Daylight 24/7

We, here in the south, are in the season when the sun does not set. I was asked what it’s like; what the psychological effects are of being in 24 hours of daylight. The next sunset is February 20th 2026.

The truth is; I mostly don’t notice. The dorm room I’m in is an inner room, no outside walls and no windows. It’s an off white box with grey carpet and blue cabinetry. Sleeping is way easier here, even with roommates than it was at home. I sleep pretty solid through the night since there is no light.

The biggest effect I have noticed, is the work day seems to fly by. The sun does move throughout the day but it’s always the same brightness… unless of course there are clouds!

But it makes the work day seem short. I’ll look at my watch and realize it’s lunch time. And then look again later and realize we have worked more than our hours for the shift. But I feel like I can just work and work without getting terribly tired.

Unlike being at home with the day changing like it’s intended!! I felt constantly tired there. Maybe be it wasn’t the day and night changes. It could have been the elevation. Here, I’m not exactly at sea level, but I am working on top of the frozen ocean!! I’ll have to see if I can find the sea ice elevation!!

Another couple weird phenomena I didn’t expect, my compass points south rather than north. I believe I mentioned that already, but I still find it interesting. Things also look much closer than they really are. I’ll have to do some research, but the islands and mountains surrounding us look very close. But they are not. This seems magnified here, more so than back home. There is a book about an early explorer who thought he could walk across the ice shelf to one of the islands and return in the same day. He walked twelve hours and didn’t feel any closer so he turned back.

When we drive out to the airfield it’s about 11 miles, but about five as the crow flies. From the rock, Ross Island, it looks very close. Same with Williams Air field, which we approach as we are driving out to Phoenix Airfield. Williams will look like it’s about a mile away when it’s about six miles away. I think to myself that I’m close to the turn to Phoenix, but I actually may be half way to Williams. It’s very strange, that I’ve driven this road many times and still think I’m further than I really am.

And, the snow here sound like styrofoam walking or driving across undisturbed snow and it squeaks like styrofoam. It’s a fun sound, something you don’t hear much in the mid north!! I bet closer to the North Pole, it sounds the same as here! Since the snow here isn’t like back home, falling snow, it’s generally much harder. The snow blows in and drifts, and drifts in tight. I can feel the difference when running the dozer.

As of late I have been working on pushing out the pile of winter snow that has accumulated around Phoenix town. Over winter, they move the snow away from the buildings and pile it up. Over the summer we have to push that pile out flat to make room for next years snow. For the last week I have been pushing this snow.

But it also drifts around the piles of snow. I have been running a Cat D8 and I can feel the difference when trying to push through drifted snow. The machine struggles and most of the time starts to slide as it tries to break through the drift. The snow that’s been pilled is much softer and easier to push through. Nature is so cool!

The sea ice will be melting soon and more wildlife will be coming close!! Once I get an opportunity to take some better photos you’ll get to see too!!