An Interview with Dr. Anthony Arendt

By Patrick Englehardt

Glaciologist Anthony Arendt grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, where his deep connections to the Canadian Rockies fostered his love for science and nature. Growing up Anthony often visited the Athabasca Glacier, where he fondly recalled traveling onto the glacier in track vehicles with his family. Once in college his passion for mountaineering and science was fostered, and he decided that he wanted to pursue a career in Earth science where his passions could be fulfilled.  

Dr. Anthony Arendt gives an evening lecture to JIRP students in the Camp 17 library.  Photo:  Jeff Barbee

Patrick Englehardt: What is your research focus?
Anthony Arendt: I focus on understanding how glaciers change in response to climate, with an emphasis on predicting how global sea level and local water resources are affected.

Patrick Englehardt: Where has your research taken you?
Anthony Arendt: My first glacial project took place on Ellesmere Island in northern Canada, where I spent three summers conducting research.  I have also traveled to the North West Territories, Alaska, Greenland, and Antarctica.

Patrick Englehardt: Why do you conduct your research?
Anthony Arendt: Glacial change is a large contributor to rising sea level, which has significant societal impacts and global implications. It is especially important to understand how these changes will affect coastal communities, local water resources and agriculture.

Patrick Englehardt: What has been your greatest challenge?
Anthony Arendt: The first few years of my PhD were really challenging. During this time I figured out that Alaskan field work had a steep learning curve. I had to hone my mountaineering, glacial travel and survival skills and deal with the incredibly remote Alaskan wilderness. During the second year of my PhD I had a harrowing experience, falling into a glacial river and losing all of my glacier gear. This was the low point of my career and I seriously thought of quitting.

Patrick Englehardt: What kept you from giving up?
Anthony Arendt: I had a lot of support from family, friends and colleagues, all of whom encouraged me not to give up. I think my interest in glaciers also kept me going, and I knew that I could not learn all of these amazing things anywhere else but in Alaska. I’m glad I never gave up and I stuck with it, because my career improved after that.

Patrick Englehardt: Who was your greatest inspiration growing up?
Anthony Arendt: As a scientist it was David Suzuki. I remember, as a kid, watching him on television every week. He introduced me to new ideas about how we can care for the planet and mitigate climate change. What impressed me most was his honesty, something that has always stuck with me as I have strived to be fact-driven and honest with my research. Also I have been inspired by every advisor I have had during my career. Each has been a great mentor in their own right and helped me along the way.

Patrick Englehardt: How did you hear about JIRP?
Anthony Arendt: When I moved to Alaska in 2000 I heard about JIRP from a myriad of people, and I always wanted to take part in the program.  I had hoped to participate as a student but schedules and research always kept me from doing that. Jeff [Kavanaugh] approached me and asked if I would teach this year at JIRP and I happily obliged.  I was excited to finally be part of the long historical legacy of the many others before me, including my PhD supervisor [Keith Echelmeyer].

Patrick Englehardt: What suggestions would you have for aspiring scientists?
Anthony Arendt: Students interested in a scientific career face numerous opportunities, and also many challenges. In addition to learning a broad range of technical and mathematical skills, scientists need to develop strong communication skills, due to the highly collaborative nature of research today. At the same time, we know some of the greatest scientific discoveries come from long periods of working in solitude. So, finding educational opportunities that balance these elements is really important.

Patrick Englehardt: Do you believe that there are educational opportunities where aspiring scientist can gain these skills?
Anthony Arendt: I believe that JIRP provides great opportunities for developing these skills. I cannot think of a better environment for aspiring scientist to hone their research and safety skills while fostering a strong sense of community. At JIRP, students work towards a common goal while simultaneously conducting unique scientific research.  JIRP is an excellent microcosm of the real scientific community where a love of nature and science connect people and connections are made for life.

Patrick Englehardt: If you had not become a scientist what would you do?
Anthony Arendt: No question, I would be a famous Jazz musician! I looked into musical colleges and I play piano, and I continue to play as a hobby.  

