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Arctic West Fall 2009 Trip
December 2, 2009
Home, family, and traditions are remembered as this week comes to a close and our 102 day deployment draws to an end. This week we celebrated Thanksgiving and all were thankful to be transiting home to Seattle. Though we couldn’t be with our loved ones, the cooks put on a delicious Thanksgiving feast; turkey, squash, marshmallow yams, cranberry sauce, green been casserole, and of course eggnog. Best of all was the scrumptious appetizer and desert spread that filled many contented tummies later in the evening. There was pumpkin pie, shrimp, crab cakes, rum cake, oreo pie, and a variety of assorted snacks to name a few of the tasty treats. That evening was also the last night of the Trivia contest.
Over the course of the deployment teams of 3-4 have been dueling their knowledge skills in attempts to win the title. Though team “Infinite Wisdom” comprised of CO, XO, the professor, and Doc, put up a good fight, they were edged out by the Charlie Foxtrots comprised of EO, BOS’N, AEO, and LTJG Perodeau. If you knew anything about Thanksgiving, you would have fared well, as this was the topic of the night.
Steeped in tradition and Coast Guard lore are the whispered tales of ceremonies that occur when first-timers cross an important ‘line.’ One such line is the Arctic Circle. When crossed, the vessel is visited by Davy Jones and newcomers have the opportunity to become Honorable Polar Bears. Because of tradition, not much may be said about the mystery of this nautical event lest the ceremony be spoiled for future blue noses, the name given to all who have not yet been initiated after crossing the circle. The events of this ceremony started at the beginning of the week. The blue noses were split into teams, and corralled by their Honorable Polar Bear leaders, completed a series of tasks to earn their title and become official polar bears.
Friday morning two Canadian pilots were embarked by helicopter to guide POLAR SEA through the Canadian inner passage and into Vancouver. The beauty of the area was breathtaking. The majestic mountains which skirted either side of the channel were neither cloaked in snow nor ice. To see so much green was a refreshing sight as all mountains until this point had been embraced by snow. As we transited the winding channel, we were grateful to have the pilots on board. In some narrow bends POLAR SEA was intentionally guided within 200 yards of shoal to combat the strong currents that ripped through the deceptive waters which at first glance appeared serene.
Saturday morning POLAR SEA moored Vancouver for our final port call of the deployment. Vancouver was the first city of the trip. We enjoyed exploring this international metropolis which will host the 2010 Winter Olympics. A few crewmembers headed to Whistler Mountain, famed for its excellent skiing and snowboarding. Others explored the downtown area, Olympic Village, and visited with family who had traveled north for the weekend. In Vancouver, we encountered our first true mall in three months along with the many high-end stores which populate cities. The malls and stores at first were overwhelming for some. After being underway for three months, the brilliant colors, quantity, and enormity of stores can leave one feeling dazed; just ask AEO. Furthermore, the feeling that the holiday season had arrived was everywhere. It is strange at times considering we left in September and appear to have skipped Fall altogether. While underway, time passes and yet seems to stand still.
As we return home, we are grateful for the science accomplished, the safety experienced and casualties avoided, and look forward to seeing loved ones. For many of the crewmembers, the wildlife and Arctic encountered on the trip will not be easily forgotten and will provide stories for decades to come. We conducted two science phases where we hosted 54 scientists, conducted the first at-sea polar bear study, provided the resources and assistance for a variety of climate change studies, worked with scientists from the People’s Republic of China to locate a Chinese mooring, and enhanced community relations, volunteering at a local Juneau food pantry. The crew of POLAR SEA has much to be proud and thankful for during the AWF09 deployment. Most importantly we thank all our families and the Coast Guard members who supported us during our 102 day deployment.
Your Public Affairs Officer,
LTJG Emily Holt
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