On Sept 2nd, 2007, Shad O'Neel, Laura LeBlanc and I flew with Era Helicopters pilot Jan Gundersen to the Bering Glacier. We downloaded data and prepared the stations for the winter. We found all the instruments running, with a  continuous record of GPS and seismic data from all stations. We replaced some batteries, and generally added one or two dry cells to each battery bank in hopes of recording the first ever GPS/seismic glacier record through an Alaskan winter.
  • Jan and Shad on the flight out.
  • We stopped in Cordova for fuel. This is a homemade floatplane lift, used to move the floatplanes to and from the hanger.
  • Topping off the fuel in Cordova.
  • Lower Bering, over the Stellar lobe.
  • Lower Bering, over the Stellar lobe.
  • Approaching the first site.
  • Station Crak, which I had visited on Aug 22 with Paul to pull it out of the crevasse. Still running.
            • Station STLR, which had not been visited since July 8. A common problem occurs as the ice melts and the instruments are slowly lowered: cables get tangled.
            • The borehole seismometer at STLR. This is a L22 three axis instrument, the same at all the stations.
            • Station BMG, at the center of the array. This site only has a seismometer, no GPS.
                • Station SMEL. Another cable getting pulled tight as the ice melts. Everything was still working, however.
                  • The battery bank at station MILR, which had been flooded and was disgusting. The slim apparently comes out of the dry cells when they get wet. We replaced most of the battery bank here.
                  • Nasty battery goo.
                  • More nasty battery goo.
                  • Despite all the corrosion, the lead acid bank was OK. Charge controller showing solar amps.
                  • Charge controller showing battery bank voltage.