Dr. Anthony Arendt.  Photo:  Mira Dutschke

Connections

By Adam Taylor

Jon and Christy reflecting on the mountains as they make memories that will last a lifetime.  Photo:  Adam Taylor

Day 12 of the JIRP experience and the weather has changed quite drastically. The past few days students and staff have seen higher winds and rain which apparently is "more like Camp 17 weather".  But even with the change in weather, morale is still soaring with the eagles and yesterday we were able to dig our first snow pit.  Snow pits are a way for us to study how much mass the glacier is gaining or losing. We have also been skiing, setting up z-pulleys, and learning to safely navigate the icefield. Alongside our safety skills we've also been developing relationships.  JIRP students and staff are forming bonds not only with each other but with former and future JIRP members as well.

Adam Toolanen, Jamie Bradshaw, and Jai Beeman tying knots and friendships that if dressed properly, can last a lifetime. Photo:  Adam Taylor

JIRP students and staff will make friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. Everywhere you look at Camp 17, JIRP members are laughing and enjoying each other's company. And although most of the individuals have only known each other for a short time, they are beginning to form a family. We feel safe and comfortable with each other, which is important when traveling across the icefield. Trust will be needed during our traverse, since the time will come when your life will be put in another's hands.  

I relate the JIRP experience with my time spent in the military. Both experiences are difficult to relate to others if they haven't been participants themselves. The time spent in Camps and on different glaciers will only be shared among the few members on the icefield. When leaving, this connection stays between the students and staff. Stories will be told and memories shared with others outside, but the bonds formed will remain within the family members of JIRP.

Not only are current JIRP members creating memories with each other but they are forming bonds with former and future JIRP members as well. When blogs are posted, the experiences will be read by all; however, only fully understood by those who have experienced it before. I would hope that readers wanting the same connections would view the blogs as a motivator to attend JIRP in the future. These connections do not stop at the blog, they carry over in all aspects of life. When JIRP 2013 is written on a resume, anyone who reads it and has attended JIRP will more easily relate to the experience than those who have not been through the program. 

The memories created and time spent during the Juneau Icefield Research Program will last a lifetime. In addition to the science being done, we are gathering memories alongside data points. My feeling is that five, ten or fifteen years from now the data collected may become a bit clouded but names like Annie Cantrell, Grayson Carlile, and Brooke Stamper will hold strong. Since 1946 JIRP has been creating friendships and will continue to form them into the unforeseeable future. As Scott McGee says, "once a JIRPer, always a JIRPer". This in itself, says it all.

A JIRP trail party settles in for the night at Camp 17A over tuna-macaroni and cheese. Photo:  Adam Taylor

Learning to Prefer Holding a Pointy Metal Ice Axe While Falling

By Annie Cantrell

 

It was a sunny afternoon as I was hiking up a steep slope with my fellow JIRPers when I saw field safety staff member Adam Toolanen slip and fall down the hill. I remember thinking that it was strange how relaxed and calm he was. It wasn't until he used his ice axe to stop himself that I realized he was demonstrating self arrest technique. It looked easy and natural to him, but when I reached the top of the hill, it seemed ridiculous to slide off on purpose.  (In fact, when hiking up the slope I was worried about falling unintentionally – a funny thought when our entire purpose for being there was to throw ourselves down that slope!)



Students practicing their self arrest skills on the side of Cairn Peak.  Photo:  Mira Dutschke

Ice axes look like weapons: at one end of the shaft they have a metal spike, and at the other they have a head consisting of a serrated metal pick and a shorter blade called an adze. Despite their threatening appearance, they can save your life if used properly. To arrest a fall on snow, you fight to get onto your stomach with your feet downhill of your head – which is not always how you start out. You maneuver your axe so that it lies diagonally across your torso, with one hand on the shaft near the spike and the other gripping the head. You then drive the pick into the snow near your shoulder and lever the shaft against your chest with your full body weight, while simultaneously kicking your feet into the snow. This is a lot to put together in the few seconds you have to stop your fall, so repeated slides down the hill were necessary.

