Ride Type: Land and Water
Vehicle type: Amphibious Truck
Riders per vehicle: 25
Height Requirement: Any Height
Fastpass + Available
Accessibility Must transfer to standard wheelchair, and then to ride vehicle.
Max Drop 14ft high drop along a 52ft length
Safety restraints: Individual fabric lap belt for each guest
Boarding procedure: Small step up (less than 12″) into ride vehicle
Vehicle type: Amphibious Truck
Riders per vehicle: 25
Height Requirement: Any Height
Fastpass + Available
Accessibility Must transfer to standard wheelchair, and then to ride vehicle.
Max Drop 14ft high drop along a 52ft length
Safety restraints: Individual fabric lap belt for each guest
Boarding procedure: Small step up (less than 12″) into ride vehicle
Guests wandering away from Zinthorp will see the silhouette of the magnificent Hjertefølger Research Station perched on the hillside. The pathway is lined with snow, becoming thicker the closer guests head to the main entrance. Just before heading inside, guests can stop and have their pictures taken (photopass available here) in a half buried amphibious vehicle (the same type of vehicle guests ride in later). A shovel is stuck in the snow as if someone has given up on digging it out.
Entering through the main doors, the air is suddenly cooler, as if guests have entered a chiller. The foyer is grand filled with pictures of arctic animals, charts, and safety signs. If there’s a sense of something missing, there is; no portrait of Dr. Berg, the founder of Hjertefølger Research Station can be found. If asked about the lack of a grand portrait in the foyer as is the norm for most famous scientists, cast members will reply that Dr. Berg is not a vain man, preferring that the animals he studies have a place of prominence in his center.
A cast member dressed as a research assistant is on hand to direct guests into the extended queue or through the shortened queue if a fastpass is used.
Entering through the main doors, the air is suddenly cooler, as if guests have entered a chiller. The foyer is grand filled with pictures of arctic animals, charts, and safety signs. If there’s a sense of something missing, there is; no portrait of Dr. Berg, the founder of Hjertefølger Research Station can be found. If asked about the lack of a grand portrait in the foyer as is the norm for most famous scientists, cast members will reply that Dr. Berg is not a vain man, preferring that the animals he studies have a place of prominence in his center.
A cast member dressed as a research assistant is on hand to direct guests into the extended queue or through the shortened queue if a fastpass is used.
Queue
Both queues start side by side through the foyer and into Dr. Berg’s office. Guests will immediately notice how cluttered it is. Papers are piled high, and stacks of books form mini mounds against the wall and on the desk. Little trinkets of from past expeditions litter the ledges and bookcases. Dr. Berg’s first field journal lies open, allowing guests to glimpse on of his earliest entries, the Pyrenees Ibex. |
Close at hand is the photograph of Dr. Berg’s favorite animal, one that he carries on each mountain climbing adventure.
Along the back wall are maps with tiny markings indicating each animal species’ main location. Guests can open drawers and cabinets to find hidden details of Dr. Berg’s life. Many easter eggs can be located here.*
*The original concept art for Glacier Bay hangs on the back wall.
*All of the honorary doctorates he’s been gifted with are crammed into a desk drawer.
*A Tibetan prayer flag, similar to those found near Expedition Everest, hangs from the ceiling.
*A letter addressed to Mary Oceaneer, thanking her for ferrying him up to the arctic circle, sits undelivered in his outbox tray.
*Eagle eyed guests can spot a Harambe patch on a bookshelf.
*One photo of Dr. Berg places him at a very familiar mountain, the Forbidden mountain. Looking closely, guests may be able to spot a “yeti” shaped shadow in the background.
*The original concept art for Glacier Bay hangs on the back wall.
*All of the honorary doctorates he’s been gifted with are crammed into a desk drawer.
*A Tibetan prayer flag, similar to those found near Expedition Everest, hangs from the ceiling.
*A letter addressed to Mary Oceaneer, thanking her for ferrying him up to the arctic circle, sits undelivered in his outbox tray.
*Eagle eyed guests can spot a Harambe patch on a bookshelf.
*One photo of Dr. Berg places him at a very familiar mountain, the Forbidden mountain. Looking closely, guests may be able to spot a “yeti” shaped shadow in the background.
