Photos
These pictures were taken in May of 2010, in our first camp of the season, near Cochrane, Alberta.
A typical wet, cold, and rainy/snowy day, which pretty much characterized the majority of the contract. In a bit of particular cruel irony, you can see that Natasha Bedingford is singing about a "pocketful of sunshine" on the satellite radio. I think Natasha needs to visit us and bring us some of that sunshine.
The recycle centre in camp.
Gord, our company checker, put together this crafty little plot book. As you can see, it is made from a corrugated cardboard sign from the block, to keep the paperwork dry.
Mathilde.
Anna & Shauna, planting in the snow.
Wilson, giving the rookies an early-morning tailgate safety meeting. We have a lot of rookies in camp this year - eleven in total out of about fifty employees.
Our blocks have some pretty good scenery. However, you know what they say about the weather in the mountains, and how quickly it can change. Take a good close look at this photo, and then look carefully at the next photo, taken in almost the same spot, not much more than an hour apart.
As you can see, storms can come up pretty quickly. You need to be prepared for every kind of weather.
Proper oral hygiene is very important. Here, the girls are helping each other out, I think?
A typical snowy morning.
Here's a better morning.
Setting up the mess tent.
A bit of snow falling on a block one afternoon.
Emma.
I have no idea what the girls are doing here.
The "grey water" pit for the run-off dishwater.
Another of our blocks.
It looks like Matt is getting ready for a dance party.
Our checker's truck, which has a tidy tank in the back and therefore doubles as the fuel truck.
You'll probably recognize this road, since there was a photo of it about nine photos ago, although the first one was taken on a sunny morning.
John "Travolta" Gander, learning to plant.
Lindsay, our Assistant Cook.
Katie & Suzie, on one of the nights off. Suzie is ready to fall asleep.
Glenn & Brad, two of Nate's key vets.
Another promising morning.
A not-so-promising morning.
The first aid tent, in camp.
Sarah Gander, playing some frisbee while we're waiting for the snow to melt.
Some sort of totem monument, probably created by the loggers. Or maybe by First Nations' people.
Glenn.
Jenny.
Stephane, frying up some shrimp for a pasta.
Another good morning.
And another not-so-good morning.
Sean Jackins, one of my foremen, working on digging the dish pit.
This skeleton, sitting on the fence, was at the base of the road up to our camp. In retrospect, it seemed a fitting welcome, considering how bony and rough the road was.
Planter Greg (not to be confused with Foreman Greg), checking his density.
David, loving the morning sunshine.