All 22 dots have made it to Moscow. We spent a peaceful night at the hotel-like structure as in years past and had an idyllic hour or so in Red Square. Now, we are checked-in an a different airport and waiting for our plane to Yakutsk and from there to Cherskiy. Spirits are high and so far all is well.

(The travels so far have been uncommonly smooth. The only significant bump was when the St. Olaf contingent waited in vain for their bags after our all night flight from Washington DC. Those bags had never left the airport in Minnesota. However, 24 hours later the bags are all accounted for.)

The students this year are fanstastic. We’ve been discussing science in small groups and planning the work we’ll do in Cherskiy. The students are eager to begin and we are all eager to have our travel done. It’s exciting to be embarking on the fourth straight season of work on the Kolyma. Our ambitions and expectations are very high for the research we will do over the next three weeks.

Eastward ho!