From Dr. Berg’s office, the queue will split. The fastpass queue will exit out directly across from the briefing rooms. The extended queue will lead into the mess hall. In the kitchen, a pot is bubbling on the stove, and the smell of chili wafts through the air. The chore chart hanging from a post shows all the daily staffs chores checked off except for Nate, who was supposed to dig out the amphibious vehicle out front. The window (screen) in this room shows snow falling down outside and if guests wait, they will also see a herd of musk ox wander by and an impromptu snowball fight by some of the staff.
The next two rooms are where guests will get their first hints about the changing environment of the ice caps. The communication center and the research collection rooms have charts of the ice fields, each one showing them shrinking as the years go by. Animal count charts decrease at the same rate as the ice fields with several notations of a possible correlation.
Exiting into the hallway, guests wander by the open doors of the staff quarters. The last room has a snoring occupant and sharped eyed guests will notice the name on the parka as Nate. A Hidden Mickey can also be found in this room.
As guests reach the rec room, they are met by another research assistant that will direct them into one of two briefing rooms.
Guests entering the far briefing room will pass by communal showers where the sole occupant can be humming it’s a small world.
The next two rooms are where guests will get their first hints about the changing environment of the ice caps. The communication center and the research collection rooms have charts of the ice fields, each one showing them shrinking as the years go by. Animal count charts decrease at the same rate as the ice fields with several notations of a possible correlation.
Exiting into the hallway, guests wander by the open doors of the staff quarters. The last room has a snoring occupant and sharped eyed guests will notice the name on the parka as Nate. A Hidden Mickey can also be found in this room.
As guests reach the rec room, they are met by another research assistant that will direct them into one of two briefing rooms.
Guests entering the far briefing room will pass by communal showers where the sole occupant can be humming it’s a small world.
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Guests enter the briefing room in groups of 20 to await orientation by a senior research member. In front is a castmember standing behind a podium with a large projector screen which displays the message: Welcome New Interns! He or she welcomes the guests and urges them to continue across the room to make way for those still coming in. Pinned to the walls are posters and signs advocating safety procedures and the rules for traversing the ice fields. A few humorous ones are mixed in as well.
Along the far wall are a series of windows (screens) that show other researchers working at their stations and walking around. Once all of the guests are inside, the doors will close, and the cast member will begin. |
Senior Researcher: “This state of the art facility is the brain child of Dr. Bastion Berg, who you will meet in a few moments. As an expert mountain climber, and leading ecologist, Dr. Berg has traveled around the world, scaling the tallest peaks, all in search of the animals that make their homes in the harshest of environments.”
(Next slide is a picture of an arrow pointing to a speck at the top of a mountain with the caption.)
(Next slide is a picture of an arrow pointing to a speck at the top of a mountain with the caption.)
Senior Researcher (chuckles nervously and rushes on): “He found that the more he explored, the more variants of animals he found that only existed in one location. Eventually, tales of strange creatures living on ice and the and snow in the Arctic reached Dr. Berg, and he became determined to observe these unique animals. He travelled up north until he reached the small town of Glacier Bay.” (The images switches to a cartoon of people buried up to their necks in snow.) The researcher clears his/her throat, pointedly. |
Senior Researcher (exasperated): “Do you mind?!”
(The image is quickly replaced with the correct one.) Senior Researcher: “Locals thought that this creature was a sea faring unicorn, but with Dr. Berg’s tireless dedication, this was debunked. His research has been published worldwide, drawing many aspiring scientist to Glacier Bay in hopes of working alongside him.” |
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The projector switches to images of Dr. Berg working in the field, then to a group of 5, then to another image where the number has doubled. Each picture continues to have more and more people. The last one has mustaches drawn on every person. Senior Researcher: “Our little research family has grown quite large since then, but with so much of the ice still left unexplored, we need more help. That is why you are here. As new interns, you will be assigned to a senior scientist to assist in your training and guide you around the tundra.” |
The slide switches without the researcher noticing: You don’t have to be crazy to work here, we’ll train you.
Senior Researcher: “It is very dangerous out there, so listen closely to them. But now, here is the great man himself, a man in search of the unknown, Dr. Berg!”