Mira Dutschke, Justyna Dudek, Molly Blakowski and Annie Boucher practicing their self arrest skills on the side of Cairn Peak.  Photo:  Jeff Barbee

We started off slowly on a gradual part of the hill, practicing the correct position. At first, this portion seemed steep enough, and had me questioning my abilities. Adrenaline was coursing through me as we started by practicing sliding down on our butts. Matt, a staff member, had said that he was confident we could stop ourselves, but also assured us that there was nothing to harm us even if we did fall all the way down the hill (aside from a long walk back up). I was surprised when I was able to stop myself. This wasn’t so hard after all.

Even though I successfully managed to self arrest going down quickly on both my butt and belly, I still found it difficult to trust an ice axe over my own body. Prior to this moment, every fall I’ve taken in my 21 years of life has been arrested using only my body, and now I have to control, use, and trust a threatening piece of metal while flying downhill. When we began to slide head first on our backs, trusting my ice axe became a problem.

Justyna Dudek, Molly Blakowski, Mira Dutschke, Annie Boucher and another practicing their self arrest skills on the side of Cairn Peak.  Photo:  Jeff Barbee

This time I couldn’t see what was going on around me, and I was going much faster than I had in the other positions. I did a variety of things wrong, all of which happened really quickly. Apparently I kicked my legs uphill, afraid to let myself swing down. I was flailing wildly and only managed to stop myself halfway down the hill. Another time, I almost ended up at the bottom of the hill, after trying to stand up before I had slowed down sufficiently.

Annie Boucher and Mira Dutschke practicing self arrest on the side of Cairn Peak with Lake Linda far below.  Photo:  Jeff Barbee

After a few scary moments, I figured out how to stop myself quickly and reliably. This proved to me that in moments of real panic and danger, I could stop myself from falling. In fact, one of my teammates told me that she gained confidence in her own abilities after watching me fall such a great distance, self arrest, and hike all the way back up the hill.

Justyna Dudek ready for action practicing her self arrest skills on the side of Cairn Peak  Photo:  Mira Dutschke

The next day we practiced an even more complicated scenario: stopping a fall while roped together as a team. Here, one member would pretend to fall off of a hill, and it was our task to catch both ourselves and our teammates. I was successful: I remembered the technique, I knew the position, and I trusted my ice axe. While learning how to self arrest had its terrifying moments, I gained confidence in my abilities to safely travel across the icefield.   

Tied to a String

By Stephanie Streich, Photos by Mira Dutschke and Jeff Kavanaugh

Chrissy McCabe, Alistair Morgan, William Jenkins, Adam Taylor and others practice their knots at Camp 17 on the Juneau Icefield.  Photo:  Mira Dutschke

At Camp 17, students have been roped in and all tied up, becoming familiar with various knots. A critical part of our daily routine has been learning and practicing the knots that are crucial to travel safely on the icefield. The Figure-8, the Butterfly and the Double Fisherman are just some of the knots that will protect us against the dangers of crevasses and ice caves that are hidden within glaciers. The Prussik knot and the climbing harness are sometimes the only lifeline that attach you to the other members of your trail party as you travel across this vast white wilderness of snow and ice. Before we expose ourselves to the real life dangers of the field, we developed our climbing skills in a safer and warmer environment: the kitchen.

Climbing ropes hanging to dry in the cookshack at Camp 17 on the Juneau Icefield.  Photo:  Mira Dutschke

For practice all the students piled into the cookshack to climb up ropes attached to the ceiling. Using the knots we learned, we used two Prussik slings and attached them to the ropes and our harnesses. I have to admit, I was pretty hesitant to get up the rope as I was standing in line waiting for my turn. I was unsure if two skinny strings attached to a rope would actually hold my weight and enable me to elevate myself high into the air. Once I got attached to the rope I realized that the harness did a lot of the work for me, and I started having a blast. The harness loops around our waist and legs, linking us to the main line with a carabiner. With a long Prussik for the legs and a short Prussik from the harness to the rope I was able to hoist myself up the line. It was a great feeling of relief hanging in thin air by a string, gradually climbing up, knowing that I was not going to fall down. It was so easy! Climbing was definitely not as difficult as it seemed watching my fellow JIRPers tackling the rope. Getting down, however, was another story and quite a challenge. It would be rare to need to Prussik down a rope, but I'm going to have to work on that.

