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Just got word that I PQ’d – finally!
I was getting stressed about this….
I’ll see all of you WINFLY people in a month!
All the best,
Hunter S.
Yeah,
You can see why I tell everyone to get their PQ exams done as soon as possible.
We’ll see you down there. I just go word that I’m going to Denver for training on the 18th, Leaving denver on the 22nd, arriving cheech on the 24th(cross the dateline), gear issue on the 25th and fly to the ice on the 26th. That should be the last winfly flight.
Will see you all soon, anyone else scheduled on the last flight?
mike
Thanks, Mike and Atlas.
Hey, Mike – did you ever make up that packing list you were talking about a couple of weeks back?
Also: do you guys know whether there are boondoogle opportunities for FNG DA’s?
Cheers,
Hunter
Well I haven’t made a list yet. Mostly though we’ve hit the major items already. I’ll see what I can come up with.
Things so far.
=halloween costume
==shoes-tennis and hiking (the volcanic rock will wear them out fast if you go out)
=basic soap and shampoo products are in the store, but if you like good conditioner,
lotion etc. Then bring your own brands. The razors in the store suck, I send down my own.
=Computer stuff, Don’t count on blank CD’s or any type of connections(bring your own network plugs). Bring your restore CD’s.You must have antivirus softwear. Don’t count on the pc techs for help.
=If you have a digital camera, bring extra batteries and the biggest memory card you can afford. Bring an extra card as well.Static is prevalent and can wipe out data Same for video cameras. Bring lots of tape.Make sure you have the cable to download your photos. If you don’t know how to use the computers for photo’s, bring everything and I’ll help you learn the basics. Just find me.
=Clothing-You actually don’t need much if you don’t mind looking like 1000 other people. To individualise yourself bring a different hat, light jacket, colorful shirts etc. You will learn to dress in layers . Use either your own clothes or the ECW gear. In the summer, the ecw gear will be too hot to use for any excercise.
=Bring a watch with a new battery and decent watchband.
=Carry a change of clothes in your carry on, and another change or two in your luggage. Most people overpack on extra warm clothing. You will probably not wear any more than you do in the winter at home.
Luggage regularly gets delayed. If keep the carryon small you can place it under the seat in front of you and have access to books, music ect. on the 13 hour flight. Bring a set of travel headphones to listen to the inflight movies and muffle the sound of the crying baby behind you. Bring some earplugs and a sleep mask to help you sleep.
Best to keep the luggage as light as possible and mail down extra stuff that you do without until november. Remember your weight limits. You will have another20 to 30 lbs of ecw gear that goes against you limits.
=Glasses-Bring an extra set. Don’t forget sunglasses for the summer. The bright snow will burn your eyes. They must be polarized and uv blocking.
=Hobbies- If there is anything you like to do on your time off, chances are you won’t have supplies available on the ice. If you paint, weave baskets, make quilts, knit, etc then you had best send down your supplies. Many people never have time for their hobbies and their stuff ends up in the skua piles, but you have to be very lucky to find the stuff you need.
Thats all for now. Ask questions if you need to.
As for DA boondoggles. I’m sure they are available. Big V would know better than me, though. It’s been a few years since I spent a summer season.
cheers
mikeHi Hunter
Boondoggles for D.A.’s–rare, although they did manage to get us all included in Happy Camper school by the end of summer…it’s something that you can’t expect but luckly we all were able to go in the end. Other than that not much–once I got to jump on a shuttle during work time to see a penguin on the runway….I wouldn’t really call that a boondoggle though. Pretty much you get screwed on the boondoggle thing as a D.A. One thing that can get you out though is dive-tending, since you have different days off than most–it’s easier for the D.A.’s to get hooked up with doing this. Oh, don’t forget to bring bandanas and lots of music for working. I wouldn’t worry about having a watch unless you usually wear one, you won’t be allowed to wear it or any jewelery while on duty. Let me know if you have other specific D.A. questions…see you soon!
Big VHunter, as a new Midrat DA in 2000-01, I got to go to Cape Evans, Cape Royds, take a flight on the Coast Guard helo out to the open waters and past the Barne Glacier, and tour Discovery Hut. Things you can do to make your own boondoggle are walk the Armitege Trail, climb Ob Hill, go down the observation tube (if it is in place), volunteer as a dive tender, meet the scientists and offer to help them fish, tag penguins, etc. I think you are only limited by your imagination and your energy level. It is a lot of work to put in a 10-hour night, get off at 8am and be ready to go at 9am for a full day of fun, get back at 6pm and report to the galley at 10pm again!! Good luck! Sharon
It’s not just a Da thing. I’ve never been to Cape royds, the dry valleys, the pole or on a helecopter. I have been to , Happy Camper, Room with a View and sea ice training.
Luck of the draw.