The research waves over to the door at the back of the room, but no one appears.
Senior Researcher (embarrassed): “Ah…he’ll be here in just a moment. We’ll just go over safety while we wait.”
The projector switches to a sign that says: Explosion free for 30 days!
The senior researcher glares: “Really?”
The slides changes to: How To Stay Safe Out There. From here the senior researcher goes into the vehicle safety spiel (please stay seated with hands, arms, and legs inside the vehicles at all times, the safety strap buckles from left to right, please seat smaller interns (children) towards the center of the row).
The window on the side wall, suddenly shows a flurry of activity from the scientists. Several of them converge together anxiously. The group breaks apart.
Senior Researcher: “Okay, now for the do and don’ts of snow shoeing…” A loud banging on the door behind the podium interrupts the researcher, and he or she goes to answer.
Senior Researcher: “What do you mean he’s missing? He’s supposed to greet the new interns! Oh, not again…really?” Exasperated, the researcher closes the door and returns to the podium.
Senior Researcher: “I’m sorry about this, but it looks like your orientation will have to be cut short. It seems Dr. Berg has gone missing (muttering: again) and no has heard from him in quite some time. It’s all available hands to the search and rescue vehicles, and that means you too.”
The doors in the back of the room open, allowing guests to exit.
Senior Researcher: “Head down to the garage where the senior scientists assigned to you will be there to greet you. Good luck!”
The last projection slide changes to say: Hope you don’t get Nate!
Exiting through the doors guests enter into the main research laboratory which leads to the observatory and then to the garage where guests will load into the vehicle.
The research waves over to the door at the back of the room, but no one appears.
Senior Researcher (embarrassed): “Ah…he’ll be here in just a moment. We’ll just go over safety while we wait.”
The projector switches to a sign that says: Explosion free for 30 days!
The senior researcher glares: “Really?”
The slides changes to: How To Stay Safe Out There. From here the senior researcher goes into the vehicle safety spiel (please stay seated with hands, arms, and legs inside the vehicles at all times, the safety strap buckles from left to right, please seat smaller interns (children) towards the center of the row).
The window on the side wall, suddenly shows a flurry of activity from the scientists. Several of them converge together anxiously. The group breaks apart.
Senior Researcher: “Okay, now for the do and don’ts of snow shoeing…” A loud banging on the door behind the podium interrupts the researcher, and he or she goes to answer.
Senior Researcher: “What do you mean he’s missing? He’s supposed to greet the new interns! Oh, not again…really?” Exasperated, the researcher closes the door and returns to the podium.
Senior Researcher: “I’m sorry about this, but it looks like your orientation will have to be cut short. It seems Dr. Berg has gone missing (muttering: again) and no has heard from him in quite some time. It’s all available hands to the search and rescue vehicles, and that means you too.”
The doors in the back of the room open, allowing guests to exit.
Senior Researcher: “Head down to the garage where the senior scientists assigned to you will be there to greet you. Good luck!”
The last projection slide changes to say: Hope you don’t get Nate!
Exiting through the doors guests enter into the main research laboratory which leads to the observatory and then to the garage where guests will load into the vehicle.
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The ride vehicle is an amphibious truck, capable traversing land and water. Each vehicle can seat 5 people per row, and they are 5 rows in each vehicle. The vehicle pulls forward to the seatbelt check.
The ride vehicle is an amphibious truck, capable traversing land and water. Each vehicle can seat 5 people per row, and they are 5 rows in each vehicle. The vehicle pulls forward to the seatbelt check.
Ride
Senior Scientist: “Hello, everybody. Glad to have you aboard. We need to hurry and find Dr. Berg before he finds himself in serious trouble. I just got word there’s a storm approaching so we need to move quickly.”
The vehicle drive forward out of the garage, and into the center’s underground cave.
Senior Scientist: “Okay, so were headed out into the northern ice fields. Dr. Berg’s latest scientific research is out in those ice fields, but the route can be dangerous. The increasing warm weather is causing the ice to melt prematurely and sink holes to open up suddenly. But not worry, we have the best vehicle in the fleet; this amphibious vehicle can travel both on land and water with a push of a few buttons. But uh…if you notice any leaks…make sure to keep it to yourselves, okay?”
