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