My oh My what a wonderful Day...
Let's chronicle the last 36 hours. How and where did it start and how and where did it finish, those are the questions.
I woke up on Thursday morning at the Holiday Inn Express in Clifton Park New York at around 7:00 AM Eastern Time. Ryan and I had shared a room the last two nights due to uncertainty in plans and uncertainty of available rooms at the hotel. We had an 11 am check out on the room and we were reluctant to check out since we might need to stay another night. So we had breakfast and hung around the room waiting for phone calls and some guidance on what we should do. One suggestion was to check out of the hotel and head to the airport and wait there. So around noon we checked out of the hotel and headed to the airport, arriving around 12:30 pm. We sat and talked while waiting for news from NSF and from our travel agent. Then it happened, we got the phone call, we were going to Greenland after all, but via Copenhagen Denmark. This happened around 1:30 pm Eastern time, thus the race started.
We ran to the National Car Rental counter and got a car for a one way race to Newark New Jersey to catch a 5:20 flight to Copenhagen. We jumped in the car (I was driving) and headed south towards New York City and then Newark. Ryan spent the two and a half hours checking on reservations, confirmations and directing me to the Newark Airport. I can honestly say I have now driven New York from West to East and mostly North to South. We arrived at the airport a few minutes after 4 pm, we had time to drop the car and head to the SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) counter to check in and get through security. As we stood in the TSA line we realized that we had made it with a few minutes to spare. We checked in and got our seats and had enough time for a breather. We made it to the gate with 20 minutes to spare. We were heading to Copenhagen.
8 hours later we landed in Copenhagen at 7:20 am local time. Time to grab our things and run through the airport again. This time we were trying to catch an Air Greenland flight at 9:00 to Kangerlussauq Greenland, halfway back across the route we had just taken. We ran through the airport arriving at the passport check station, had our passports stamped and we ran to our gate to check in and get our seats. This time we got there and had 30 minutes to spare before the plane started boarding, our luck was holding. Now a 4 hour flight to Kanger and we were keeping to our schedule.
The fun thing about flying from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq is that you leave at 9:00 am and you arrive 4 hours later at 9:45 am. This time we were congratulating ourselves for a good race and making it to every flight. On this flight were several people that were also going to Kanger for their work. Ryan and I were the only two trying to make it to Summit in 24 hours though. The rest were using Kanger as their base. It was a good flight and I might have dozed off for a few minutes during it. Up till then I had not slept at all.
The last leg of the trip, Kangerlussaq to Summit Camp. We arrived at Kanger and were met by Audrey, one of the Polar Field employee's stationed in Kanger. We find out that the plan is for us to go to the main building (the KISS facility) and have a bathroom break and then head to the Cold Weather Gear depot and get suited up for our trip to Summit. We are going fairly quickly through all of this since the Twin Otter plane is scheduled to take off at 11 am local to take us to Summit. We through on some gear, sign it out and we rush over to the airport. There it is, the final plane in our 24 hour race to Summit. The Air Greenland Twin Otter. You can see it in the picture above. There isn't much space on it, but it is a heck of a lot of fun to ride in. We board the plane and we are off, off on the last leg of our race.
The twin otter today was carrying three of us, one person who was spending 30 minutes at Summit to check on the profess of his project and Ryan and me. We had cargo crammed around us, but we were having fun. We took off on the 3 hour flight to Summit. We spent out time looking through the windows and taking photos. Finally, at 2:15 pm we arrived at Summit. Our race was done and we had made it. Albany to Summit had taken us just 22 hours and 45 minutes. We had driven, flown on three different planes, gone to two different countries and arrived at our destination safely and in one piece.
This has been a My oh My What a Wonderful Day.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Good Bye United Airlines
This post will cover the horrible experience I had on United Airlines. Sunday April 20th, Easter Sunday. I flew from Denver Colorado to Cleveland Ohio on United 833 with plans to catch United 4840 to Albany New York. United 833 was a fairly typical United flight, crowded but manageable. When I arrived in Cleveland, that is when United Airlines lost my respect and my business.
