05 Tuesday Feb 2013
Posted in Bad Photography
Tags
Arctic, Humor, Oops, Ordering Out, Photography, Pictures, Pizza, Snow, Winter
This was after about two and a half days of blizzard. The odd thing is that I don’t actually think it snowed, but apparently the wind blew straight at my door for awhile.
19 Sunday Aug 2012
Posted in Alaska, Bad Photography
Tags
Alaska, Arctic, Deadhorse, Drilling, North Slope of Alaska, Oil, Photography, Photos, Prudhoe Bay
Prudhoe Bay + Clouds, and Clouds Again!
So, compliments of a couple flight delays, I recently spent an evening in Deadhorse. I’ve touched ground here a number of times, but I never managed to get off the plane. It was difficult to get a sense for the community in a short time and without a vehicle, but it was a fascinating glimpse into an interesting community.
No, I did not find a bar full of drunken, brawling brutes, so that’s strike two against The Grey (awful movie). In fact, Deadhorse is a dry community, though my shuttle driver could tell me of times long past when leaving $10.00 on your pillow could get you a bottle of Jack Daniels (sh…). For the present, however, it looks like people keep their nose pretty much to the grindstone while they are up here. The urge to party can wait to folks finish a stretch and fly home. The town has few permanent residents, but its temporary workers number a few thousand.
I arrived to find the power out at the airport (not to worry, the runway lights were doing just fine). My first step outside led me to the Prudhoe Bay Hotel, ..but alas, I was not to set foot inside it.
***
***
My own reservations were at the Aurora Hotel, which was a lovely place. To control the inevitable muddy boots, guests were expected to wear booties about the place. The food was good (though not as good as Mike’s cooking at the Marsh Creek Inn). Guests could be found sleeping at all hours, and many rooms had signs posted to that effect. Production continues here at all hours, so I suppose it should come as no surprise to see that sleep does too. The Hotel had a nice gym on the 2nd floor (yeah right!) and a nicer lounge on the 3rd floor (that was tempting), but I wanted to take a walk.
I was told to be careful as a mama bear and her cubs had been hanging around town for a couple days. I said; “she’s here already?” Seriously, I thought I left them in Kaktovik! At any rate, these bears never put in an appearance, which is just as well, cause I was on foot.
Getting up at 6:30 in the morning, I really didn’t think I needed to leave a note on my own door, but I learned otherwise at about 4:00am. Apparently, housekeeping at the Aurora is also a 24/7 affair.
And that’s that. Home safe and sound!
(If you click them, they will grow!)
17 Friday Aug 2012
Posted in Alaska, Animals, Bad Photography
Tags
Alaska, ANWR, Arctic, Nature, Photography, Photos, Polar Bears, Wildlife
Not a Bear,
…ha!
So, I just spent the last 3 days in the village of Kaktovik on Barter Island. From listening to friends, students, and coworkers, the village brings to mind three things; ANWR, The Bone Yard, and the Marsh Creek Inn.
Kaktovik lies off the coast of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; its residents hunt in the area, and they will be directly affected by any changes to its status. How the particulars are likely to shake out is the subject of a different post.
The bone yard at Kaktovic is a well known bear hang out. It’s located just off the end of the runway, and it is a regular attraction for polar bears, …and people with cameras. I didn’t get out to the bone yard itself, but I did get to watch a mother and her cubs amble their way toward town. …Later that night I awoke to the sound of shots fired in an effort to scare them off. The next day, I spoke with a lady whose supply of seal oil stores had been raided the night before and another who had been up all night on bear patrol …you could say that this time of year, the population of Kaktovic increases a bit.
…and the difference is bears.
Finally, the food at the Marsh Creek Inn has been nothing short of legendary among my friends and coworkers. Mike, the proprietor of the inn, serves not only as the clerk and the head cook, he often drives the shuttle out to the airport. His cooking surpassed my expectations. It was fantastic.
***
***
It took me a couple extra days to get out of Barter Island. Fog proved to be the culprit on day one, but day two was a mystery. The plane didn’t leave Fairbanks until it was too late to make my connections. Tonight I’m in Dead Horse, one step closer to home at any rate.
Here are my pics from Kaktovik (you may click a picture to embiggen it):
12 Sunday Aug 2012
Posted in Alaska, Bad Photography
Barrow-side from Browerville 4
So, I’ve been back in the arctic for a little over a week, and the fog has only just given me a chance to get out with my new camera. I took a walk yesterday, mostly around the perimeter of town, and yes water and pretty stuff seems to have held my attention for most of the day. The place looks pretty much the way I left it which isn’t exactly surprising. Let’s just say that with the onset of drilling in the North Slope there was some cause for doubt.
