The Arctic Ocean meets Utiqiagvik (Barrow)
This June I signed a short contract to work with the Village Health Team at the Samuel Simmons Memorial Hospital in Utqiaġvik, AK (formerly Barrow). This was my first time to Utqiaġvik and when asked how was Barrow my first instinct was to say "really flat." For sure I was struck by this topographic feature. Others might first notice there are no paved roads, the unique architecture of the village homes.
Typical street in Utqiaġvik.
Most of the homes are on stilts to prevent the heat from the home from melting the ground and causing structural damage.
View of town from the Samuel Simmons Memorial Hospital entrance.
Standing water everywhere as the surface ice melts. Enjoying the dialy fog.
Climbing wall at Piuraagvik Recreation Center.
When doing contracts in new places the first things I look for are gyms. The rec. center has a pretty decent climbing wall with auto-belay that I was surprised and excited to find. The rec center also had everything I wanted in a weight room. Though the high school weight room is open to the public for free it tended to be too busy at the times I was there. This is also a great running town. I was able to come up with several good 6-8 mile loops.
View of the Arctic Ocean at around 1:00 AM
Beach Bonfires are another form of entertainment in the summer. With many bonfires to choose from bonfire hopping is a fun way to spend the weekend. This photo was taken while at a bonfire.
A skyline view of the native village of Nuiqsut. A few hundred people live here.
I spent a week living at the clinic in Nuiqsut. In the summer this village is only accessable by plane or boat. In the winter the ice road goes through Nuiqsut to Alpine. Alpine is an oil drilling town that to my understanding is not populated year round.
Everyone meets the plane on the runway, excited to catch the plane back to Utqiagvik.
Lucked out with perfect weather for the flight back to Utqiagvik. Surface ice melts for the endless lakes seen above. To me it looked like mosquito heaven and I was glad to miss out on mosquitos this trip.
There were a few whaling boats out on the ice. Whaling season is spring and fall so not sure what these were doing out there. I can not imagine trying to get close to a whale in such a tiny boat let alone try to catch one. Amazing.
After 3 weeks I headed back to Fairbanks. It was amazing to see green and trees again!