Flight 833 arrived a few minutes early, around 2:35 pm, which I thought would be a good thing since the next leg of my trip was not going to give me time for lunch. I was scheduled out on United 4840, departing at 3:30 pm for Albany New York. I found the gate and checked in with the counter. I should have noticed that the seating area was full, a bad sign. There were 5 flights going out of that area. I checked the board and noised that one of the other flight had a delay, again I should have the little voice in my head telling me to be ready to have a problem, but I didn't listen. Within 20 minutes of my arrival at the gate two more flights were delayed. The time ~ 3:00 pm. Boarding was supposed to start by 3:15 pm, time to start getting nervous. Then it happened, 4840 was delayed by 15 minutes. People were getting frustrated and starting to talk loudly about United and how things were going badly from the beginning of that day. One couple I talked to had been at the Cleveland Airport since early that morning, with three kids all under the age of 5. I don't blame them for being upset, I would be too at that point. It only got worse unfortunately.
As time slowly marched on, we were told that the delay was now till 4:30 pm, then to 5:00 pm and finally 5:30 pm. The reason, maintenance. Ok, I can believe that, if I see somebody looking at, working on, heck even boarding the plane. None of this happened, None! There was one plane outside the gate, and no one approached it, looked at it, or even drove by it in a vehicle. None! Did any pilots show up a the gate to walk out to it to do the preflight? Did any crew members show up to the gate to prep the plane? No, there were no ground crew, no flight crew, nobody! The only United personnel were the gate crew. I have flown enough, with family members who are the airline business, to know when "Maintenance" is a lie.
At this point it is 5:30 pm and the dreaded announcement is made, "All flights out of Cleveland Gate 19 are cancelled." All five of the flights scheduled out of the gate were cancelled. We run for the Customer Service Counter. Here come the words that I would hear again and again over the next few hours "I'm sorry. United can not do anything." While standing in line I heard people asking again and again what they were supposed to do, how they were going to get home. The standard United response was "I'm sorry. United can not do anything." "All flights are booked out of Cleveland." "There are no flights out of Cleveland available until Tuesday April 22nd." I called a member of my family who had worked for United Airlines and asked what I should do, what should I expect, what should the company should do for me. What actually happened, not much.
When it was my turn at the counter I had a plan. What if United could get me to another city, could I add a leg to my trip and get to Albany that way. I was ready or so I thought. First, I asked about Hotel Vouchers - "I'm sorry, There are No Hotels in Cleveland with available rooms. United can not do anything." What about other Other Airlines? "I'm sorry, There are no other Airlines flying to Albany tonight. United can not do anything." I play my trump card, what about flying to another city and catch a flight from there. Ah Ha! After a bit of work, I can be the first standby on a flight to Washing Dulles leaving in an hour. I thought I had made it. I would be 7 hours late, but I would make it. At this point I was frustrated but I managed to accept the situation and get to the new gate.
The Customer Service Rep, a supervisor, did her best in a bad situation. I don't blame her or the other Rep's that I would eventually work with, I blame United Airlines and only United Airlines.
The time in now 6:15 pm, after I was supposed to have landed in Albany and I was still in Cleveland. I run over to the new gate and find that the new flight was again on the same planes that I had just left back at Gate 19. A bad sign. The new plane has not arrived yet, it is running late. Not a good sign. It arrives and a brief sign of luck, the flight crew arrives. I see a pilot and co-pilot arrive with their gear. I see things happening around the plane, great. Then the board changes, Flight delayed 15 minutes, then 30, then an hour. Then I see what confirms that the flight will be canceled, a supervisor shows up to work the counter. 10 minutes later it happens, "Washington Dulles flight is cancelled". We run for the Customer Service Counter.
