The first sign of the spring melt - a stream is seen flowing on the ice

Indications of the coming spring melt - bare hills, pools of water, bare hands

Increasing expanses of melted snow and ice during the spring melt Weasel checking sea ice landing strip at Oliktok Point - If weasel didn't break ice, ski planes could land. If weasels broke ice, they would float as they were amphibious.

Observing party on a barrier island. Tall hydro signal built to increase offshore range for visual control.

Observing party on a barrier island. Tall hydro signal built to increase offshore range for visual control.

Weasel at observing tent

Crepuscular rays illuminate the melting ice of the Beaufort Sea

Erosion along the shore of Tigvariak Island Hydrographic signal built in anticipation of the coming open water

Survey launches at Tigvariak Island ready for a summer season of work Boats painted orange for visibility in Arctic waters

Profile view of launches at Tigvariak Island

"Goldie" - a landing craft - used to transport men and equipment.

The starboard quarter view of the landing craft "Goldie"

Ice at Cross Island

Loading a weasel on "Goldie"

Survey Launch #15 , called "Fair Dinkum" at Cross Island

Like clouds, ice bergs can assume fantastic shapes

A large ice berg (by Beaufort Sea standards) - remains of a pressure ridge.

Collecting fresh water from a melting ice berg Pools of fresh water form on the top of the berg

Survey launch at Cross Island

Cruising through an ice field - l to r - Ted Shanahan, Stan Jeffers, Jerry Gray, and Simon Tagarook

Survey launch offshore from Cross Island

Compass stand and ice berg

Collecting fresh water on top of an ice berg Pools of fresh water form on the top of the berg

Collecting fresh water at Cross Island on a berg near Cross Island on misty day

Survey launch and supply launch at Cross Island

Survey launch running near the shore at Cross Island

An orange boat accentuated by the blue water and bright white ice berg

Arctic sunset - there's a chill in the air and the night's are getting longer It's time to head south

A boat's eyeview of an ice berg Tied up to berg while collecting water

On a fresh water collecting expedition Pools of fresh water form on the top of the berg

Survey launch #14 towing a dinghy

Open water at last - let's do some hydro! Shoran navigation antenna seen on launch

The end of the day

Securing transducer to side of survey launch on a warm Arctic summer day.

Survey launch at anchor with dinghy returning from shore

A Shoran navigation shore station

A Shoran navigation shore station and launch shore camp.

Survey boat at the Long Island camp - Shoran navigation antenna on the beach

Launch 15 crew - Stan Jeffers, Abe Simmons, Harley Nygren, Jerry Gray, Ted Shanahan, and Harry Lantzy

Tigvariak Island base camp from the air

Float plane at Point Lay

Unloading a float plane - Ensign Eugene W. Richards on right.

A hydrographic signal

A Shoran navigation station

Tide gage, hydrographic signal, and shore camp Older buildings are from ca. 1910 Leffingwell survey

Photo identification work - using transit on triangulation point to identify recognizable features. Lincoln Ganung on knees.

An abandoned whale boat from years before

Arctic wildflowers - rifle for scale

Arctic wildflowers - rifle for scale

Arctic wildflowers - rifle for scale