Author Stephanie Streich at the top of the rope after practicing with her prussiks in the camp cookshack.  Photo:  Jeff Kavanaugh

Greetings from Camp 17!

By Sarah Cooley, Photos by Sarah Bouckoms

We all woke up a little sore this morning after our long hike up to Camp 17, and we started off the day with a lot of pancakes and coffee.  Then began the camp orientation tour, followed by the cleaning and organizing that comes with opening up camp after a long winter. Since we were the first party to arrive, it was our responsibility to prepare camp for the arrival of our teammates. We spent the morning washing every single dish in the kitchen, pulling out and taking inventory of all of the food that spent the winter here, bleaching down all of the counter tops, and organizing the pantry. Hidden in the back corner of the pantry was a vintage can of chicken, lovingly labeled "DO NOT OPEN UNTIL 2061".

Mary Gianotti in the Camp 17 cook shack with the "Do Not Open Until 2061" funky chicken.  Photo:  S. Bouckoms  

With all the food organized, we were ready to make lunch -- just in time for the second trail party to arrive. They had split the hike into two days, and spent the night at Camp 17A located a few hours' hike below Camp 17. When they came into view below the ridge, we headed out to the edge of camp and cheered them up the final stretch of the snowfield.  We enjoyed hearing about their hike up over a bowl of chili, relaxed for a bit, and then continued the cleaning and camp opening.

The Camp 17 pantry.  Enough food to feed a small army . . . of JIRPers!   Photo:  S. Bouckoms

My afternoon job involved digging a snow pit to use as our refrigerator. It was great to get outside after spending the morning in the kitchen, and with four of us working on it, we finished the task quite quickly. We also had a bit of excitement with three helicopter arrivals, bringing up our skis, more fuel, and three faculty members. After a few days in Juneau, it's great to finally be on the icefield -- after all, that's why we're all here -- and the arrival of each trail party adds excitement to the camp.  For now, we'll be cleaning, organizing, and getting used to life on the icefield, all in preparation for the upcoming safety training and the science.  In the meantime, it's great to have started our adventure!

Christian Hein, Sarah Cooley, and Annie Cantrell digging the "refrigerator".  Photo:  S. Bouckoms

JIRP 2013 Staff Biographies

Each year JIRP depends on a strong team of staff members to manage operations and logistics.  Currently this is a partial list of JIRP 2013 staff biographies.  We will be adding more staff (and faculty!) biographies as they are available.  Thank you, JIRP staff!

Kate Baustian

Hey, I'm Kate, and I graduated in 2012 from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (Go Heels!) with a degree in Geology. I spent the last year interning at Congaree National Park in South Carolina, learning to ski in Alta, Utah and exploring the Colorado Plateau. I was a JIRP student during the 2011 field season. Returning as FGER junior staff, I'm looking forward to exploring ice caves and crevasses, sleeping out under the aurora borealis, and costume parties.

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Annie Boucher

Hey, my name is Annie Boucher. I graduated from Carleton College in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in Geology, and this is my second summer with JIRP. My favorite thing about living on the icefield is watching the early sunrise before anyone wakes up when camp is quiet, and my favorite type of snow is snow with maple syrup on it.

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Christian Hein

I live in Berlin, Germany.  I am 28 and I study land surveying and geomatics. Last summer I already had the possibility to join this amazing program. I really enjoyed it and am glad to be back on the Icefield. I am looking forward to drive with snowmobiles and discover my limits on difficult hikes.

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Ben Partan

Besides living above the generator at C-18 I’ve lived in a cardboard box for a month and a shower stall for several months. In my eleventh time coming on JIRP I look forward to eating outdoors.

Matt Pickart

After having a blast as a student in JIRP in 2011, I'm back this year as junior staff. I'm from Falmouth, Massachusetts and just graduated a few weeks ago from Dartmouth College. I majored in Earth Sciences and did my senior project on surface elevation changes of Austfonna Ice Cap, Svalbard, as determined from airborne laser scanning.

