The lake, which measured roughly a mile by a half-mile, was completely covered by a cloud of black flies. The cloud was over a hundred feet thick and so dense, no light penetrated to the water's surface. We got the hell out of there. And this was the granddaddy of all swarms. I'd sooner tackle a family of grizzlies.
Archaeologists take deprivation in stride.
Showers were of the outside wet and cold kind. Food came from cans and the occasional self-caught fish. I can recall setting out on a Friday afternoon survey of an island in the Mackenzie River. We were dropped off by helicopter at noon. We were supposed to be picked up around suppertime.