The vehicle exits out of the cave into the snow-covered ice fields.
Senior Scientist: “Hello, everybody. Glad to have you aboard. We need to hurry and find Dr. Berg before he finds himself in serious trouble. I just got word there’s a storm approaching so we need to move quickly.”
The vehicle drive forward out of the garage, and into the center’s underground cave.
Senior Scientist: “Okay, so were headed out into the northern ice fields. Dr. Berg’s latest scientific research is out in those ice fields, but the route can be dangerous. The increasing warm weather is causing the ice to melt prematurely and sink holes to open up suddenly. But not worry, we have the best vehicle in the fleet; this amphibious vehicle can travel both on land and water with a push of a few buttons. But uh…if you notice any leaks…make sure to keep it to yourselves, okay?”
The vehicle exits out of the cave into the snow-covered ice fields.
When the guests reply no, Senior Scientist: “What? Why do I always get the newbies?” (overly chipper) “Okay, well time for your first lesson, newbies! This area is called the ice fields or the tundra. The tundra is frozen most of the year, so researchers like Dr. Berg can travel year round via dog sled or snow shoeing. The arctic tundra is so cold…how cold is it? We-l-l, thank you for asking. It is so cold that no vegetation can grow here. So all you veggie hating kids out there are in luck, no broccoli for you in the arctic. But you do have to deal with subzero temperatures, constant snow storms…and you’re probably better off eating your vegetables.”
Senior Scientist: “The Arctic region is a unique area among Earth's ecosystems. Many animals in this region have adapted to its cold and extreme conditions. Life in the Arctic includes organisms living in the ice, fish and marine mammals, birds, and land animals. And there’s one of them now.”
Senior Scientist: “The Arctic region is a unique area among Earth's ecosystems. Many animals in this region have adapted to its cold and extreme conditions. Life in the Arctic includes organisms living in the ice, fish and marine mammals, birds, and land animals. And there’s one of them now.”
The driver points to the left where a pack of wolves can be seen looking at the vehicle, hungrily. As the vehicle turns the corner, the alpha wolf looms over the vehicle perched atop a snow drift. He sniffs curiously before sneezing (spraying a few unlucky guests) and shaking his head back and forth.
Senior Scientist: “Hey, look! I think I see little red riding hood!” The wolf actually does look up and away from the vehicle in the direction of where the guide is pointing, throwing it’s head back and howling. The rest of the pack can be heard howling as well. “I can’t believe that worked! That my friends, was an arctic wolf. While very beautiful and largely unafraid of humans, they can be very dangerous which means you must be very careful. These are one of the hardest animals to study out here, mainly due to climate. The only time at which the wolf migrates is during the wintertime when there is complete darkness for 24 hours, following their main source of prey, the muskoxen. What we do know, is that their populations are dwindling, and we have yet to understand why.”
Snow starts to fall around the vehicle. |
Senior Scientist: “Okay, we need to move on. The storm is arriving quicker than I thought. On the Tundra, winds can often blow upwards of 30–60 mph. We don’t want to become permanent ice sculptures.”
The vehicle takes off and pulls alongside a narrow channel of water.
The vehicle takes off and pulls alongside a narrow channel of water.
Senior Scientist: “Look over there, quickly.” The driver points over to the water. The tusks of a group of narwhals bob along the surface, spraying water into the air. “Those are narwhals, a specialized whale only found in the coldest of waters. Their lack of a dorsal fin allows them to hunt continuously under the ice, and those long horns are actually called tusks and can only be grown by the males. The largest narwhal we’ve ever seen was over 18 ft in length without their tusks. But even these great creatures can be preyed upon by polar bears and killer whales. They escape predation by hiding for prolong periods under the ice. It’s remarkable to see them this close to shore.”
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Suddenly, large cracking sounds echo from both sides of the vehicle. Looking over the side of the vehicle, guests can see several fissures growing before their eyes.
