Allowed out for an afternoon jaunt on the Beaufort Sea: ice cores were taken for scientific study. The cabin-fevered crew burned off some restless energy playing hockey, trying to catch Arctic cod for DNA study, having snow-ball fights, running laps, collecting ice chips for drinks later, and making crop-circles in the snow, all over 1800 meters of water.

Above: Ari standing on the Beaufort Sea in dashing, figure-flattering survival gear. We were required to wear flotation equipment *just in case*. The CCG Sir Wilfrid Laurier is in the background, notice the person climbing down the ladder to the left, our means of getting on and off the ship. Crewmembers stayed on the bridge for bear watch and to make sure no one got too far away from the ship. (Photo by G. Moody)

Above: Finally, the ability to stretch your legs. (Photo by A. Balsom)

Above: Gillian, an Institute of Ocean Sciences research technician from Victoria, British Columbia (left) and Ari from the University of Tennessee (right) having a Kodak moment. (Photo by T. )

Above: Dana, a crewmember, making Arctic snow angels. (Photo by A. Balsom)

Above: Waddling up and down the ladder in bulky insulated suits and life vests is not graceful business. (Photo by A. Balsom)

Above: Footprint through the ice. A reminder that things are not always what they seem. (Photo by A. Balsom)

Above: Unwanted guests--the ship or the bears? A mother and her two cubs (cubs not visible in this photo) came to investigate the commotion. She wasn't very pleased with our arrival. Bears also tracked in to a drilling site set up by scientists to deploy a mooring through the ice. After an hour-long lunch break back on the ship, they returned to find that the bears had chewed o-rings off of the A-frame, had clawed through the bear watch's chairseat, and had chewed up his coffee cup. (Photo by A. Balsom)