Animals and people...

There are a few caribou that hang around the camp - I was told there are about 10% of the herd that don't migrate with the rest of them.

A fox hanging around camp.
The rule on the North Slope is: if you are caught feeding, honking at or in any way harassing the animals it is ground for immediate termination. You will be put on the next plane out of Deadhorse.

We got to work with each other for the first week - then I went to days. It's hard to get good pictures of the terrain but behind us is Spy Island - it's a small barrier island - beyond that is the Beaufort Sea. Right next to where we were standing is a shelter for the bear guards to watch because most of the time the polar bears come from the sea ice over the Spy island and then onto our island.

We had four days of sunshine and temperatures in the 40's so everything started melting. This picture was actually taken at the main camp on shore. I think one of the bosses put the life ring there to try to pass a hint that it was time to get some water drainage going.

Can't find a phone booth anywhere anymore...but then have one on an island offshore of the North Slope...go figure. :)

Over my right shoulder (to the left of the picture for some of my friends) is OPP. Over my left shoulder is the DEW line. I'm standing on the ice just off shore of SID. Behind OPP are OCC and NOC. Got that? I've had to learn a whole new language up here...

OPP = Oliktok Production Pad - the oil facility that was being built for the last few years

DEW - see next post

SID = Spy Island Development - the island that was built for another oil production field

OCC = Oliktok Construction Camp - our temporary home

NOC = Nikaitchuq Operating Camp - the permanent camp for the drillers and operators of OPP

There will be a test at the end of this blog.

On every one of those "warm" 40 degree days this guy pulled out his hammock on this lunch break and took a nap - doesn't he look comfy? I want one for my office...

This is the terrain on the North Slope. Flat and endless...there are no mountains until you get to the Brooks Range (and that's a long ways away...). If you see a commercial showing majestic mountains and talking about the North Slope - it's a trick.