A compilation of pictures and stories of my adventure since I joined the Coast Guard.
17 January 2009
The Most Epic Story of All Time
It was a good storm best described as a sample of the ninth level of Dante’s Hell. Visibility was at about five to ten feet if you were lucky. Forty mile an hour winds carrying an ominous wall of snow and negative 50 degree weather. Our brave plowers and snowcatman braved the storm for a log flight that was not destined to hit the ground. The runway was cleared, but more work was to follow the next day. We awoke to a five-foot burms around the station. Walls of snow replaced our doorways to the outside. But even then we did not give up. We struck bravely and valiantly with our shovels and plowers, once again winning the day. The storm soon lost its momentum the sky’s cleared, for Alaska that is. I will start from the beginning. I warn you that it is not a story for the lighthearted.
It started on the fifteenth day of the first month. The sky was clear, the weather cold with good visibility. The storm came in quickly with its walls of snow and isolating nature. I was not sure if when it ended if we would still be in Alaska. The wind picked up, the snow flowed with it. Our log flight was due for the next day, but the storm did not care. It stormed through the night as we rested for the fated battle the next day. At 0530 the equipment was warmed up. Log Flight ETA less than six hours. The Osh Kosh was the first to face the storm clearing a path for the plows and loader. We had cleared our way out of Newbay, now we headed for the runway access road. Slowly but surely we made our way to the road and then the runway barely able to see ahead of us. The doors were clear, and we hoped that the weather would clear before the C-130 arrived. Unfortunately, the weather did not go our way. The C-130 came and went claiming it was too dangerous for them to land. We had believed it to be so earlier, but the Air Station chose to send the plane anyway. The Runway was clear, we were good to go, but Destiny had other plans. We would have to wait to face the real battle.
The night blew through with freezing temperatures, forty mile and hour winds and a constant wall of snow. It had penetrated our defenses and was invading our keep without mercy. The five-foot burm attempted to isolate us from the world, even more so than before. The sinister storm maintained its wall of white frozen water. This time we waited before we attacked the offenses of the storm. First we had to clear newbay, a mound of snow blocked even the Osh Kosh from getting out. Our brave canine scouts protected us from the indifferent muskox, without them we would have surely lost. Haley irked it enough to stay our of our way. We gathered our forces, our shovels and our icebreakers and broke down the wall. Even then it was several hours before the other equipment would be able to brave the storm. Baron Bob and Lord Lewis took charge of the battle. Sir Gardner and Squire Rambo went to man the plows. Squire Stephanie manned the loader. Peon Watt covered the watch and handles station communications. Lord Morgan and King Boyle lead the attack on blocked exits and doorways. In time we were victorious in both missions. The storm began to clear and the end was near, yet there was more work to do. The plowers worked late into the night but the battle was won. KPC Keep had won the day.
P.S. Copyrights to this story start at Ten Billion Dollars, I may negotiate.
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2 comments:
HI Ceej!
So happy that the station survived the ravages of mother nature, by shear cunning and brute force of course. It did sound like more of an adventure than the usual day to day. I am finishing my shopping for you so I can mail off a package before we leave on Sunday.
We miss you and love you - Mom
Hey brother. Haha, well done! Nice story, really fun to read! I miss you lots, I would love to have a surf buddy down here! See you soon, and don't forget about the John Muir Trail!
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