It's now 7:15 pm and I am tired and frustrated, I am one of the first ten people at the counter and the litany begins again. "I'm Sorry. United Can Not Do Anything." All of the people are up in arms now. No one is taking this lightly. What about a refund of my ticket - it cost me over 400$? "I'm Sorry. United can only give you a voucher for 100$ on towards another United Flight." What about a hotel? "I'm sorry. United can not do anything." What about a refund and voucher towards a car? "I'm sorry. United can not do anything." I give up at this point. I'm sorry but every man has his limit. Good Bye United Airlines. You have lost a 25 year dedicated customer.
I call my travel agent after hours emergency hotline and request a car. The exact words I use "I want out of Cleveland Hell." The time, 7:30 pm. I want out of there. I don't want to hear anything from them, I want away from United Airlines. I say only two things to the Customer Service Reps "Where is my baggage? You just lost a loyal customer."
From there, I get a rental car and I drive to Albany New York. I drove the 466 miles with one stop and I arrive at 3:45 am Monday morning April 21st. I didn't get a refund, I didn't get a voucher, I didn't get a hotel, I didn't get anything from United Airlines except run around and frustration. Again I say -
The Customer Service Rep's did their best in a bad situation. I don't blame any of the Rep's that I eventually worked with, I blame United Airlines and only United Airlines.
GOOD BYE UNITED AIRLINES
Flight 833 arrived a few minutes early, around 2:35 pm, which I thought would be a good thing since the next leg of my trip was not going to give me time for lunch. I was scheduled out on United 4840, departing at 3:30 pm for Albany New York. I found the gate and checked in with the counter. I should have noticed that the seating area was full, a bad sign. There were 5 flights going out of that area. I checked the board and noised that one of the other flight had a delay, again I should have the little voice in my head telling me to be ready to have a problem, but I didn't listen. Within 20 minutes of my arrival at the gate two more flights were delayed. The time ~ 3:00 pm. Boarding was supposed to start by 3:15 pm, time to start getting nervous. Then it happened, 4840 was delayed by 15 minutes. People were getting frustrated and starting to talk loudly about United and how things were going badly from the beginning of that day. One couple I talked to had been at the Cleveland Airport since early that morning, with three kids all under the age of 5. I don't blame them for being upset, I would be too at that point. It only got worse unfortunately.
As time slowly marched on, we were told that the delay was now till 4:30 pm, then to 5:00 pm and finally 5:30 pm. The reason, maintenance. Ok, I can believe that, if I see somebody looking at, working on, heck even boarding the plane. None of this happened, None! There was one plane outside the gate, and no one approached it, looked at it, or even drove by it in a vehicle. None! Did any pilots show up a the gate to walk out to it to do the preflight? Did any crew members show up to the gate to prep the plane? No, there were no ground crew, no flight crew, nobody! The only United personnel were the gate crew. I have flown enough, with family members who are the airline business, to know when "Maintenance" is a lie.
At this point it is 5:30 pm and the dreaded announcement is made, "All flights out of Cleveland Gate 19 are cancelled." All five of the flights scheduled out of the gate were cancelled. We run for the Customer Service Counter. Here come the words that I would hear again and again over the next few hours "I'm sorry. United can not do anything." While standing in line I heard people asking again and again what they were supposed to do, how they were going to get home. The standard United response was "I'm sorry. United can not do anything." "All flights are booked out of Cleveland." "There are no flights out of Cleveland available until Tuesday April 22nd." I called a member of my family who had worked for United Airlines and asked what I should do, what should I expect, what should the company should do for me. What actually happened, not much.
When it was my turn at the counter I had a plan. What if United could get me to another city, could I add a leg to my trip and get to Albany that way. I was ready or so I thought. First, I asked about Hotel Vouchers - "I'm sorry, There are No Hotels in Cleveland with available rooms. United can not do anything." What about other Other Airlines? "I'm sorry, There are no other Airlines flying to Albany tonight. United can not do anything." I play my trump card, what about flying to another city and catch a flight from there. Ah Ha! After a bit of work, I can be the first standby on a flight to Washing Dulles leaving in an hour. I thought I had made it. I would be 7 hours late, but I would make it. At this point I was frustrated but I managed to accept the situation and get to the new gate.
