The occasion was Whalefest, which was held at the beginning of this November. My colleague, Linda Nicholas-Figuroa, turned me on to this gathering a couple years ago, and I found the event both enjoyable and instructive. So, I was excited to hear that the conference was back on for this year.,
We attended most of the regular conference panels by zoom, but they still had a few in-person events, hands-on stuff (necropsy goodness!) and out-doors (whale-watching). I love the area. So, my baby and I packed our cameras and headed down there with a colleague and a couple students.
So, I flew out from Barrow a couple weeks back to spend a few days at a conference (Whalefest) in Sitka. I don’t get to spend much time in southwest Alaska. When I fly out, I generally go through Anchorage and then down to the lower 48. I can visit the villages of the Northslope about as often as I care to, and I can often spend extra time in Fairbanks or Anchorage, but a chance to veer off into the southeast is a rare treat.
To say that Sitka is beautiful is putting it more than a little mildly. It really is gorgeous. In the end I found myself plotting various schemes to stay longer, or to come back. Moni couldn’t be talked into spending Thanksgiving down that way, something sensible about money and inconvenient flight times, but I’d still give up a turkey for a few free days in this town, preferably while the humpback whales are still in town.
Which reminds me, whalefest did (oddly enough) include a chance to go on a whale-watching cruise. Grumbly me, wasn’t all that eager to get on a whale-watching boat. I get seasick easily and the last time I did that with my family in Hawaii, we barely saw a tail come up out of the water. This time was different, though, remarkably different!
So, yeah, that was cool!
My accommodations were at the old Sheldon Jackson College. The campus itself was beautiful. I wandered into the Sheldon Jackson Museum a couple times and found myself spending way more time in there than I originally planned. I also got to the totem park (otherwise known as the Sitka National Historic Park. I definitely needed more time in both those spots.
The conference itself was a fascinating mix of presentations on a diverse range of subjects. Oh yes, whales were the dominant theme, but speakers also addressed issues such as climate change, biology of other sea mammals, and sundry things-oceanic. The keynote speaker, Jacquelyn Gill, gave a wonderful talk on climate change and extinction, or rather persistence.
At some point I took a longish walk and found myself watching a sea otter playing in the harbor. It’s an oddly calming thing, just snapping amateurish pictures of an otter, waiting for him to do something interesting, like bring up another shellfish.
…just like the last one.
Damned cute, these little buggers!
It hasn’t escaped me that this is the Alaska that most people think of when I tell them I live in this state. They imagine trees and mountains, and moose, and bears, and all-manner of different forms of wildlife. My own experience of the state is very different, but that’s to be expected. Alaska is a whole buncha cool states.
Ah well, I really must get back to Sitka some time.
And to Whalefest!
Anyway, click to embiggen!
In Coming!
Tiny islands …er islets.
Lotta boatage
Swimming Off into the Sunset
Dining in Blue
Lunching away
Reaching up
Beware! When touristing, take care not to become the tourist attraction yourself. When staring at the otter, the otter stares back at you.
Odd Couple
The Prospector
Sheldon Jackson College
Yep, whales
Great collection of Alaska Native artifacts in there
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)
So, I flew out from Barrow a couple weeks back to spend a few days at a conference (
My accommodations were at the old Sheldon Jackson College. The campus itself was beautiful. I wandered into the 
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