At play where the midnight sun holds court
Living in the Arctic provides for a different life than that found in almost the entire developed western world today. Full time living, if one is to do it without great expense, calls for an in-sourcing of many activities and a step back in time. Utilities must be provided for by one’s own initiative and … Read more
About a year ago, on the 27th of April, the ice went out and water traveled freely down the Middle Fork of the Koyukuk Valley once again. The following story details that event a few days past. This year, the rivers and creeks remain frozen, while than a foot of snow lingers on. With true night … Read more
Every major multi day winter ski trip that I have attempted has resulted in failure due to significant foot blisters. I wanted to be like the cool kids and use the Dynafit plastic boots but could never seem to get them to work. Shells and liners that were too tight or hotspots that couldn’t be … Read more
The following is a work of fiction Snow clung onto the spruce trees. The ground was a blank canvas, without evidence of a track or the slightest disturbance on its surface. Over the past two days, snow had fallen continuously, blanketing the area with a foot and a half of fresh snow. Trails and tracks … Read more
Since humans have arrived in Alaska, they have trapped animals. For much of that time period, native Athabaskan and Inupiats lived in small groups and used methods with natural materials that evolved over time. In many cases, trapping was often a necessity. In northern regions of Alaska, where brush and vegetation is minimal, animals can … Read more
After spending the summer of 2013 in Alaska, I became infatuated with the state. In order to feed that infatuation, I read voraciously about any and all things related to the region. Over the years, this has resulted in my reading of nearly 100 different books on Alaska covering topics from anthropology to history to … Read more
The Arctic offers a varying array of light conditions throughout the year. Typically, regions are defined by their seasons; how cool, how warm, how wet and how long? This area is no exception to that standard, but here the extreme difference in light throughout the year is the defining factor. The sun is the most … Read more
The calendar reads spring, but in the far north winter still holds its grasp upon the land. Nights are frigid, with temperatures occasionally plunging past 30 below zero. Two months ago, the sun returned, jumping above the horizon and providing a few moments of light, without offering any sort of warmth. In the interim, the … Read more
Growing up in suburban Chicago, there aren’t many opportunities for hunting. The metropolitan area is filled with human activity and development. Even though there are small parcels of forest, those are off limits to hunting. That was no issue. For most of my life, hunting was the furthest thing from my mind. Our food came … Read more
The calf remained nestled among the tussock sedges. The cow licked the calf’s hair cleaning it of fluids. A few minutes old, the young caribou was frozen in place, its muscles still unable to provide support and balance. Other caribou milled around the pair, feeding on the cotton sedge blooms. It was near the summer … Read more