July 19: Safety Training and Firearms Practice

Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 64

July 19

We are in the midst of another possible delay getting to Isfjord Radio due primarily to sea ice. The ships and boats in the fjord are mostly stuck in place as the heavy sea ice blocks their travel. Our travel arrangements have been made to make two or more trips to haul people and equipment on a rather small boat. Unfortunately, the boat is too small and not equipped to make it through the ice. We have no idea how long the sea ice situation might last, but Al and Steve are pursuing other options.

The morning was focused on participating in safety training. This included being aware of how to deal with extreme conditions involving weather, terrain, animals, and working on and around the lake, river, and glacier. It was quite informative and helped to prepare us for our field experience.

The afternoon was more active as we moved to the firing range for our firearms class. We had the opportunity to familiarize, or in some cases refamiliarize ourselves with the rifles and flare guns we would be taking to the field. The rifles are 30.06 caliber and pack quite a punch so there are some slightly soar shoulders this evening. I was impressed that even those who did not have firearm experience did very well after some practice with prone, kneeling, and standing target shooting. Of course, shooting a target and shooting an attacking Polar Bear are two different things! Polar bears were spotted along the hills and on the glacier that surround Longyearbyen just last night and one was chased away from our basecamp at Isfjord Radio just yesterday! Too bad we were not there to see it! No one can say where they might be now, since Polar Bears are known to travel 50 to 60 kilometers in a day. The Polar Bears are arriving on the sea ice and hopping off to stroll on the land for a change. When the ice goes out, some Polar Bears will go out with it, but others will be stranded on land to wander around and wait for the opportunity to hop on other ice or swim somewhere else!