WMRS Barcroft Station - Winter Operations

The University of California White Mountain Research Station (WMRS) is poised to begin a new era of high altitude research in North America. Technological and infrastructural improvements have progressed so that year-round support of research is possible at the WMRS Barcroft Station, located at 12,500’ elevation in the White Mountains of California. Clear skies, dry air, close access (within 300 miles of Los Angeles) and high elevation (up to 14,250’; the highest facility of its kind in North America) make this an essential site for mountain-based research. We now have the capability to safely house and support staff and researchers 12 months of the year, including high speed internet access and all-weather transportation. After a trial season in 2002-03 and a full winter season in 03-04, we are preparing to launch winter operations on a regular basis in 2006-07.

Several research groups and projects are planning to join us in the winter operations:

Astrophysics - Phil Lubin – UCSB
Astronomy - Adrian Lee – UCB
Atmospheric profiling – JPLAtmospheric sampling - UCSD and UCD
High mountain physiology UCSD, USF, UCD
Lung and organ development at high elevation University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
MRI project - UCSD
US Marine Corps high elevation studies USMC Mountain Warfare Unit
Deermouse physiology at altitude – Kim Hammond and Mark Cheppell, UCR
Overwintering physiology of ground squirrrels - Craig Frank, Fordham University

Several projects take advantage of the low oxygen levels in high altitude to study mechanisms of adaptation to extreme environments, as well as problems of heart and lung disease.

Investigators from UC Riverside and the University of Nevada-Reno are studying adaptations to altitude in deer mice, which have populations ranging from below sea level in Death Valley to the highest altitudes in North America, including White Mountain. Breeding colonies at Barcroft will be used to determine the independent effects of genetics and acclimatization to low altitude in the fetus, neonates and adults. Researchers at UC San Diego and UC San Francisco propose similar experiments with laboratory mice suitable for genetic engineering to test molecular and physiological mechanisms of adaptation to low oxygen.

Two groups from the University of Texas are using animal models to study effects of low oxygen on lung growth and how this interacts with the effects of mechanical strains on the lung from the rib cage. These studies are relevant for patients who have parts of their lungs surgically removed, as well as lung development in babies. Another group of investigators from UC San Diego, California State University at Pomona and private industry propose to study the effects of chronic hypoxia at altitude on the development of lungs in horses. Maximum exercise in thoroughbred racehorses is severely limited by the size of their lungs so the stimulating effects of low oxygen on lung development may result in horses with more efficient lungs and improved performance.
Researchers from UC San Diego and UC San Francisco propose taking a moveable functional MRI machine to Barcroft to study brain, heart, lung and muscle physiology in humans during acclimatization to hypoxia. These studies will complement fMRI measurements at UC San Diego in before and after altitude acclimatization to better understand the effects of re-oxygenation in patients with chronically low oxygen levels. The new generator necessary for back up power during winter operations is also necessary to power this portable fMRI machine at Barcroft.

Research groups from UC Davis, UC San Francisco and Loma Linda University are studying various aspects of the adverse effects of low oxygen on blood vessels and the circulation in lungs and brains of humans. These studies are relevant to the prevention and treatment of stroke, pulmonary hypertension, high altitude pulmonary and cerebral edema, and acute mountain sickness. The human studies do not require year-round exposure to altitude like the animal breeding colonies but scheduling experiments throughout the year allows more efficient budgeting and produces results faster.

An investigator from Fordham University has been studying the physiology of ground squirrels, focussing on their ability to survive the long winters at Barcroft. He is now ready to begin overwinter real-time monitoring of their phsiological condition.
Winter Transportation: One of the more challenging aspects of keeping Barcroft open year round is the difficulty of winter transportation. The long, remote winter traverse of the southern White Mountains is difficult, even for specially designed snow vehicles. While the "Tucker 2000 lite" was used successfully duirng the 03-04 winter season, it proved to have many shortcomings, and would not be adequate for a heavy snow year such as the 2004-05 winter. WMRS staff are experimenting with the idea of using a heavy snow cat with 12' blade to open a level snow track for access to and from Barcroft in the winter. We invited the Tucker Corporation to bring down and demonstrate their model 2000 snow-cat. The demonstration showed that this machine could do the job even in a heavy snow winter (see web page for details).