WHERE ON EARTH?
Weird and Dead Stuff

Facebook   Ebay   Etsy   Shopping Cart  

WHERE ON EARTH?
Weird and Dead Stuff

Facebook   Ebay   Etsy   Shopping Cart  
WHERE ON EARTH?
Weird and Dead Stuff
Facebook   Ebay   Etsy   Shopping Cart  

You are on Alaska Page 6

Click to:  Alaska Page 1 Page 2 Page 3  Page 4Page 5  Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12

TABLE OF CONTENTS is on Page 1

ALASKA TRIP Photos

October 2007

 

ANCHORAGE AIRPORT

The record size halibut (9' 5", 459 pounds) in the airport was something to see (also a huge salmon, and a great polar bear)

a-bar1.jpg (141807 bytes)  a-bar2.jpg (137703 bytes) a-bar3.jpg (131283 bytes)

 

DAVID GREEN MASTER FURRIER'S, ANCHORAGE

We couldn't resist going back, Glenn tried on a beaver coat

a-bar4.jpg (119399 bytes)  a-bar5.jpg (124979 bytes)  a-bar6.jpg (121542 bytes)

and a wolverine hat again this time

a-bar8.jpg (129562 bytes)  a-bar7.jpg (130037 bytes)

 

SUNRISE, ANCHORAGE - Priceless

a-bar11.jpg (145121 bytes)  a-bar12.jpg (160062 bytes)  a-bar13.jpg (156358 bytes)  a-bar14.jpg (157530 bytes)  a-bar15.jpg (172116 bytes)

a-bar16.jpg (170412 bytes)  a-bar17.jpg (174181 bytes)

CHILKOOT CHARLIE'S Restaurant, Anchorage

An unusual wood siding made this a target of our photography:

bar190.jpg (124457 bytes)  bar191.jpg (118980 bytes)  bar192.jpg (120444 bytes)  bar189.jpg (124601 bytes)

A whale bone carving of a woolly mammoth to hang on a wall, made by a local artist that we purchased:

bar193.jpg (119698 bytes)

Moose poop Poopouri & Swizzle sticks in Walmart

a-bar9.jpg (146935 bytes)

a-bar10.jpg (139051 bytes)

Train Restaurant

a-bar18.jpg (147125 bytes)

 

BARROW, ALASKA

bar-1.jpg (142629 bytes)

Fall Bowhead Whale hunt

October 5-10, 2007

bar-2.jpg (163036 bytes)

A desolate shore begins to look friendly when the sun peeks through.  Here's Glenn with our young friend Sonny boy, we are watching for whaling captain Simeon (Sonny's grandfather) to return from a 2 month hunting trip

bar-3.jpg (140658 bytes)  bar4.jpg (129928 bytes)  bar5.jpg (136687 bytes)

We revisited with friends Bunna, wife Eva and his mother Clara

bar6.jpg (133101 bytes)  bar7.jpg (130905 bytes)

We went back to Barrow Alaska October 5-10 to document the
Eskimo whale hunt with mixed feelings (6 whales
brought in while we were there).  Of course no
one wants to see loss of life, but it is good to
understand another culture.  We learned to view it as
an organ donor - grief at the loss of life, for any
reason, but grateful that one animal can give life to so
many people.  The Eskimo Inuit people from Barrow &
the surrounding villages are a subsistence
people who use as much of the whale as humanly possible,
and handle all facets of the hunt and distribution with
respect.  Remember they've been doing this for thousands of years, we are privileged to observe their lives.  We also saw how well it was monitored by the International Whaling Commission and the NARL scientists, so we came away with more appreciation
all around.  We hope you find an educational level of appreciation for what we are sharing here.

 

LAUNCHING THE BOATS

While still dark, the boats launched for their hunt from a quiet cove with a thin coat of ice on the water. Note the different styles of boats (and how SMALL the boats are), yet most have one or two huge engines to be able to haul the whale back to shore from 6 or miles out in the Arctic Ocean.  Also note a very gold Glenn in several photos including the fourth:

bar8.jpg (151753 bytes) bar9.jpg (145964 bytes)  bar10.jpg (158479 bytes)  bar11.jpg (151753 bytes)  bar12.jpg (144847 bytes)

bar13.jpg (160276 bytes)  bar14.jpg (143429 bytes)  bar15.jpg (148676 bytes)  bar16.jpg (155356 bytes)  bar17.jpg (138147 bytes)

bar18.jpg (148614 bytes)  bar19.jpg (137142 bytes)  bar20.jpg (145846 bytes)  bar21.jpg (153260 bytes)  bar22.jpg (164624 bytes)

bar23.jpg (149626 bytes)

