Logbook entry: Transition - Point Lay to Kaktovik, via Barrow and Fairbanks

This trip to Point Lay was very short. My next destination: Kaktovik, via Barrow and Fairbanks. I had expected the overnight Barrow stop, but the Fairbanks stop surprised me, as I had anticipated flying east and slightly south out of Barrow, not due south, and was surprised when I saw my itinerary.

Due to the meandering nature of the milk run going east, I was assured the Fairbanks route was best and would put me in Kaktovik well ahead of the east-bound flight. Anyway, here we are, about to board the Era flight out of Point Lay. While warm for this time of year, the air still had a crisp bite to it, sharpened by a good, stiff, breeze. The chilly fellow is Justin Bourne, former UAF basketball star now working with Challenge Life Alaska.

Debby Edwarson, author of Whale Snow and My Name Is Not Easy - a finalist for the National Book Award, sat across the aisle from me. My Name Is Not Easy is a novel inspired by stories told to her by her husband George Edwardson about his days as an Iñupiaq student from Barrow sent off to BIA boarding school. I do not know if she was working on another book or taking care of business. Debby also serves as Chair of the Board of the North Slope Borough School District.

A man and a boy seated on opposite sides of the aisle two seats ahead engaged themselves in animated conversation.

I usually eat my Barrow breakfasts at Pepe's, but this time I ate at Sam and Lees. Through the window, I saw a man, walking through the fog.

In the evening, I found myself on an Alaska Airlines jet, headed to Fairbanks.

Fairbanks, on final. I stayed at Pike's Landing, very close to the airport. My second floor room was hot - too hot for sleep. As it was pretty cool outside, it seemed silly to turn the air conditioning on, so I opened the window, thinking it would cool things off.

But it didn't. Perhaps I passed into sleep on and off for a few minutes at time, but I'm not sure. It didn't feel like I slept at all. Finally, at 3:30 AM, I got up, plugged in the air conditioner and turned it on. I had set my alarm for 6:30 and so hoped for close to three hours of decent sleep.

Yet, even with the air conditioner running full blast, the room stayed hot. It was kind of like trying to sleep in a sauna.

I got on the Era flight north exhausted. I wanted to sleep, but couldn't. The guy in front of me seemed to sleep just fine.

After a brief stop in Fort Yukon, we were soon on our way to Kaktovik on Barter Island. The Brooks Range was hidden by clouds, but, near the southern flanks, I did get a little glimpse of the mountains and of pending winter, which in the past would have spread itself all across northern Alaska by now. It should arrive any day now.

Soon, I was on the ground and in the village where I would bunk in the Kavelook School library. After squaring a few things away, I stepped outside to walk to my first destination. I soon came across Jamie Okomailak and his family, including baby daughter Monica. When I first saw them, she was completely zipped up in his jacket with only a tuft of black hair rising out the top, but he unzipped it so she could poke her head out for the photo.

I have taken few pictures so far. I'm mostly talking to people and doing interviews. 

Comments

[debby]

Oh, my gosh, what an adorable little baby face!!!!

[annette]

Lovely. . . .But I am exhausted flying around with you.