Juneau Icefield

The Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP) was my first opportunity to combine science with mountaineering skills. I picked up a range of new techniques, from coding to ice coring to glacial travel. Years later, I am still amazed by how much of my work since has relied on the foundation of skills I developed at JIRP. I strongly recommend the program to anybody (between high school and a PhD) considering getting more involved in polar science. Check out the JIRP website and Instagram to learn more!

Here’s a collection of my favorite photos and moments from the summer.

Rappelling into a crevasse

Getting towed (on skis, by a skidoo) was the best way to quickly get around. Here we travel under the Taku Towers to a couple of shallow ice coring sites.

Camp 18, our final camp on the icefield, illuminated at night.

Some recreational skiing above Camp 18.

Blue skies on a traverse day.

Measuring snow surface albedo (reflectivity) with the Taku Towers in the background.

A small group of us attempted to pioneer a route back to Juneau via the Mendenhall Glacier at the end of the season. Here we approach the end of our effort in a complex crevasse field on the lower glacier, just before calling a helicopter for the final few miles off the icefield.