The housing situation in Barrow is never all that good, but with Shell on its way, several of my colleagues and students were struggling to find a place as landlords held out in hopes of windfall rent profits. But it was never clear that Barrow was going to get a large influx of workers, and Shell has scaled back its plans for this year. So, things seem to be easing up a bit, a little too late for at least one couple.
Sad to see them go.
Most of the migratory waterfowl seem to have left already, but a bird or two remains. Other than that, a few familiar faces are missing and a few new faces have appeared. Barrow remains Barrow, just like paradise.
…only not at all.
(Click to Embiggen)
09 Saturday Jun 2012
Posted in Alaska, Bad Photography
Last June I used to walk down by the beach nearly every day. It was fascinating to see the ocean slowly turning back into liquid. Since I’m in Vegas at the moment, I can only imagine what’s happening now.
…or live vicariously through last year’s photos.
But first some happy music!
Now, if you click on the pics, they will embiggen!
Now, since I am also missing the Nalukataq, the Spring Whaling Festival later this month, A Quick Video!
I know. Fire the cameraman!
Anyway, that is Barrow, AK, at this time of year.
08 Tuesday May 2012
Posted in Alaska, Bad Photography
Tags
Alaska, Arctic, Barrow, Beer, North Slope, Photos, Travel, Whales, Will Rogers
So I have “gone out,” as they say, and I will not see Alaska for a couple months. It’s a shame that I can only get out during the summer and Christmas. Those are the best times to be in Barrow.
So, I thought this might be an opportune moment to throw up some images of America’s northernmost city.
I will miss it.
My Chalet
(I think my brother has bigger walk-in closets)
Midnight Sun
(Actually, this was probably about 2:00am)
Umiaq Race During Independence Week Celebrations
(Cause Fireworks aren’t so keen in July)
Barrow at 2am in Late May
(Out for an evening walk)
The Ocean
(Can’t tell where it begins, can ya!)
Arctic Palm Trees
Ice Sculpture
(Modeled on bone sculptures)
The Northernmost American-Style Football Field in the World
(I suck as a sports photographer, don’t I)
Cheerleaders!
(No skirts on these girls)
The Ocean as Seen from Barrow’s Cafe
(Whale jawbones and umiaq frames)
The Ocean from Outside Brower’s Cafe
(A little later in the Year)
Again!
Probably Returning from a Hunt
Arctic Fox
(Trying to steal muktuk from the back of that pick-up)
Nalukataq
(Spring Whaling Festival Held in June. It’s been a good whaling season, so this will be a great festival this year, …and I am going to miss it!)
Local Art
(Barrow has the best dumpsters!)
The College
(Whale skull in the foreground)
Will Rogers Memorial
(He died in a plane crash on his way to Barrow)
DEWLine Station
(Part of the early warning defense system)
Let’s See the Ocean Again!
Fido and Junkmail
(All packed and ready to go out)
16 Sunday Oct 2011
Posted in General
Tags
Alaska, Arctic, atheism, Massage, Northyness, Tacos, Tropical Fish
So why “northierthanthou?” The simple truth is that “The Village Atheist” is taken. I had lots of ideas for that theme, but some bastard beat me to it. Short of sending the goons, I have to come up with something different. I suppose “Dan’s Authentic Tacoria and Massage Emporium” is probably available, but I’m not feeling particularly zany today. …might opt for this to that later.
And I really do want to start a business with that name. …Might make it a tropical fish shop.
Anyway, it’s “northierthathou” for the indefinite future, and I will say that this title does have the virtue of being true. As a resident of Barrow, Alaska, I think I can honestly say that I am a lot Northier than the majority of my readers will be, and I takes my comparative virtues where I finds them. So, yes dear reader, with few exceptions I think it is safe to say that I am Northier than you. You may think yourself smarter than me, and perhaps you will be right. You may consider yourself better informed, smarter, or even kinder than I am. And in all those areas, I’ll grant you the case is often easily made. But when it comes to Northity, dammit, I have that all over the lot of you. I really don’t mean to lord it over the Northy-deficient, but well, …actually, yes I do. Try not to let it get you down folks. Let’s all just acknowledge my superior Northitude and get on with it.
northierthanthou 