Hey folks,
It's almost Halloween and for the last two weeks the temps have not gone above freezing. The back bay and part of the sound is frozen. Although the ice is still to thin in most places, the locals have been out ice fishing catching a small trout like fish called Tom Cod. They average about 12 inches and have no scales. Most of the locals freeze them whole and eat them raw with seal oil. It's almost as big a deal with them as berry picking season. None of the locals have fallen through yet walking on the ice although one went through Saturday on a 4 wheeler. The kids are all out playing on the ice and it makes me think that is why there is a high birth rate here. I want to go fishing but I think I am going to wait a while yet.
The snows have been falling for the last few days and yesterday it got up to 31 with freezing rain Today everything was glazed with ice which makes for extremely interesting riding. I went to stop today on the 4 wheeler for a stop sign and almost went across the street. I also went on an EMS call to the airport to standby on a medevac jet that was having engine trouble, landed here, took off, and had to return again. It was not our service as only two of our villages have runways long enough to accommodate a small jet. I do not know where they were coming from or going to and did not ask. Those jets may look big from a distance but looking close up at the pilots in the cockpit I don't know how both of the fit in that small an area. Also, in the back were the patient and three medical crewman crammed into what almost looked like the inside of an elongated 55 gallon drum. When it was determined the jet could not continue in a medevac role we were requested to transport the patient from the jet to a Coast Guard C-130 transport plane that happened to be here for reasons I do not know. The wind was blowing about 35-40 mph and it was cold. When we got out of the ambulance the ground was literally like glass due to the ice. What happens is they use front end loaders to clear any accumulated snow and it just leaves the surface ice which is smooth and very, very slippery. It was extremely difficult to stand especially with the wind. It was no easy task to get the patient out of the jet, onto the stretcher, and then to get the stretcher into the ambulance. We backed up to the ramp on the C-130, ( this is a four engine turboprop plane with a drop down ramp in the back that you see on TV unloading humvees or dropping paratroopers) and again with difficulty unloaded the patient onto the tarmac. We had to lift the stretcher onto the ramp and in the process I was blown about five feet from the plane by the wind-just sliding on the ice. It was just as cold in the cargo hold where we unloaded the patient as it was outside, just no wind. We all got out safely though. It does give me a better appreciation of what the Coast Guard does up here. I am still learning how to deal with the conditions.
We have been busy. We all went on a fire call Sunday to a workshop that was fully engulfed in flames, and was located right next to a three story apartment. Patty and I arrived before the engine (Cathy went to the hall and arrived with the engine dressed in full turnout gear). Myself, one other volunteer, and a policewoman ran into the apartment to make sure everyone was out. (I'm getting to old and fat to be running up stairs). Cathy was a hose tender with the team that put out the fire and helped with the exhaust fan in the apartment building to clear smoke after. The side of the apartment was scorched with the paint peeling and at least one window shattered by the heat. No one was hurt though. Cathy and I also participated in disaster training today as victims. There were cold weather trainers here for a three day training session and in the hospitals infinite wisdom, they sent the top managers to the training-not the people who are actually going to get their hands bloody. I was a victim and I was explaining to my rescuers how to take care of my wounds and how to properly transport me. I did get some good info out of it though.
As I write at 930PM the wind is blowing so hard the building trembles every now and then. The outside temp is 28 and it is fully dark. It is cloudy now but when the stars are out they are beautiful. Unlike in New Orleans or everywhere else I have been, the stars here are not straight up above. You do not have to look up to see them. We stand and look straight out the windows at the horizon, the stars start there and go up. It may be an illusion but they seem so much bigger here too, not just a point of light. Well enough for now.
Take Care,
The Sam's
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Last updated:
08/29/05