Layering is the key

August 19
T-2 days left in the field

I know that you guys are probably sick of me talking about the weather, but this, you're going to want to hear. Note the date above this paragraph, now imagine snow. Yeah. Snow. In August.

I woke up this morning at about 5am because the walls of the tent were being blown around so much that it actually bumped my head. There was a raging gale of a storm outside, complete with icy rain and frigid north winds. On the bright side we didn't have to go out in the field right away, and thank god for that because just after breakfast it started snowing for about 10 minutes. The temperature was sitting at a cozy 3 degrees Celsius, which I am sure was below zero with the wind chill. We got out in the field by about 11, after the rain had blown off, but the winds were still pretty nasty and it didn't warm up very much. My wardrobe consisted of longjohns, work pants, rain pants, tank top, t-shirt, long shirt, puffy vest, fleece coat, rain coat, two pairs of socks, two pairs of gloves, a balaclava, and toque... and I was just warm enough to function. I definitely did not pack winter gear for this job, since it's, you know, AUGUST! I just have to keep saying my warming mantra: "Auuuuu-sTRAlia, Auuuuu-sTRAlia, Auuuuu-sTRAlia".

It was also Heather's birthday today- 22 and counting. Due to the lack of retail outlets in the vicinity, I made her one of my patented mix cds, lovingly wrapped with flagging tape, along with a guarantee of a free drink when we get to the Black Knight Pub on Friday. Mmmm beer. I kept threatening to throw her in the lake all day, but she one-upped me and jumped in herself for a (VERY) brief birthday swim. Crazy girl! I would have gone but I had just had a deliciously hot shower that had warmed my cold bones and had no intention of getting chilled again. I do plan to go for one last tundra dip on the morning of my departure (assuming the damn thing isn't frozen over by then).

Frigidly yours,

-A.