Introducing the Summer 2014 Faculty and Staff

Annie Boucher July 17, 2014

Jeffrey “El Jeffe” Kavanaugh

Hi, I’m Jeff Kavanaugh. As Director, I have the privilege of overseeing this incredible group of students, staff members, and faculty members as they make their way across the icefield. I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta, where I investigate the dynamics and hydrology of glaciers and their response to climatic change. This research has taken me to glaciers in Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon, the Canadian Rockies, Arctic Canada, and Antarctica.

Ben “Partanimal” Partan

This is my eleventh summer on the icefield, where my primary role is to maintain the buildings and snowmobiles. My background is in carpentry, chemistry, electric wiring, furnace-cleaning, public relations, teaching, maple syrup production, and scientific logistics. This fall, I’m starting a Master’s in Earth Sciences at the University of Maine in Orono.

Stanley “Stan The Man” Pinchak

Hi, I am Stanley Pinchak. It is my pleasure to again join JIRP as auxiliary staff, and as member of the JIRP Temperature Project this field year. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and Icefield experiences with the students as well as learning from them. It is the opportunity to learn from the staff, faculty, and students which brings me back. Having the chance to get in some turns over the summer is an added bonus.

Matt “Rat King” Pickart

My name is Matt Pickart, and I’m one of the safety staff this year. This will be my third summer on the icefield; I was a JIRP student in 2011 and I joined the staff last year. I’m from Falmouth, Massachusetts, and I graduated from Dartmouth College last year, where I majored in Earth Sciences. [Editor’s addition: Matt was voted Most Eligible Bachelor on the icefield in 2013.]

Zach “Surefoot” Miller

Hi! I’m a native Juneauite, and a third year JIRPer. My greatest feats on the program have included being Santa Claus for the first annual JIRPmas celebration in 2012, acting as a leader in glacier haute couture, constantly sharpening the cutting edge of punnery, coming in second in the 2014 Staff Week Outhouse Yodeling Competition, and running logistics for the program in 2013. [Editor’s addition: If there is one adjective to define Zach Miller, it could only be “subtle”.]

Jon “Port-a-Jon” Doty

Hi, my name is Jon Doty. I am currently working on a Master of Forestry degree at the University of Maine. I was a 2013 JIRPer, and was thrilled to join safety staff this year and complete another traverse. After such a low snow year this winter, the icefield may be very different; I am excited to observe these changes and facilitate a safe and enjoyable crossing for everyone.

Annie “Boo-shay” Boucher

My name is Annie Boucher, I grew up in Brooklyn, NY, and went to college at Carleton College in Minnesota. I just finished my first year of teaching elementary and middle school science in New York City, and I’m excited to start my Master’s in Earth Science at UMaine in the fall. This is my third summer with JIRP, and I’m most excited about getting to know all of the fabulous students this summer while we dig snow pits!

Mary “Gnotty” Gianotti

Hi my name is Mary Gianotti. I grew up in Juneau and will be a senior next year at Boston University with a major in Earth Science and a minor in Environmental Science. The first half of my summer was spent in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park training to become a National Outdoor Leadership School backpacking and glacier mountaineering instructor. I am excited to work various research technician positions between NOLS contracts after graduation. This will be my second summer up on the icefield and I am extremely happy to be back here with such wonderful students, faculty and staff!

Kate “Can’t Lie” Baustian

Hey, I’m Kate Baustian! Like Matt, this will be my third summer on the icefield and second as a part of the FGER safety staff (with my five other super cute friends). In the JIRP off-season I live outside of Salt Lake City, Utah, where I enjoying skiing and exploring the desert Southwest. This summer, I’m looking forward to working with another brilliant, eclectic group of students while strengthening friendships with returning faculty and staff.

Christopher “Babycakes” McNeil

Hey, I’m Chris. Originally hailing from Essex, MA, I’m currently working towards a Master’s degree in Earth Science at Alaska Pacific University. My favorite things about JIRP are skiing in shorts, digging as many mass balance pits as humanly possible, and thinking about science. When it comes down to it, skiing and science are the two most important things going through my head.

Chris McNeil is probably listening to Sail on repeat.

Newton “Newt” Krumdieck

Hi, my name is Newt. I enjoy long walks along the power lines and evenings by the fire in a good pair of slippers. My hobbies include blacksmithing, turning bowls on a lathe, and lending out my ice screws to fellow JIRPers. Things that truly matter to me are my family, girlfriend, and dogs. While my eyes aren’t glued to the Taku Towers, or turned towards the Gilkey Trench, my time will be spent helping Ben Partan with camp repairs.

Mike’s Journey to Juneau

Annie Boucher July 9, 2014

By: Tristan

While Alex had quite an adventure with the bikers and the biologists travelling south to Juneau, Mike Staron from Bolton, Connecticut had quite a different journey. Seven days before JIRP, Mike finished packing up all of his belongings into his Subaru Outback (most were already in there to begin with) and began the long haul across the United States to Juneau, Alaska. Navigating by sun and stars (and a little GPS help) Mike drove by himself listening to “The Bernstein Bears go to Summer Camp” on repeat, most of the time wishing that he either a.) had a driving companion or b.) brought something other than “The Bernstein Bears go to Summer Camp”.

In Minnesota, the sky darkened over Mike’s Outback and a tornado formed right over his head! Although Mike’s car got quite the shake-down, the tornado did not touch down and he continued on his journey to reach Juneau. Intending to get a little pre-JIRP recreation in before the program formally began, Mike thought, “What better place to warm up to JIRP than Glacier National Park?” However, the weather had different plans and decided to dump 2+ feet of snow in the Park so Mike scrapped those plans and resumed chasing the sunset. (Since he was about to spend two solid months on glaciers, why spend his last few days of real summer wallowing around in the snow?)

Upon arriving in Seattle, Mike’s trusty steed ran out of steam and could go no further (the clutch blew). Luckily, this was the end of the paved road and Mike boarded a plane for Juneau. On June 23rd Mike was greeted at Juneau by 2+ feet of welcoming rain as well as the rest of the JIRP students. What a journey!

Students and JIRP alumni enjoy a barbecue on Eagle Beach in Juneau.

Staff Week 2014

Annie Boucher July 9, 2014

By: Zach Miller

As anyone who has left the icefield will tell you, there is an undeniable urge to get back to the home away from home as soon as possible. So this year we, the field safety staff: myself, Jon Doty, Annie Boucher, Matt Pickart, and Kate Baustain (Mary Gionatti, another field safety staff, had a conflict), decided that waiting to get back was out of the question. From June 12th-June 15th, we trickled into Juneau. On the 16th, we hiked up the infamous Lemon Creek Trail to Camp 17.

The View from Camp 17 at 4:45am. (Photo by Zach Miller

We were greeted by a group of greedy, yet friendly rats. Jack-of-all-trades/engine guru Ben Partan also appeared out of the mist, having been in camp for a few days working on a new fuel containment shed. For four days we hiked, skied, and trundled around the surrounding area and got ourselves ready for the icefield diet.

Jon Doty embraces the fresh snow. (Photo by Zach Miller)

We even did some work; we cleaned out all of the food tarnished by the winter and by the pack of rats. Furthermore, we erected the radio antenna and cleaned the annual piles of marmot feces at Camp 17A (Big thanks to the high school group last year that cleaned up 17A!)

Jon Doty sets the antenna in place. (Photo by Zach Miller)

On June 20th, we hiked out to meet the group of students in Juneau and to officially start JIRP 2014. More updates to come!

Juneau Icefield Research Program