Senior Scientist: “Okay, nobody move. I’m going to slowly move forward. Easy does it…careful.” The ice creaks and groans as the vehicle pulls forward slowly until a small fissure of water opens up and the back of the vehicle jolts as if it’s starting to sink. Senior Scientist: “Whoa! Hold on back there!” The vehicle rushes forward in a spray of water and back onto solid ground. |
Senior Scientist: “Okay, nothing to worry about, okay?” (Muttering to his/herself): It’s okay, you haven’t lost anyone on this trip, not like the last six times…” (Suddenly realizes everyone overheard that) “Well back to looking for Dr. Berg, shall we? No need to tell anyone about that back there, haha…right? Right?”
The vehicle drives forward and a loud crack and water starts bubbling up the side of the vehicle.
Senior Scientist: “We’re going into the water! Hang on.”
The vehicle continues forward submerging into the water. The driver flips a switch, and the propeller engages. The sea ice around the vehicle breaks apart into smaller icebergs.
The vehicle drives forward and a loud crack and water starts bubbling up the side of the vehicle.
Senior Scientist: “We’re going into the water! Hang on.”
The vehicle continues forward submerging into the water. The driver flips a switch, and the propeller engages. The sea ice around the vehicle breaks apart into smaller icebergs.
Senior Scientist: “Good thing, you guys had a professional like me around.” (Starts breathing heavily, comically hyperventilating). “Okay, this isn’t a bad thing. We can still search for Dr. Berg from the sea. Everyone ready to continue?” (The driver completely ignores any negative responses) “Alright, here we go.”
The vehicle continues propelling itself through the water, avoiding the broken sea ice. Just as the guests float past a large piece of ice, a polar bear can be seen navigating the broken ice fields.
The vehicle continues propelling itself through the water, avoiding the broken sea ice. Just as the guests float past a large piece of ice, a polar bear can be seen navigating the broken ice fields.
Senior Scientist: “Polar bears have evolved to occupy a narrower ecological niche, with many of their body characteristics adapted for cold temperatures, for moving across snow, ice and open water, and for hunting seals, which make up most of its diet. Although most polar bears are born on land, they spend most of their time on the sea ice. Their scientific name means "maritime bear" and derives from this fact. Polar bears hunt their preferred food of seals from the edge of sea ice, often living off fat reserves when no sea ice is present. Because of their dependence on the sea ice, polar bears are classified as marine mammals.”
The bear hops across the ice and eventually dives in and swims over to a larger chunk of ice.
The bear hops across the ice and eventually dives in and swims over to a larger chunk of ice.
Senior Scientist: “If the sea ice were to ever disappear, the polar bear would likely become extinct.”
The vehicle accelerates forward almost into a pair of fighting bears. Senior Scientist: “Whoa! Too close, a little too close!” Senior Scientist: “Okay, we do not want to be in the middle of that! Polar bears are normally solitary creatures only coming together to find mates or fight over food.” |
The bears pause in their fighting to look at the potential new prey.
Senior Scientist: “And if we don’t want to be food, we better make like a tree…and get out of here! Parents be prepared to toss your least favorite child over board if they chase us.”
Senior Scientist: “And if we don’t want to be food, we better make like a tree…and get out of here! Parents be prepared to toss your least favorite child over board if they chase us.”
Senior Scientist: “Now here are some animals that won’t eat us, but watch out; Walruses can be just as dangerous. Like the polar bears the sea ice is essential for feeding as walruses usually feed from the shallows form by sea ice platforms. These gigantic beasts can weigh up to 4,400 lbs, and are easily identified by their tusks. Both male and female walruses have these tusks, but only the males use them in dominance battles with other walruses, and the strongest males with the largest tusks typically dominate. Those tusks are also used to form and maintain holes in the ice and aid the walrus in climbing out of water onto ice. Like the polar bears the sea ice is essential for feeding.”
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A large male walrus bellows and clashes with another male, their tusks, clacking as they fight.
Senior Scientist: “And those tusks are good for gouging poor defenseless scientists too. Let’s motor.”
Suddenly, the boat is surrounded by beluga whales, their spouts shooting mist into the air.
Suddenly, the boat is surrounded by beluga whales, their spouts shooting mist into the air.
