TDY Gouge - Greenland

Thule Air Base - Greenland - Northernmost DOD base, interesting experience to be had. Joint US-Danish base, with most of the base services operated by a group called Greenland Contractors. They'll be the ones coming up planeside once you touch down, good dudes really, but if you are off-loading cargo, make sure they know where it's supposed to go or they'll dump it in a random hangar. Hotel is walking distance from airfield ops, but they will have one of the base taxis drive you. Hotel is actually really nice given it's location. Room is just a small bed, tv, minifridge and a desk, with a bathroom and dayroom/kitchen down the hall. Just like being in college again. TAKE LOTS OF CASH WITH YOU since it's the only way to eat. They give you a food card when you check in, load it with cash at these ATM-type machines at the chow hall or at the hotel. Chow hall right next door to the hotel, fantastic food. Tons of choice at every meal, and more danish pastry then you could eat. Beg/borrow/steal a 4x4 truck to go exploring around base, lots of things to see. Closest things are the glaciers and Mt Dundas. Mt Dundas is essentially a 45 degree incline almost to the top, then it's vertical for the last 20 or so meters, with great views on top. Community Center is only source of internet, $4 for an hour's worth at blazing dialup speeds. TOW club has good food and drinks and will deliver late at night. Hotel room phones are DSN phones through Colo Springs, so if you want to call anywhere, bring a phonecard. Gym is decent, complete with bowling alley. I was up there in the summer, but the weather can change in an instant. We had temps from low 30s to 50s, and winds from zip up to 80 knot gusts. Winter gets a bit chillier, with temps as low as -40 and winds well over 100 knots. The whole place is mud, so bring an old pair of shoes or boots with you. Things like BX, community center, and TOW club have odd hours and are closed on random days.