The Customer Service Rep, a supervisor, did her best in a bad situation. I don't blame her or the other Rep's that I would eventually work with, I blame United Airlines and only United Airlines.
The time in now 6:15 pm, after I was supposed to have landed in Albany and I was still in Cleveland. I run over to the new gate and find that the new flight was again on the same planes that I had just left back at Gate 19. A bad sign. The new plane has not arrived yet, it is running late. Not a good sign. It arrives and a brief sign of luck, the flight crew arrives. I see a pilot and co-pilot arrive with their gear. I see things happening around the plane, great. Then the board changes, Flight delayed 15 minutes, then 30, then an hour. Then I see what confirms that the flight will be canceled, a supervisor shows up to work the counter. 10 minutes later it happens, "Washington Dulles flight is cancelled". We run for the Customer Service Counter.
It's now 7:15 pm and I am tired and frustrated, I am one of the first ten people at the counter and the litany begins again. "I'm Sorry. United Can Not Do Anything." All of the people are up in arms now. No one is taking this lightly. What about a refund of my ticket - it cost me over 400$? "I'm Sorry. United can only give you a voucher for 100$ on towards another United Flight." What about a hotel? "I'm sorry. United can not do anything." What about a refund and voucher towards a car? "I'm sorry. United can not do anything." I give up at this point. I'm sorry but every man has his limit. Good Bye United Airlines. You have lost a 25 year dedicated customer.
I call my travel agent after hours emergency hotline and request a car. The exact words I use "I want out of Cleveland Hell." The time, 7:30 pm. I want out of there. I don't want to hear anything from them, I want away from United Airlines. I say only two things to the Customer Service Reps "Where is my baggage? You just lost a loyal customer."
From there, I get a rental car and I drive to Albany New York. I drove the 466 miles with one stop and I arrive at 3:45 am Monday morning April 21st. I didn't get a refund, I didn't get a voucher, I didn't get a hotel, I didn't get anything from United Airlines except run around and frustration. Again I say -
The Customer Service Rep's did their best in a bad situation. I don't blame any of the Rep's that I eventually worked with, I blame United Airlines and only United Airlines.
GOOD BYE UNITED AIRLINES
Saturday, April 19, 2014
The Night Before
The Night Before......
What do you think about the night before you leave for a month up on the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS)? I think about the weather, my clothes/gear and leaving my family for a month. I have serious doubts about going and whether or not I am ready to go.
Last night I had dinner with my in-laws and they asked about what the weather was going to be like at Summit Camp. Well, I hadn't looked in a few days so I logged onto the station website and saw that it has been hovering between -40 F and -50 F for the last week. This really started me doubting my abilities and feeling like I don't want to go. Nobody in their right mind willingly goes into a situation like this without some form of doubt. I certainly have them all the time.
This afternoon my wife helped me go through my entire list of gear, piece by piece to see if it is ready to go. I want to thank her for making this task go easier. What kind of gear is needed to spend a month at Summit Camp, you ask? Let's see.... Carhartt Artic Quilted Jacket and Bibs, Sorel Glacier Boots with felt linings, Duofold Expedition Weight Thermal underwear, wool socks, extreme weather gloves, neck gaiters and a balaclava. This is just the clothing to go outside, not the gear needed to sleep in a tent at these temperatures. For that I have a -20 F rated bag, with the possibility of using a -40 F rated bag if needed. Normally I would only use mine, but this year I might use the office's -40 bag.
The hardest part of all of this is leaving my family for a month. During the trip I treasure the Skype calls that I can make every couple of days. It makes me feel like I am keeping up with what is going on at home. I miss everybody, but I know I will be coming home in a few weeks. Besides that, my wife enjoys when I am out of the house and she has some time to herself.