Senior Scientist: “Wow, you guys are very lucky. These are beluga whales, and like the narwhals don’t have a dorsal fin. Notice how white these whales are? Would you be surprised to know that they are born grey, and shed their skin to get their white skin. This is the only whale that does this. This pigmentation helps them catalogue against their natural predators like polar bears and killer whales. Belugas use their echolocation abilities to locate blowholes under the sheet ice."
Suddenly the snow starts coming down very heavily until even the guests can’t see anything.
Senior Scientist: “It’s going to be a white out! I can’t see anything. We need to get out of this storm and hope that Dr. Berg has done the same. I’m going to try a find us a cave in one of those cliffs over there to wait out the storm.”
Suddenly the snow starts coming down very heavily until even the guests can’t see anything.
Senior Scientist: “It’s going to be a white out! I can’t see anything. We need to get out of this storm and hope that Dr. Berg has done the same. I’m going to try a find us a cave in one of those cliffs over there to wait out the storm.”
The vehicle continues forward until the vehicle is almost to the shore, swerving to avoid the icebergs. A crack like a gunshot cuts through the wind. Small ice blocks tumble from the cliff until an entire section slides off the cliff side in a roar. The glacier is calving right before the guests’ eyes.
The wave of water crashes into the boat, rocking it back and forth. The boat twists into the water, forcing it backwards through a hole in the glacier side. The boat continues to go back and the sound of rushing water alerts the driver that they are about to go through a giant fissure in the ice.
Senior Scientist: "Hang on, everybody! We're about to go over nature's water slide."
Senior Scientist: "Hang on, everybody! We're about to go over nature's water slide."
The boat falls down a short water fall, still sliding backwards.
As the boat comes to a halt, the driver has his or her hands up in the air. Senior Scientist: "That was better than Slush N' Gusher! Who's ready for round two?" Noticing the lack of silence from most of the guests, the driver clears his or her throat uncomfortably. Senior Scientist: "Well, at least we're out of the storm." The boat gradually turns around to "face forward". Senior Scientist: "So. Does anyone want to build a snowman?" (Possilbe groaning from the guests). Senior Scientist: "Okay, I'll let it go." (more groans) Senior Scientist: "Okay, we need to find a way out of here. Let's push on." |
The boat travel through some giant ice structures and magnificent ice caves.
The boat passes under an opening in the ice, with a broken ladder hanging over the edge, and snow covered climbing equpments scattered along the ground.
Senior Scientist: "That looks like Dr. Berg's equipment! He must have fallen through the ice here! Dr. Berg! Dr Berg!"
Dr. Berg: "Hello? Who's there?"
The boat turns the corner, and there is Dr. Berg, unharmed.
Senior Scientist: "It's the search and rescue team form the Reserch Center, Dr. We're here to help you."
Dr Berg: "Please call me Bastion, please. I'm very glad to see you. You folks could have gotten lost if I wasn't here."
Senior Scientist: "Dr, we-"
Dr. Berg: "Bastion, please."
Senior Scientist: "Uh...sure...Bastion. We're actually here to rescue you though."
Dr. Berg: "Nonsense! I'm perfectly fine. This ice cave is home to some new, fascinating zooplankton! I've been studying these creatures for the last several hours. You, however, should be careful. Although the wildlife is beautiful out here; it is also be very dangerous. Heaven forbid you run into a hungry polar bear or crash into an iceberg. Now, you folks head on back and let me get back to my research."
Senior Scientist: "Well, okay. Do you...happen to know the way out of here?"
Dr. Berg, chuckling: "Certainly. Just keep following the river, and it should lead you back to the research center. Good luck ans stay safe."
Senior Scientist: "Thanks, Dr. Berg. We'll let the others know. Okay, troops, lets head home."
The vehicle exits the ice cave, engage land vehicle mode once they reach the shore.
Dr. Berg: "Hello? Who's there?"
The boat turns the corner, and there is Dr. Berg, unharmed.
Senior Scientist: "It's the search and rescue team form the Reserch Center, Dr. We're here to help you."
Dr Berg: "Please call me Bastion, please. I'm very glad to see you. You folks could have gotten lost if I wasn't here."
Senior Scientist: "Dr, we-"
Dr. Berg: "Bastion, please."