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Adam Toolanen

Hi my name is Adam and I study astrophysics/astronomy at Lund University. Being on JIRP in 2011 was the time of my life and I have dreamed of coming back ever since! In my free time I backcountry ski and stargaze. Being back on staff I am ecstatic about helping to be part of the JIRP experience for the 2013 crew! Amidst all the geologists here I hope to share some of the things that I study and find most fascinating. Next up on the glacier skills teaching agenda for the students is self-arrest practice on the steep snowfield just by camp :)

JIRP 2013 Student Biographies

Introducing the JIRP students of 2013!  Today these intrepid JIRPers are learning self arrest and crevasse rescue skills, practicing their glacier skiing, and beginning the annual studies of Lemon Creek Glacier. 

Check back tomorrow for biographies of some of the JIRP staff.

Jai Chowdhry Beeman

I live in Flagstaff, Arizona.  I’m an Earth and Planetary Science Graduate from Harvard University, and I’m going to continue to work in Glaciology in Bolivia in the fall. That said, I set foot on a glacier for the first time today.

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Molly Blakowski

I'm from Ann Arbor, MI.  I am currently pursuing my B.S./M.S. in geological sciences at the University of Michigan. For my second summer in Juneau, I am looking forward to not pooping in a bucket for four months.

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Sarah Bouckoms

My name is Sarah Bouckoms but since there are four Sarah's in JIRP, I'm also going by my nickname boux. I am a high school physics teacher in Connecticut with past research experience in Antarctica. I completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies and Masters in Physics from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. One of the main things I'll be contributing to JIRP is organizing articles for the blog. I'm very excited to be here and look forward to having my life dictated by the weather.

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Jamie Bradshaw

My name is Jamie. I am from Wisconsin and came to Juneau, Alaska on exchange in January of 2010. As a recent graduate of the Geography and Environmental Studies program at the University of Alaska Southeast, I am stoked to finally be participating in the 2013 JIRP. It has been a dream of mine ever since I heard about the program in 2011. Last summer I had the privilege of being the Logistics Coordinator for JIRP in Juneau so I have unique insight as to how the program operates. An interesting fact about me is that I'm terrified of snakes-good thing they're cold blooded and won't be on the icefield! Here's to an incredible summer!

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Salvatore Candela

I currently live in Anchorage, AK, but am from New York City.  I'm an ironworker turned glaciologist/ski bum and am looking forward to furthering myself as a scientist and getting to know all the eclectic personalities of my fellow FGERs.

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Annie Cantrell

I am from Moscow, Idaho.  I’m at Evergreen State College studying Earth Systems and looking at alternative education in the wilderness, I love watching myself and the people around me change in response to our environment and how distance from civilization affects us. I have no idea what sort of head space this place will put me in but I’m excited to experience it.

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Grayson Carlile

I am from Juneau, Alaska.  After growing up in Juneau exploring the western edge of the icefield, I couldn’t be more excited to finally venture across the entire thing! When I’m not wandering among the soggy forests and mountains of Southeast Alaska, I study geology at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington.

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Kamil Chadirji-Martinez

I am from Ottawa, Canada.  I finished my first year of the Earth Sciences program at Carleton University this year. A poster at my University brought me to this trip. I will be collecting algae samples for the Canadian Museum of Nature as a volunteer. I also brought my rock hammer to do some quarrying. After two rough days of flying, it's good to be in Juneau.

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Sarah Cooley

I am from North Carolina.  I love hiking, skiing, being around beautiful mountains, geology and of course, glaciers, so this program is basically the perfect way for me to spend my summer! I’m a geophysics major but this is my first intensive field experience. I’m just really excited to combine my love of mountains, glaciers and skiing with some really interesting science (and get to know some really awesome people in the process)!

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Alexei (Alex) Igorevich Doncov

I am from Half Moon Bay, California.  I'm the only member of JIRP who is still a high school student (at half moon bay high), nevertheless I am fearless of the endeavors which I am going to undertake. As far as common interests of mine, I enjoy surfing, fishing, writing politically controversial essays, and skiing across glaciers which are away from civilization. Russian literature I find redundant in prose but insightful as well.

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Jonathan Doty

I'm a citizen of the world, but Maine is my home base.  Before coming to JIRP I spent four months – January to May - on the island of Hawai’i studying Earth and Environmental Science.  Now with living on the icefield during June/July/August, I am spending my summer on ice, and my winter on the beach.