Once I am on the flight out of Denver, my feelings of not being ready and self doubts will be left behind. But until that time I will pray for strength and relief from my doubts. I know that tomorrow will be the start of another chapter in Mike's Feet.
He is Risen
What do you think about the night before you leave for a month up on the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS)? I think about the weather, my clothes/gear and leaving my family for a month. I have serious doubts about going and whether or not I am ready to go.
Last night I had dinner with my in-laws and they asked about what the weather was going to be like at Summit Camp. Well, I hadn't looked in a few days so I logged onto the station website and saw that it has been hovering between -40 F and -50 F for the last week. This really started me doubting my abilities and feeling like I don't want to go. Nobody in their right mind willingly goes into a situation like this without some form of doubt. I certainly have them all the time.
This afternoon my wife helped me go through my entire list of gear, piece by piece to see if it is ready to go. I want to thank her for making this task go easier. What kind of gear is needed to spend a month at Summit Camp, you ask? Let's see.... Carhartt Artic Quilted Jacket and Bibs, Sorel Glacier Boots with felt linings, Duofold Expedition Weight Thermal underwear, wool socks, extreme weather gloves, neck gaiters and a balaclava. This is just the clothing to go outside, not the gear needed to sleep in a tent at these temperatures. For that I have a -20 F rated bag, with the possibility of using a -40 F rated bag if needed. Normally I would only use mine, but this year I might use the office's -40 bag.
The hardest part of all of this is leaving my family for a month. During the trip I treasure the Skype calls that I can make every couple of days. It makes me feel like I am keeping up with what is going on at home. I miss everybody, but I know I will be coming home in a few weeks. Besides that, my wife enjoys when I am out of the house and she has some time to herself.
Once I am on the flight out of Denver, my feelings of not being ready and self doubts will be left behind. But until that time I will pray for strength and relief from my doubts. I know that tomorrow will be the start of another chapter in Mike's Feet.
He is Risen
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Spring Time in the Rockies
Well, well. Here it is, April in Golden Colorado and it is time for me to start getting ready for my 2014 deployment to Summit Camp Greenland. This year, I am heading to Summit with my new job, or old job, or the project I originally went with 3 years ago. This will be my fourth season up on the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) and my second early season deployment. I will be doing several things this year, most of which I have done in the past, some I haven't done before.
I am heading north with the CAPABL project, (Cloud, Aerosol Polarization And Backscatter Lidar) like I did back in 2011. Last year the project upgraded the original Lidar to Version 2.0, which promptly died. They have spent the last year trying to figure out what happened and are planning on going up and doing a major remodel of the instrument into Version 2.5. I will be going to help with this upgrade.
The other part of my trip to Summit is to do the prep work for our 2015 deployment of the new SUPR Lidar. This project will be taking a majority of my time between now and January 1, 2015. This Lidar is a major upgrade to the CAPABL system, with a more powerful laser, much larger telescope and six different data channels. I am really looking forward to getting this beast online and taking data.
Over the next week, I will be updating this blog to set the stage for this years trip.
Hold on folks, this will be one heck of a trip.
M.
I am heading north with the CAPABL project, (Cloud, Aerosol Polarization And Backscatter Lidar) like I did back in 2011. Last year the project upgraded the original Lidar to Version 2.0, which promptly died. They have spent the last year trying to figure out what happened and are planning on going up and doing a major remodel of the instrument into Version 2.5. I will be going to help with this upgrade.
The other part of my trip to Summit is to do the prep work for our 2015 deployment of the new SUPR Lidar. This project will be taking a majority of my time between now and January 1, 2015. This Lidar is a major upgrade to the CAPABL system, with a more powerful laser, much larger telescope and six different data channels. I am really looking forward to getting this beast online and taking data.
Over the next week, I will be updating this blog to set the stage for this years trip.
Hold on folks, this will be one heck of a trip.
M.
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