![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/mathclimate\/files\/2012\/05\/IMG_0090.jpg\")
<\/a>The view from our front porch!<\/p><\/div>\n
After a short night’s sleep, we packed up all our gear to set off for the glacier. \u00a0The bags were much heavier than any of us expected but we were just excited to finally become real explorers! \u00a0We had no idea what to expect as we signed our waiver forms to go out on the Matanuska glacier. \u00a0We thought maybe we would have someone to show us the ropes, but the men at the front desk pretty much just said “good luck!” \u00a0We drove down a dirt road and suddenly a huge glacier was right there before our eyes. \u00a0While the size was intimidating, we were ready to conquer the glacier and do what we came to do- set up our flux tower. \u00a0On our way up the glacier, we walked on a thin layer of rocks with ice directly underneath. \u00a0This was not what many of us were expecting from the glacier travel. \u00a0There were many more dangerous crevasses than any of us expected as well. \u00a0The first time travelling up the glacier went very slowly. \u00a0Finally, we decided to rope up and cross a few crevasses to find a flat plot of ice to set up our tower. \u00a0We climbed hills of ice, most notable of which was about 65 degrees incline. Our ice axes came in handy to scale this one. The ice was so solid, that some of us bruised our hands. Most notable, Tim had bleeding knuckles. However, the man was so oblivious of this fact that Dr. Jackson had to tell him that he was bleeding. I would think he was simply lost in the beauty of the place. Well, we finally found a decent spot to set up our tower — it felt like a century had passed since morning. Let me give you some perspective here. Think of great white mountains all around you, covered with nothing but piles of ice and snow. AND in the middle of it all, were five lucky students and two professors, with parts of what was going to be an aluminum flux tower!<\/p>\n
<\/a>Fuel for the Glacier!<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Our cabins at Sheep Mountain Lodge<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>we found a spot!<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Setting up the tower!<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Scientists from OWU make sure the details are fixed . . .<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>A proud team stands in front of the tower!<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Day 3 We finally arrived at Sheep Mountain Lodge a little bit after midnight on day 3. Few places get more remote and scenic than this one. The view of the mountains across the highway was amazing — probably an … Continue reading