At play where the midnight sun holds court
It is considered to be one of the most elusive animals of the north. Quietly and stealthily moving throughout the forest, it often goes undetected by human eyes. So it is no surprise that when the animal is sighted, it is a special experience. I speak of the lynx. The northernmost member of the cat … Read more
Its multitude of calls will occasionally surprise even the most ardent observer. A presence throughout all of Alaska, they are one of the most visible animals within the state. Winter or summer, fall or spring, one can see their jet black figure flying above or calling, perched atop a spruce tree. The raven is arguably … Read more
There are quite a few Alaskans who have a tendency to hold on to things. In a state where stores are few and far between, people aren’t eager to part with anything, with the thought that they may be able to salvage a part later on. While pragmatic in theory, this seems to devolve into … Read more
In the morning around the yard, I often see bunnies feeding. Clustered around the brush piles, they pick at old buds, strip bark from the trees and feed on any grass that’s present. Every so often, I’d be awoken early in the morning to the sound of steps outside the cabin. Not long after, the … Read more
If one were to travel north through Alaska, they would witness a variety of different environments. There’s the coastal environment with its sea life, large trees and rainy locales. There’s the mountainous environment of the Alaska Range, where tall peaks of ice and rock extend into the sky. The state’s Interior brings stunted spruce forests, … Read more
The horses moved against the current, pulling the long draft boat up the river. Atop the flat bottomed boat lay thousands of pounds worth of gear. Whiskey, food staples and hardware were just a few of the many objects within the shipment. Men stood aboard the boat, using long poles to stay in the deeper … Read more
Back when I worked as a tour guide, it was inevitable that I’d eventually be asked about the bears in the area. “Are there bears around here?” “Do the bears come into the village?” In the wilderness, the large predator lingers in the forefront of almost everyone’s mind, some more so than others. Stories throughout … Read more
“Sik rik.” The noise is something anyone will encounter who treks through rocky terrain of Northern Alaska. It is the call of the Arctic Ground Squirrel, or the sikrik as named by the Inupiat after its call. The ground squirrel is a small mammal, often no more than two pounds in mass. Despite their small … Read more
For those pursuing the subsistence lifestyle, fall is the busiest time of the year. Gardens that were planted in early summer are ready to be harvested and stored, final preparations and additions are made to the wood pile and people go out in the country searching for game. Without a garden to harvest and a … Read more
Over 60 years ago, in 1956, the post office in Wiseman, Alaska was closed. The building still stands today, near the entrance to the community by road, with its logs rotting away into the ground year by year. Ducking underneath the shrunken door, one finds a jumbled mess inside. Dust covers everything, the counter, old … Read more