Survived my first "hitch"

[scudrunner]

I have returned from my first 3 week "hitch" on the North Slope of Alaska on the new job... It was long, but entertaining.

I have been asked a question for which I cannot find an answer... "Why do they call it the 'North Slope' when the closes hill is 100 miles away?" The answer of which is... I don't have a clue!

It was still winter up there. We drove on ice roads for the first two weeks and then the tundra portion of the ice roads began to melt, so that was the end of the ice roads. We have an operation about 8 miles out into the Beaufort Sea, where we would drive crews and equipment back and forth to work. Presently we are using a helicopter for crew changes until the water is ice free and then we will use barges/boats.

The water in the area is only 4-6 feet deep, so the ice is all the way to the bottom. I am thinking that when I get back the in another 1.5 weeks the ice will be breaking up and the seals and polar bears will start to show up.

I did take an awesome photo with my cell phone of a sunset (on of the last for a while), but I cannot get it off to share... I'll have to get my daughter to help I'm sure.

So to the important stuff... I don't think that I'll get any fishing in on these two weeks off... have to do a few honey-do's and the river is low and muddy for now (very fast melt). So maybe next day's off I'll have something to share.

Cheers

[Chinook SSSF]

Sounds like it was an adventure. I would love to see some photos, yes I understand there is not much to point a camera at lol....So your working a few weeks on a few weeks off? What is it that you are doing in that part of the world?

Thanks for the update :cool:

[scudrunner]

Hey Matt,

I am working 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off (first hitch was 3 weeks for training). I am working as a security officer at an oil facility. This is mostly "all other duties as assigned". I am the camp medic, the billeter (I book all of the rooms), bus driver, polar bear hazer (if necessary... not yet), and so on. It is not just an adventure, it's a job.

So far it is very enjoyable and rewarding. I get to meet lots of folks from around the globe, most of which, so far, enjoy fishing.

The weather has warmed up a bit since I first got there... the tundra is showing through, the bugs are emerging, the caribou are gathering and the birds are showing up. So, it is an ever changing environment. I'll take a camera this time and try to get some pics... I have an incredible sunset on my cell phone but I can't figure out how to transfer it to the computer (I tried sending as an email message, but no-go)... maybe my daughter can figure it out????

Cheers

[Chinook SSSF]

Ed, you need a digital camera so bad....just so I can see what your doin up there, sounds cool about the cariboo starting to gather......A dream hunt for me some day.

[Arctic]

That sounds like a blast Mr. French! I too have worked the North Slope, for a natural gas exploation firm, and an oil company doing pipe welding for supply lines. It was the most fun I've had working. Even though the conditions are less than hospitable. But I suppose that is why I love it up there. The locals are also some of the most inviting people on earth once you forge a friendship with them. Only thing that sucked was the price of a PB & J. I don't recall how much exactly, but I think a big can of Skippy was upwards of 15 or 20 bucks! Haha! It surely is beautiful country up there. Hope to at least see a couple cell phone images!

[scudrunner]

Acrtic, Thanks for the note. I will be taking a digital this time up. We are in transition for weather, so it isn't too bad at this point.

Cheers

Ed