At play where the midnight sun holds court
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
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
The sun continues to diminish, but the land has become brighter. I awake in the morning to fresh snow throughout the valley floor. Clouds cover the mountain sides and tiny flakes intermittently fall throughout the morning. Gone are the last vestiges of fall. No longer do Leaves rustle beneath a passing boot or with movement … Read more
We crept along the road scanning the willows for movement of any kind. Brody and I were out hunting once more, this time in search of ptarmigan. Their white feathers provide perfect camouflage in the winter season against the backdrop of snow. It would be easy to miss them if we sped along, but even … Read more
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
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
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