"You know it's time to leave the ice when..."
Time on the ice: 2+ months
Time remaining: 5 days! (then 5 more in Kanger...then to the USA)

Gayle's top 10 reasons why it's time to head off the Greenland Ice Sheet...
(1) Everything I wear or use is seeming to have fatigue-failure after too many uses...I am currently zipping up my parka with a pair of pliers after the metal tag completely ripped off (thanks for the Leatherman, Gran and Gramp!), I've darned my socks and my glove liners, and a couple days ago I was skiing and the basket on the bottom of my pole spontaneously broke in half. What's next to go?!

(2) The cooks are rationing out fresh vegetables - I was given a little sprinkle of fresh tomatoes on a taco and told that was all I get. :-) We're having some shortages with the C130s down for repair. There was an excited announcement this morning that ketchup was arriving on the next twin otter and everyone cheered.

(3) I am so used to rare showers now that I have to sit and think hard about when I last took a shower to figure out when I need one next.

(4) I woke up with a start the other day, concerned that I DIDN'T have frost on my sleeping bag and how that might be affecting my frozen samples sitting outside (by the way, I was booted out of the weatherport and have been back in a tent for the past 3 weeks).

(5) The ice core drillers have turned me into a whiskey drinker. But it must have 3000-year-old ice or it just isn't up to par.

(6) "Hot" to me is now anything over 0F. "Cold" is anything below -25 F. Maybe this means I should actually just stay here.

(7) Seeking entertainment, I've participated (and WON!) a blood-oxygen-saturation contest...how fast can you hyperventilate while wearing sensors on your fingers to boost your blood oxygen content?! I made it to 98% from a starting value of about 94/95%...totally kicked Gene's yoga-deep-breathing butt (he only got to 97% before practically passing out).

(8) I had a dream the other night that I somehow ended up trapped in my sleeping bag and was having to call other tents for help. I was totally confused when I woke up and my sleeping bag was fine.

(9) Willow and I agreed that a "diet" means only 1 dessert a day and only 1 breakfast a day. Not that I'm on a diet. I've had 2 breakfasts today so far and I'm sure to have a few desserts tonight.

(10) I can't really remember what it feels like to NOT wear long johns and heavy boots. I can't even imagine a tank-top or sandals!