Senior Scientist: "Uh...sure...Bastion. We're actually here to rescue you though."
Dr. Berg: "Nonsense! I'm perfectly fine. This ice cave is home to some new, fascinating zooplankton! I've been studying these creatures for the last several hours. You, however, should be careful. Although the wildlife is beautiful out here; it is also be very dangerous. Heaven forbid you run into a hungry polar bear or crash into an iceberg. Now, you folks head on back and let me get back to my research."
Senior Scientist: "Well, okay. Do you...happen to know the way out of here?"
Dr. Berg, chuckling: "Certainly. Just keep following the river, and it should lead you back to the research center. Good luck ans stay safe."
Senior Scientist: "Thanks, Dr. Berg. We'll let the others know. Okay, troops, lets head home."
The vehicle exits the ice cave, engage land vehicle mode once they reach the shore.
Senior Scientist: "Well thanks for taking the plunge and helping us find Dr. Berg, even if he wasn't in any trouble. Don't worry; the second day of your internship is sure to go better."
The vehicle pulls into the garage, and the guests unload.
The vehicle pulls into the garage, and the guests unload.
Meet Dr. Bastion Berg
Dr. Bastion Berg, a French ecologist, is one of the original members of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (SEA). Born into a small town located near the base of the Pyrenees Mountains, Berg’s earliest memories were of the mountains and the people who came to climb them. As he grew older he would often show climbers where they could find some of the most elusive animals the mountains had to offer. Fascinated by the nimbleness of the Ibex on the sheer mountain terrain, Berg sot to be as sure footed as them when traversing the mountain. Eventually, he began to take climbers further and further up the mountain until he was one of the premiere mountain guides in the area, able to scale the rough terrain with relative ease, much like his beloved Ibex. |
As a young man, Berg became one of the few who climbed the 11,168ft to the top of the Pyrenes, and in the process, discovered a new type of Pyrenes chamois (a type of goat antelope), whose rare sightings were long thought to be a mythical deer to the locals. Intrigued by this version of chamois that could survive up to 9,800 ft and was so radically different from its cousins, Berg took groups of scientists up the mountain side to study these magnificent creatures. However, this act would lead Berg to the harsh reality of scientific field study. As Berg led the scientists to a herd of chamois, one of the scientists shot and killed several of the animals so they could be dissected and studied. Horrified and heartbroken at the needless death of these rare animals, Berg chivied the scientists back down the mountain, but it was too late. Now that the scientists knew the location, increasingly more people including game hunters paid other mountaineers to lead them to the herds for specimens and trophies. Unable to stop them, Berg left his homeland as the chamois hide trade really took off. He never climbed the Pyrenes Mountains again.
Berg traveled across the world, his love of mountaineering steering him to some of the tallest peaks in the world. He climbed Mount Blanc in the Alps, Puncak Jaya in Indonesia, and even Mount Kilimanjaro, recording the wide array of animals in his field journal along the way. Although he privately swore that he would never again guide people up mountains, Berg’s resolve would be tested the day he met Henry Mystic. Quite an amateur explorer himself, Henry Mystic took quite a shine to Berg, and offered his new friend a large sum of money to take him up the Aconcagua in South America in search of a mysterious artifact. Initially reluctant, Mystic’s charm and good natured attitude, won Berg over, and he and Mystic scaled the mountain. Although Mystic never did find his artifact, he did offer Berg a membership into a brand-new group a certain Jason Chandler was forming, the Society of Explores and Adventurers. Hoping to find others like Mystic and himself, Berg accepted and became one of the group’s most prominent members.
Although he can rarely be found at SEA gatherings, Berg does use the Society’s massive library to gather information on wildlife around the world. Through this he discovered that many species were unique to certain areas and could not be found in any other locations, including many of the animals Berg knew from the Pyrenees. This sparked a new fervor in the mountaineer, and he became determined to travel to these areas, study these animals, and document all the varies he could find. His fascination would lead him to pioneer a field that would later be called endemism. With this new mission, Berg traveled, gaining more and more knowledge until his simple field journal became several volumes (copies of which can be found at Mystic Manor and the Skipper Canteen). Berg eventually gained quite a reputation as a leading expert, so much so, that universities would invite him to lecture at their halls whenever he was back from his most recent travels, often gifting him with honorary degrees and doctorates, earning Berg the title of Dr.
