Jan 27th – Day 28 on Ice

Weather is calm and getting colder. -25F today.

Yesterday was Science Sauna Sunday, our weekly sauna session and since the winds were nice and low, we decided to do a Pole run.

A Pole run is a popular event here, where one enjoys the heat of the sauna and then runs out to the geographic pole in their swim suit (or whatever attire they’re in in the sauna). The best way to enjoy a pole run is to do a few cycles between sauna and outside before the run. On the last sauna cycle before you go out, you endure as long as possible so that your body absorbs as much heat as you’re willing to endure.

With the sauna cranked up to 220 F, and a few rounds of water on the coals, we endured as much as we could. Outside temps were probably around -25F, so I don’t think we quite managed to get a 250 degree differential, but it was still a nice run and we were able to take it easy and hang around the sign to get some pics.

After the pictures, with shorts frozen solid and hair white with frost, we made our way back to the station for a quick warmup in the sauna, then to some much needed showers.

Tomorrow, we perform some practice EHT observations. This includes setting up the pick-off mirrors and observing some bright sources (planets, mostly). Should be a busy and interesting day!

Cheers!