As V said sometimes your boondoggles are things available to everyone but you happen to be off work while the opportunity came up. So on my own I happened to be sitting in the galley when someone dropped out of an Imax Crevasse trip. They asked if I wanted to go. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
It was a sunday so I was off of work. I also got out to one of the penguin camps the same way a few years ago. They’ve been clamping down on these trips lately, but I would still try.
Be forewarned, do not attempt to get yourself on an airplane or helecopter trip out of mcm without prior authorization. You will be fired if caught. They are strict about this.
mike
Thanks for tips, guys.
I’m not too worried about the boondoggle thing – just would be nice to be able to see a few of the sights, get off base a couple of times during the season. I’m sure I’ll be quite happy to spend most of my time on station.
Hey, Big V – should I bring CDs for the galley, or tapes?
Thanks for the packing list, Mike – and does the ECW gear really take up 20-30lbs? The Program Participant Guide says that – after you put on everything you have to wear on the flight – the ECW gear will only add up to an extra 10lbs.
Hunter
Since I’ve never spent just the summer I’ve always had a the 125 lb winter weight allowance. I’ve never come close to that so I’ve not paid too much attention to the actual weight of the ecw gear. Depending on your job you can sometimes be issued a lot of gear. I’m not sure what the summer DA’s get issued. Maybe not that much.In supply we get a fair amount of extra gear since we work outdoors.I’ll get issued a carhardt heavy duty parka, a big red parka, a lightweight carhardt jacket, lots of gloves, mittens and liners, lots of heavy socks, 2 pairs of boots and lots of hats, neck gaiters, and other items.I try to wear the minimum I can get away with on the flight down. While sometimes the planes are cold, more often they are unbearably hot. Your red parka and lightweight windpants and fleece should keep you warm.
If you are approaching your weight limit, don’t despair, the red parka is really a bunch of pockets with some down feathers in between. Something like 8 pockets. Whatever you can put in a pocket doesn’t count toward your weight limits. The handcarry also doesn’t count toward the weight limit, however it must fit into a 2 cubic foot box. That can be a problem. So if you have weight to spare send down everything heavy in your checked luggage, wear your ecw gear and keep enough clothes in your handcarry to survive on if you boomerang for a couple of days.You don’t get your luggage back. Just your handcarry.
On that note I’ve known of multiple people who packed there shoes in their luggage and had to buy shoes in Cheech.
mike
Lorie just read my list and has come up with some things I missed.
=, Shower shoes, You will most likely be using a community shower down the hall in your dorm.
=Robe, slippers, same reason
=Towel is a must, you won’t be able to get one once down there.
=Same is true for underwear, socks, etc. If your shoelaces are worn bring more.
=In addition to the watch stuff from the other list, Lorie says the most asked for item in the store are new pins for the watchband. I wouldn’t have thought of that one, but it makes a lot of sense and doesn’t take up any room.
=Bring a copy of your eyeglass prescription. If you lose or break your glasses you can send for new ones from Cheech.
=Depending on the job, a small flashlight can be indespensable.
=On the same note. Send down enough batteries to last for the season. Cd players eat them up and the store doesn’t always have enough to go around.
=Coffee- If you are a lover of good bean coffee then send down some beans and a grinder. Depending on the year, the coffee in the galley will vary from awful to passable, but nothing like a good cup of starbucks. I sent down a hot water pot and use a french press instead of a coffee machine and filters, much easier. and there are not filters to fit home coffeemakers. If you send a coffeemaker send filters. There is a fair selection of bigalow and celestial seasoning tea available in the store and the galley.
=If you like room deoderizers, send it down, none in the store. Beware your roommate may not have the same tastes. Use sparingly. No inscence allowed for fire safety reasons. No candles allowed for the same reason.
=Music-Bring you cd or mp3 player and cd’s. The gear issue room has a lot of cd’s, but probably not your favorites. Mp3 players need a computer to load the music.Don’t forget the cable and lots of memory/ flash cards.
For the Girls
Smelly lotions, soaps, face cream, hair dye, facial stuff, nail polish etc.
Thanksgiving and Christmas are dress up. Guys and girls bring down something nice to wear. If you wear or use it off the ice and you like it bring it down.
Another list hope it helps
mike and lorieMike,
Looks like we are on the same flight….While I have not received definite word that my PQ is complete (I would be surprised if it was as I think dental still hasn’t mailed their forms to Denver), I received a call from my hiring manager today to nail some dates for travel down and they match yours.
so what is there to do in Denver on a Saturday night?
TizocThe hotel the program usually puts you up in has a shuttle service. There are plenty of places to eat and things to do. We are actually not close to denver. It’s more suburbia to the south. Unless you rent a car you probably won’t get to see the city. It sounds like you will be going to supervisory training so you will be around a number of people who know the ropes. You’ll find someone who likes to do the same things you do. Me. I’ll probably get a drink in the bar and hang out with any friends that show up.
mike
Ahhhh!!!!!
I finally PQ’d….With some very last minute hitches finally taken care of it looks like I’ll be making WINFLY…
Woohoo!!!!
Tizoc
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