Another unofficial aspect of his travels, Berg is often called upon to debunk sightings of mythical creatures. He claimed that most of these creatures were actually animals that the natural world has been aware of, but are misunderstood. His last case was near the summit of Mount Everest where he found no sightings of any large unknown creatures. Berg theorized that many of the large footprints and claw marks were made by mountain bears, and because of the rocky soil and slushy snow, these footprints were distorted. Berg concluded that superstition and fear of the unknown by the locals is the only reason for the persistent “Yeti” sightings.
However, Berg’s newest scientific research has led him to the coldest regions on planet earth. While he was climbing Mount Vinson on his way to the South Pole, Berg was entranced by the animals that managed to survive and even thrive in that wasteland, and he was told that the North Pole in the Arctic Circle contained beasts that were unlike any other he would find in the south. While elaborate tales were told of a unicorn that swims in the sea and a whale that can transform into a wolf, he was more intrigued by tales of white bears that disappeared into the snow and white whales that brought forth images of Captain Ahab’s legendary creature. Excited at the prospect, Berg returned to the Society to prepare for his expedition to the Arctic. The below picture was taken just before Berg left to go north to Glacier Bay.
Berg traveled across the world, his love of mountaineering steering him to some of the tallest peaks in the world. He climbed Mount Blanc in the Alps, Puncak Jaya in Indonesia, and even Mount Kilimanjaro, recording the wide array of animals in his field journal along the way. Although he privately swore that he would never again guide people up mountains, Berg’s resolve would be tested the day he met Henry Mystic. Quite an amateur explorer himself, Henry Mystic took quite a shine to Berg, and offered his new friend a large sum of money to take him up the Aconcagua in South America in search of a mysterious artifact. Initially reluctant, Mystic’s charm and good natured attitude, won Berg over, and he and Mystic scaled the mountain. Although Mystic never did find his artifact, he did offer Berg a membership into a brand-new group a certain Jason Chandler was forming, the Society of Explores and Adventurers. Hoping to find others like Mystic and himself, Berg accepted and became one of the group’s most prominent members.
Although he can rarely be found at SEA gatherings, Berg does use the Society’s massive library to gather information on wildlife around the world. Through this he discovered that many species were unique to certain areas and could not be found in any other locations, including many of the animals Berg knew from the Pyrenees. This sparked a new fervor in the mountaineer, and he became determined to travel to these areas, study these animals, and document all the varies he could find. His fascination would lead him to pioneer a field that would later be called endemism. With this new mission, Berg traveled, gaining more and more knowledge until his simple field journal became several volumes (copies of which can be found at Mystic Manor and the Skipper Canteen). Berg eventually gained quite a reputation as a leading expert, so much so, that universities would invite him to lecture at their halls whenever he was back from his most recent travels, often gifting him with honorary degrees and doctorates, earning Berg the title of Dr.
Another unofficial aspect of his travels, Berg is often called upon to debunk sightings of mythical creatures. He claimed that most of these creatures were actually animals that the natural world has been aware of, but are misunderstood. His last case was near the summit of Mount Everest where he found no sightings of any large unknown creatures. Berg theorized that many of the large footprints and claw marks were made by mountain bears, and because of the rocky soil and slushy snow, these footprints were distorted. Berg concluded that superstition and fear of the unknown by the locals is the only reason for the persistent “Yeti” sightings.
However, Berg’s newest scientific research has led him to the coldest regions on planet earth. While he was climbing Mount Vinson on his way to the South Pole, Berg was entranced by the animals that managed to survive and even thrive in that wasteland, and he was told that the North Pole in the Arctic Circle contained beasts that were unlike any other he would find in the south. While elaborate tales were told of a unicorn that swims in the sea and a whale that can transform into a wolf, he was more intrigued by tales of white bears that disappeared into the snow and white whales that brought forth images of Captain Ahab’s legendary creature. Excited at the prospect, Berg returned to the Society to prepare for his expedition to the Arctic. The below picture was taken just before Berg left to go north to Glacier Bay.