Here's an interesting story over at Discover regarding bacteria in the high Arctic - Ellesmere Island, to be precise - and what they might bring to the search for extraterrestrial life.
Mike Price, the author, just graduated from ASU with an honors degree in Journalism and is heading off to the prestigious science journalism program at Johns Hopkins. Mike did his honors thesis with me on coverage of the Kitzmiller case.
It would be nice if they could get samples from inside the snow bank away from any sunlight, eliminating any photosynthetic bacteria that contribute to ecosystem near the surface. I wonder if there are any ice caves that intersect the sulfur springs?
http://www.ibiblio.org/astrobiology/index.php?page=interview09
Cavers have always been interested in astrobiology. Or is it the other way around.