The last few days of sampling - August 14, 2009

Earthwatch Blog Post
The past few days...

As usual the Earthwatch team set out the past few mornings with a mission; to collect traps and hope for tadpoles and fish. We have actually caught a sufficient amount of fish and tadpoles; enough for a sample that is. We still had the three teams doing their jobs on water quality and on physical characteristics of each pond and stream. At some of the sites we traveled to bears were around and only Ben Cash was able to go out and collect/set the fish traps. During that time the Earthwatch team sat in the van, cameras at the ready, waiting for a good shot of a polar bear.
Toady, 14 August, the team visited two small streams and quickly collected the traps. There was no need for water quality and the physical characteristics were very easily documented. We got back to the study center in about an hour and began doing some house cleaning in preparation for our departure tomorrow morning. That included cleaning the van and all the gear.
Plans for the rest of today include, jumping into the Arctic Ocean, packing, and going into town one last time. As things begin to come to a close the Earthwatch team gets struck with a sudden realization that our trip is almost over. The Earthwatch team is trying to cherish our last few moments together.