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Pacifica Sommers

@sommerspacifica

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Biologist. Explorer. Storyteller.
Views are my own.

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Frames from east Greenland part 2

Shot during the last few weeks
mainly on @nikoneurope ZR and Z8 with the new 28-135 / 4 PZ
Expedition arranged by @nunatakadventures
Wings by @skywalkparagliders

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Frames from our three weeks in East Greenland part 1

Shot on @nikoneurope ZR and Z8 + 28-135
Arranged by @nunatakadventures
Wings by @skywalkparagliders

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Greenland is a place words can't describe, the magnitude and power of these mountains is special.
Thank you Nicco for creating something so memorable.

#travel #paraglide #mountains #hike #fly

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I can’t get this trip off my mind. I was so excited to finally do it, and I learned a ton from the experience. Next time I’ll either be sitting on the tow bridle or finding a much better way to secure it instead of letting it flap around in the wind. Somehow part of the bridle ended up between my hand and the reserve handle, which kept me from getting a good throw out, restricted my arm movement, and led to a terrible first toss that wrapped around me on reserve ride #2. I’ll also definitely be taking the trash out daily so we don’t keep getting nightly visits from a skunk wandering through camp. Thanks for a lot of these cool pictures @bethanygrenier22 !

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I had an amazing weekend with amazing people! SIV was a great learning experience with lots of folks having big ‘firsts’. Thanks @maxacroparagliding for the coaching and @mozza805 for the repack clinic! #paraglidingsivclinic #siv #maxacroparagliding #parapentes

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Good days with my SKY SISTERS in Italy and Slovenia last year!
Flying of course is priority in such trips but we also shared so many other memorable experiences: delicious food and drinks, visiting the historic towns of Cittadella and Bassano del Grappa, listening to a Vivaldi concert culminating with a firework, a “short” shopping trip to Decathlon (sky sisters sponsorship?), countless coffees and gelatos (or both: affogato), bathing in the refreshing, turquoise waters of the Soca, visiting and learning about the stunning Skocjan caves and their fearless first explorers, flying from Slovenia to Italy and crashing a Sunday picnic and making new friends in a veeeery remote little village… and so much more!

Join us in June this year: https://www.skysistersparagliding.com/alps2026

Thanks to all 🎥📷🪂 @phaedracarusoradin @ereinys13 @sommerspacifica @ohmygawdwhynot @summer.barham and Tonia!

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One step closer to being the first doctor on Mars

#doctor #analog #astronaut #mars

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Have you ever had to navigate a decision with you and a teammate bringing conflicting information to the situation? What factors played into the decision making, especially in the context of your relationship with that person? This was the main focus of the research being conducted in the Mars mission simulation I participated in last week.

The research team had us as crew physically navigate in pairs in daily extravehicular activities (EVAs) outside our simulated Mars habitat to a target they provided, but with conflicting information sources provided to each partner. We experienced physical cues of being actually on Mars like the red Utah landscape, crackly radio communication, and a fan blowing cold air down our necks (or in our ears) inside the bulky simulated EVA suits. We had time pressure with limited Personal Life Support System (PLSS) minutes assigned to each mission.

It took us about an hour to prep for each EVA, donning the multiple devices for tracking audio, visual, location, and physiological responses such as glasses to record our eye movements and sensors to measure frontal lobe activity in our brains. I'm looking forward to seeing what all that data tells the researchers as they analyze it and start presenting and publishing results in the months and years to come!

To fill our schedules outside the daily EVA missions to simulate the fatigue and pressure of a real Mars mission, we also participated in a few other studies that I will share more about in the coming days

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Ever wonder what it would be like to live and work on Mars?

This my crew’s vlog from one week at the Mars Desert Research Station.

Full video on my YouTube channel!

#doctor #astronaut #space

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This past week, I worked as the Crew Scientist for an analog astronaut mission! Our incredible crew tested how astronauts will live and conduct research in space.

We lived and did experiments in isolation with constraints mimicking life on Mars to study human performance and decision-making, habitat design, medical equipment, and scientific workflows under realistic conditions. We also cooked tons of surprisingly delicious dehydrated food 😊🥖

Huge thank you to the fantastic CU Boulder and MDRS teams!

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S K Y S I S T E R S cruising around Bassano and Tolmin. Thanks for another unforgettable experience with a crew of powerful, interesting and inspiring ladies! Already looking forward to the next adventure 😁#skysistersparagliding

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S K Y S I S T E R S Julian Alps & Montegrappa was a spectacular adventure! We explored the Bassano skies wingtip to wingtip, wandered old cities and toasted Aperol Spritz while we savored the flavors of Italy. In Tolmin we touched the clouds on XC flights, debriefed in the crystal blue waters of the Soča river, cooked incredible meals together, and discovered the depths of the Škocjan caves. What an inspiring, supportive, talented group of women sharing the love of flying, friendship, and travel. We took to the skies with a complete gaggle of #ozoneparagliders. ❤️ Can’t wait for more of this magic!

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