 

WHALE STRIKE 1

 26-1/2" female whale, struck by the Little Kupaaq Crew

The whale captain's flag flying to show his crew had struck a whale, and was bringing it in.  Other boats accompanying the flag ship would back off to let them bring the whale to shore,

bar24.jpg (175450 bytes)  bar25.jpg (178936 bytes)  bar26.jpg (154940 bytes)  bar27.jpg (156549 bytes)  bar29.jpg (149652 bytes)

 transferring cables to a shore crew with a front end loader to bring it on the gravel beach.  The Sundance Channel had a crew filming each whale brought in, many hours of footage:

bar28.jpg (142131 bytes)  bar30.jpg (146661 bytes)  whal1b.jpg (115392 bytes)  bar32.jpg (138217 bytes)

Many Eskimo from Barrow came to watch and assist, young and old:

bar33.jpg (140230 bytes)  bar34.jpg (153612 bytes)  bar35.jpg (134370 bytes)

across the shore road to the parallel old airport runway where the whales would be butchered out.  Note the path left by the whale being dragged by the front end loader from the shore's edge to the runway.

bar36.jpg (140100 bytes)  bar31.jpg (142863 bytes)  bar37.jpg (128166 bytes)  bar38.jpg (131336 bytes)  bar39.jpg (133628 bytes)

Hard work but very organized.  Those who help get to share in the whale.  There are a few outside observers like us, the rest are the Eskimo people from Barrow and other villages that come to help, and the NARL scientists and Int'l Whaling Commission people.

whal1d.jpg (123373 bytes)  whal1e.jpg (122009 bytes)  bar40.jpg (117878 bytes)

Blubber being apportioned to those families who helped.  The wife of the whaling captain keeps a clipboard of names to be sure each gets their share.  The portion in front of the boat is the whaling captain's share.

bar43.jpg (130433 bytes)  bar44.jpg (144865 bytes)

Our friend Delbert was foremost on much of the hardest work being done.  Note the young folks helping remove a section of blubber.  See the baleen (1st photo) standing up from the whale's mouth.

bar45.jpg (140138 bytes)  whal1f.jpg (125116 bytes)  whal1g.jpg (126942 bytes)

bar46.jpg (153124 bytes)  bar47.jpg (137775 bytes)  bar48.jpg (146999 bytes)

A section of jaw has been removed and is pulled away by a pickup.  The bones will be cured for some time, and then can be used for carving or other uses in the village.  Then a section of the tail is removed, the meat will be eaten, the bones all used for carving.

bar49.jpg (140899 bytes)  bar50.jpg (137994 bytes)  bar52.jpg (139442 bytes)

A huge chunk of whale meat being dragged away for one's portion.  Great steaks!  Glenn viewing numerous sections of blubber.  Note that the first tray of boiled blubber is now being served, it disappears quickly and with many smiles!  The visitor in the white coat gets her first taste.

bar51.jpg (148802 bytes)  bar54.jpg (144087 bytes)  bar55.jpg (139760 bytes)  bar56.jpg (148068 bytes)

A large section of jaw with the baleen will all be used for etching into art work:

bar57.jpg (151580 bytes)   bar58.jpg (154180 bytes)

Back to the task at hand.  The amount of blood released by the whale is phenomenal 

bar59.jpg (157844 bytes)  bar60.jpg (151823 bytes)  bar61.jpg (143098 bytes)  bar62.jpg (156855 bytes) bar63.jpg (146226 bytes)

The intestines are carefully saved by the women, cleaned and can be made into waterproof clothing by splitting and drying.  A beautiful white coat is the end result.

 whal1i.jpg (121048 bytes)  bar64.jpg (142985 bytes)

Throughout it all, there is one person assigned to continually sharpen the tools being used

bar53.jpg (125239 bytes)

A NARL scientists is taking a biopsy of the ovary for study:

bar65.jpg (137928 bytes)

Ancient harpoon heads found in whales being caught recently, documented by the NARL scientists here:

bar41.jpg (134719 bytes)  bar42.jpg (136817 bytes)

 