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Justyna Dudek

I am from Cracow, Poland.  I am a PhD student in geography at the Jagiellonian University. It is my first visit in Juneau and I am looking forward for summer adventures on the Icefield.

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Patrick Owen Englehardt 

I am from Fayette, Maine.  I graduated from the University of Acadia in Wolfville, Nova Scotia with an honors degree in Environmental geoscience. This is my fifth field school in four years (3 in Nova Scotia; 1 in Bermuda;  and JIRP in Alaska). I’m currently living an 8 year dream by being in the north and studying glaciers.

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Mary Gianotti

I am from Juneau, Alaska.  I will be a junior at Boston University in the fall. I am studying earth sciences. I am excited to go exploring in my backyard.

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William Jenkins

I'm from Atlanta, Georgia.  I am a student at The University of the South in Sewanee, TN and am seeking a degree in Geology. I am extremely excited about spending the following months on the icefield, and am looking forward to learning in this wonderful environment.    

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Christine McCabe

I live in New York.  Having been to Antarctica, I am super excited to hangout on an icefield for the entire summer. I’m also looking forward to getting some wicked sweet tanlines! And for being outdoor all day everyday.

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Sarah Mellies

I live in New Jersey.  Arriving here with about three other Sarah’s, we discussed nicknames to help the name situation.  Growing up with the nickname “smelli”, we decided that if someone walked into a room and said “hey smelli” just about everyone would turn their heads (joke copyright to Sal). So for the next two months I shall be smellies. And after walking through an ice cave today, smellies is pretty psyched for the next two months! Bring on the crampons!

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Alistair Morgan



I am from Cardiff, Wales, UK. 

Being the first time in the USA I think Juneau is proving to be a super awesome choice for a location. This region is amazing. I’m looking forward to having a super cool time meeting a bunch of truly brilliant people. Filled with anticipation for the next two months, especially using skis for the 1st time and doing some epic science!

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Leah Nelson

I am from Albany, New York.  I’m a geology major at Carleton College, and I’m really looking forward to this great field experience.  I’ve always been interested in glaciology and I’m really excited to spend this summer living and learning on the Juneau Icefield.  

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Brooke Stamper

Hello, Earthlings! I am from Broomfield, Colorado.  I am currently finishing up an Environmental Studies degree with a Minor in Geography and emphasis of hydrology. I have always been interested in the cryosphere but have never had field experience. I am so excited for this expedition and know it won’t be the last.

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Lindsay Starr

I am from Columbus, Ohio.  I am going to be a senior in the fall at Wittenberg University where I am studying geology.

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Stephanie Streich

I am from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  I have recently graduated with a bilingual degree (French and English) in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Alberta. I am super excited to apply all the information that I learned during my degree to this year’s JIRP expedition!!  One interesting thing about me is that I just got my driver’s license. I hope I don’t crash into anyone anytime soon (don’t laugh, Dad).

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Adam Taylor

I live in Juneau, AK.  Not only am I excited about the views we will get from the icefield (provided it’s clear), I am excited about the relationships that will develop on this adventure.

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Muriel Will

I am from Edmonton, Alberta.  I am a new grad from the University of Alberta, where I got my degree in Environmental Earth Science. I love the outdoors and am very excited for this opportunity to explore, and learn about the Juneau icefield.

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The Hike to C17

By Grayson Carlile, Photos by Jeff Barbee and Mira Dutschke

After almost two weeks of hot weather in the Juneau area we had an extremely rare experience for Southeast Alaska, on the long trek up to Camp 17, the trail wasn't a stream!  Our hike up to Lemon Creek Glacier was truly unique.  Most amazing was the  sunlight that filtered through the high forest canopy as we wound our way up, up, up the valley.

The trail wasn't a stream, but we still had a number of stream crossings to challenge us.  Photo:  M. Dutschke

Hiking through the dense understory of Lemon Creek Valley.  Photo:  M. Dutschke

Ascending the "vertical swamp".  Photo:  J. Barbee

The alleged "vertical swamp" that took us up past tree line, was pleasantly un swamp-like and after a muddy mosquito filled trip through southeast Alaska's temperate rain forest we were finally greeted with a refreshing drizzle of rain in the high alpine valleys. Skirting a glacial "tarn" lake, a flash of lightning and a peal of thunder caught us exposed near a ridge.  We found safe lower ground and waited out the worst of the danger before heading up towards Camp 17 once again.

