Final stretch....then we arrived at Toolik!

Today was primarily a travel day, although it didn't seem like it because the drive was definitely scenic. It's approximately 350 miles from Fairbanks to the Toolik Field Station, but the speed limit is 55 and much of the road isn't paved so it takes about 8-ish hours to get there. Toolik runs a "shuttle service" up and back to the station, so those of us going north that day load up the truck and get on the road.

The biggest aspect of the drive up that I didn't expect to see was the constant presence of the Alaskan pipeline. Dalton Highway, i.e. THE route north, as I found out was the original service road for the pipeline. So, you essentially get mile after mile after mile of pipeline the whole trip. It really makes the little touristy stop to get your picture taken with the pipe in Fairbanks kind of silly when you realize how much of it there really is.

So after much pipeline and the Brooks range of mountains, we finally arrive at camp just in time for dinner! After camp orientation, I unpack. Everyone pretty much stays in weatherport semi-permeant tents during the summer season, although there is still a bit of snow on the ground so electricity and space heaters are helpful.