I did not grow up hiking, skiing, camping or anything else related and didn’t begin to do so until halfway through my college years. Thus, I had convinced myself that an expeditionary-type adventure was simply not attainable for me and subsequently abandoned the idea. Fast forward several years later, I began to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Earth and Climate Science, concentrating in Climate Sciences, at the University of Maine. During the third year of my studies, I learned of the Juneau Icefield Research Program ( JIRP) while searching for a capstone field experience. JIRP is an expedition-style educational research program based out of Juneau, Alaska, that has been taking students across the Juneau Icefield for over 60 years. JIRP is built around a 70 plus mile traverse across the Juneau Icefield, which students and staff cover mostly by ski. While traversing the icefield, students experience training in mountaineering skills and wilderness survival, in addition to learning about a wide variety of glaciology-related fields of research and science communication methods. As you could imagine, JIRP really grabbed my attention.
"My grandfather’s story piqued my interest in polar exploration, and I was captivated by the romantic idea of some grand adventure in a pristine, icy, untamed environment."
Summer on an Icefield:
A FIELD STORY
As a young girl growing up, I would often hear stories shared by my grandfather of his visit to Antarctica as a part of a transpolar commercial flight celebrating the 50th anniversary of polar explorer Admiral Byrd’s first flight over Antarctica in 1929. My grandfather’s story piqued my interest in polar exploration, and I was captivated by the romantic idea of some grand adventure in a pristine, icy, untamed environment. However, I was far from what you would describe as an “outdoorsy” type of person.
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Learning more about JIRP from the Program Director, and my Glaciology professor at the time, Dr. Seth Campbell, I had regained hope that maybe I was capable of pursuing such an expedition like I had imagined before. I decided to go for it and I applied for the 2019 field season. Early in 2019, I learned that my application had been accepted and was fortunately able to pursue the opportunity to become, what the program affectionately calls their members, a “JIRPer.” Now, my story may not be as grand as those of the early polar explorers but to me, it was a life-defining experience defined by no showers, no phones, plenty of SPAM, and a little yet amazing community isolated on an Alaskan-Canadian icefield. That summer, I closed the door to my parent’s vehicle, hugged them, picked up my bags, and walked through the gates of Logan Airport bound for Alaska. It was a truly bittersweet moment. I immediately felt lonely knowing that once I touch down in Juneau, I’d