Hiking in the alpine after ascending from Lemon Creek Valley.  Photo:  J. Barbee

Ascending to the low pass that leads into Ptarmigan Valley.  Photo:  J. Barbee

Descending into Ptarmigan Valley.  Photo:  J. Barbee

Climbing the upper Ptarmigan Glacier near camp, the most amazing thing of all were the cloud-free views of Juneau's Auke Bay, the fjords of the inside passage, and the jagged ridge lines that mark the far western edge of the Juneau Icefield.  While it was a tiring 14 hour day, we could not have asked for a more amazing introduction to our first research camp.

Beginning the climb up Ptarmigan Glacier to camp.  Photo:  J. Barbee

The fantastic view from Camp 17 across the upper Lemon Creek Glacier.  Observation Peak is on the right.  Photo:  J. Barbee

Lemon Creek Glacier Geochemistry

By Molly Blakowski

It’s great to be back in Juneau.  Last summer, I spent three and a half months at the terminus of Lemon Creek Glacier assisting Ph.D. candidate Carli Arendt with her research into the length of time water resides beneath the glacier. Carli and I are part of Dr. Sarah Aciego's Glaciochemistry and Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory (GIGL) group at the University of Michigan, where we are currently working on projects in ice core research, glacier and ice dynamics, dust transport, oceanography, and soils. The main objective of the Lemon Creek Glacier work has been to test a novel method for calculating residence time of subglacial water using uranium-series (234U – 222Rn) isotopes.  Our work at the glacier has since expanded as new students and researchers have become involved, and we are now examining how the isotopic signatures correlate to weathering and nutrient products (i.e. water-bedrock interactions) by measuring physical characteristics of suspended sediment and radiogenic strontium isotopic composition of meltwater.  

Preparing for a day of sampling in the ever-lopsided "Chem Tent." Photo: E. Stevenson

Working and living in the snow allowed me to cultivate far more than just technical data collection skills. Life in an isolated environment with a small group or one other person comes along with many unanticipated physical and mental demands. On an interpersonal level, I learned how to collaborate with group members to accomplish a daily set of tasks, and overcome any obstacles encountered along the way, ranging from rescuing thousands of dollars worth of equipment from blowing off a cliff, to slowly but surely perfecting a recipe in which Spam actually tastes new and exciting. On an intrapersonal level, I learned to maintain a calm and positive attitude on a day-to-day basis, not only for my own benefit, but for the sake of the group morale. Even after the poop tent blew away, the numbers wore off the Yahtzee dice, plagues of mice, etc. etc…

Our campsite and the middle lake as seen from the Lemon Creek Glacier terminus. Photo: M. Blakowski

Last Wednesday, JIRP Director Jeff Kavanaugh and I flew up to the terminus of the nearby Eagle Glacier, where, using the same methods as last year, we were able to collect some preliminary samples to send back to Michigan. Due to the uncharacteristically sunny, hot weather they've been having here in Juneau, we weren't able to get quite as close to the terminus as we would have liked (the channel was seriously raging), but we made it work.

Molly Blakowski preparing a filter, and likely laughing at one of Jeff's *hilarious* jokes. Photo: J. Kavanaugh

All in all, we ended up with some pretty great weather and were able to accomplish everything in about two hours—just in time for dinner. Of course, strong winds coming off the glacier ensured that everything we ate for the next 24 hours tasted vaguely of glacial flour, which we are still trying to get out of our ears.

This image does not do much justice to the turbulent waters as it does to the "Fly Girl" in the vogue chest waders. Photo: J. Kavanaugh

I'm thrilled that I have the unique opportunity to revisit the Juneau Icefield and to observe landscape variations since my time there last summer. Plus, I'm told that JIRPers aren't prone to being dive-bombed by aggressive gulls, or waking up with mice crawling out of their sleeping bags, so those are certainly pluses. Bring on the snow pits!