone until the end of June thing and then all of August, I get pretty bored and I'm a people person so being able to chat with friends is always nice. We'll see how this shakes down in the next few days.

In other news, I just paid $8 for a 2L carton of milk. I think that is expensive, but I'm not really sure. Anyone care to let me know what the going rate for milk is in Ottawa or elsewhere? In fact post a bunch of items and their prices and I will find out how much they are here, that'll be fun. Perhaps I will take some pictures in the supermarket, but seeing how this summer is going, it will be confiscated.

Sens lost last night, rough game. Hopefully they will be able to pull it together on Wednesday now that they have an idea of how Anaheim is going to be playing. Fingers crossed.

I only need to wear one thermal shirt underneath my Windstopper jacket on my bike ride to and from town. That must be a sure sign it is warming up finally. Ice is still on the lake though:

Thanks for letting me vent.

G'night.

Victoria Day Weekend and Video Revolution

So some people might be wondering if I do any work here given that my last two posts have been about watching hockey games and cheering on the Sens. Well as a matter of fact I do. Very little at times, but work none the less. Actually this past weekend I decided to go out to my field site just north of Inuvik on East Channel. However, although the ice isn't really melting yet, enough of the river further south has melted that it pushes water all the way north and there is mechanical breakup (or at least that is the official sounding name that I was told) on the edges of the river. So for safety reasons I decided to helicopter out. It's kind of cool to have a helicopter at your disposal.

The trip was delayed until Sunday as the helicopter needed some repairs (just fills you full of confidence when they say that..haha). I had arranged to have one of the guys who works at the forest management base come out with me but he was a no show. Sometimes that happens in this town...and the fact that it was a long weekend. I'm sure he was just sleeping in. Wink. So in my prudence I decided to go out alone. The helicopter would drop me off and then pick me up when I called them in with the sat phone after I was finished.

This is one of those situations where after you get back you think about all the reasons you shouldn't have done what you just did. I mean the site isn't all that remote but the helicopter had to drop me about 500 m from the actual spot where I was sampling and it was kind if cold (-4 or so) so I guess it would have created some drama if something did happen. Oh well. Nothing did and here's the blog posting to prove it. I know some people just wanted some drama. Maybe later in the summer.

I also want to dispel some rumours that there are actually no trees here. This is specifically for a couple of roommates, who may or may not be reading:

Well boys...looks I found some trees. Guess I won't be back early!

So basically the whole point of the trip was to collect some tree cores. Which I accomplished with little to no problem.

I've had the chance to ride in a number of helicopters over my time doing fieldwork and the whole experience isn't all that new, but I though the viewers at home might like to see a landing in action so I made a video (which I have recently learned to include in this blog) to give you an indication:

Take off.

Wahooo!!! Sens in the Finals

What a goal!!!! I thought Spezza had it a bit earlier in the OT, but the C is on Alfie's sweater for a reason. What a huge goal! Looked kind of harmless but looks like he handcuffed Miller with the shot and the crowd went wild! Well I did at least.

Daniel Alfredsson has to be considered the MVP of these playoffs!!!

Next stop....the Stanley Cup Finals!!!!

Man I wish I could on Elgin St. right now. Instead I will settle for going for a bike ride on the Dempster Highway.
I'm out.