So You Think You Can Dance PaleoGlacial Edition

As I began this post it suddenly started pouring down rain. It had been threatening all day but was quite nice, and now there are large puddles all over and it is still coming down. Luckily, someone was cooking and was able to cover the bones as it began, so they shouldn’t be too wet. This particular batch has had some unfortunate time spent on the tarp, with us forgetting about them twice and they being soaked twice and having to dry out. Oops.

Weather also caused a huge headache for two of our group this morning. Britta and Duane were headed off to Fairbanks for some important work and were already stretched for time. Duane happened to read the highway report this morning and apparently last evening the road (yes, the ONLY road) was completely washed out. They were estimating 3-4 days before it opens. This is the road that continues once you cross on the ferry by the house. Duane and Britta had to make a decision: Drive down to Whitehorse and connect with a different highway and drive up to Fairbanks that way (turning what would normally be an 8 hour trip into a 16 hour trip), or wait until Thursday for the next flight to Fairbanks. They actually went for the former, choosing the drive because it would save them a day overall.

Yesterday after a successful day in the field some of us headed in to the Pit to hear The James Murdoch Band. Tyler actually went to jr high and high school with the lead singer/band leader (James, who actually goes by Alex). They were amazing! Totally surreal to see them playing at this run-down dump because they were seriously good. You couldn’t even tell that they were missing their bass player. They took turns playing bass during the show. It went on until about 2:30 and then we were kicked out of the bar so they could close it. The band would come hang out with us during the breaks so we got to talk and get to know them. Super fun. We are headed back tonight but will probably consume less beer this time. They do have a website/itunes section and I highly recommend their stuff. They even stopped by this afternoon to take a look at the bones and tusks!

Bones are still being found at all three sites but we finally feel like we have a handle on the cataloging process. Mathias is going to be taking samples next week so I will probably take over all cataloging while he and Susie sample. We did run into a small “snafu” with the nail polish. Apparently there is only one place in Dawson for nail polish and we bought them out two weeks ago. We ended up having to get a clear “sparkly” bottle just until Friday when we will get some more from our visitors from Whitehorse (coming up for the festival). I will try and take a picture of it in the light.

Matias and I also found a great way to make some money for future research. Yesterday we found a bone that had a thing of ice in it. The ice came out and it was perfectly clear and smelled fine. I totally licked it. Then we decided that we should go ahead and set up a bottling company and sell people 25,000 year old ice water. It would work. People are crazy like that. Any takers? I'll give you a good price!

Well, I’m off to buy my own ticket for the Dawson Music Festival. Unfortunately, this means that I will not being going to Whitehorse for the archaeology dig. I’m not too disappointed though, because I’m still having a great time. I should probably run into a few of the stores and buy some of the nicer things just in case, because lots and lots of people come up here for this weekend. Time is running out too… phew, too much stuff to do!

Cheers!