WHALE STRIKE 2

33'1" female whale.  We knew one of the crew (Billy Adams), and his grandpa Whitlam Adams the former whaling captain of this crew.  Billy jumped into the shallow water from the boat just when a wave moved the ship away for a moment, he got drenched in the chilly Arctic waters but stuck around for awhile to make sure the whale was brought in safely.  The whale has an orange buoy attached to keep it afloat. (more later)

whal2a.jpg (129084 bytes)  whal2b.jpg (115745 bytes)  whal2c.jpg (129207 bytes) 

whal2d.jpg (129193 bytes)  whal2e.jpg (122163 bytes)  whal2f.jpg (130878 bytes)  whal2g.jpg (127134 bytes)  whal2h.jpg (127579 bytes)

whal2i.jpg (129597 bytes)  bar77.jpg (151379 bytes)

The whale is being moved to the airport runway, note the forklift wheel marks, and the marks of the whale up the slope:

bar74.jpg (143727 bytes)  bar75.jpg (152631 bytes)  bar76.jpg (148602 bytes)  bar78.jpg (144679 bytes)

These 2 photos, compliments of customer Valerie, who just HAPPENED to be there at the same time, what a coincidence!  The three girls are Roz, Amy and Jodie:

Whale Lift 2.jpg (234499 bytes)  whale-Roz Amy Jodie.jpg (79080 bytes)

Family photos and rejoicing are evident.  It is customary for the children to walk atop the whale as part of the celebration in catching the whale, and for the Whaling captain and crew to pose in front with their flag.

bar70.jpg (149797 bytes)  bar71.jpg (155260 bytes)  bar72.jpg (150704 bytes)  bar73.jpg (145330 bytes)

bar85.jpg (145279 bytes)  bar80.jpg (152664 bytes)

Whitlam Adams is the proud patriarch over this team, still taking a strong part in his interest in the whale that his family brings in.  Whitlam gets to make the first cut.  Here he is re-telling the story to his friend who is sharpening the knives

bar82.jpg (154023 bytes)  bar81.jpg (138212 bytes)  bar91.jpg (150350 bytes)

The butchering has begun.  Notice the size of the whale's tail beside the people.  Also the harpoon, the beautiful fronds of baleen. 

bar79.jpg (144843 bytes)  bar83.jpg (146815 bytes)  bar84.jpg (144888 bytes)

Even slices are made, the young ones watch to see how it is done.  Note where the tail was removed, how large the tail tendons are.  And much rich whale meat inside:

bar86.jpg (146133 bytes)  bar87.jpg (144998 bytes)  bar90.jpg (160311 bytes)

Each family or crew member that assisted is awarded parts of the whale (blubber, meat, fins)  to take home

bar88.jpg (148389 bytes)  bar89.jpg (153776 bytes)

Here's whale blubber being cut up & boiled to eat right away:

bar92.jpg (148475 bytes)  bar93.jpg (143999 bytes)

Glenn taking a self-photo of us in front of the whale, and a the beautiful baleen:

whal-heidiglenn.jpg (129714 bytes)  bar94.jpg (121709 bytes)

 

WHALE STRIKE 3

47'1" female (with 4' fetus), this is a BIG whale.  An embryologist scientist happened to be there, so the Whaling captain gave it to him to study, for which he was grateful.

bar127a.jpg (141347 bytes)  bar127b.jpg (138671 bytes)

Note the colorful coats that the Eskimo girls and women are wearing, and the big traditional turnout to celebrate the catching of the whale and help process it:

bar127c.jpg (152631 bytes)  bar127d.jpg (150034 bytes)

  bar125.jpg (152580 bytes)  bar126.jpg (157819 bytes)   bar124-1.jpg (150766 bytes)

bar126-1.jpg (157819 bytes) bar127e.jpg (147721 bytes) bar127.jpg (147567 bytes)

 

 

This video footage shows the whale before this (#3), then the pregnant whale being cut: 

https://www.adn.com/video/video-join-bering-sea-bowhead-whale-hunt-close-view

 

 

WHALE STRIKE 4

37' male, struck by the Itta Crew

whal4a.jpg (124518 bytes)  whal4b.jpg (115979 bytes)  whal4c.jpg (115788 bytes)  bar207.jpg (147812 bytes)

bar208.jpg (139485 bytes)

Foot wide cuts are made, the whaling crew gets the first pieces as their share.

whal4d.jpg (130132 bytes)  whal4h.jpg (128761 bytes)  whal4i.jpg (127864 bytes)  whal4l.jpg (119402 bytes)

The main cutting tool is like a hockey stick with a knife on the end.  Note how tiny the boat (2nd photo) and how large the whale it brought in.  Amazing.

whal4e.jpg (121022 bytes)  whal4f.jpg (122810 bytes)

Then other sections are dragged away till it gets down to the dark whale meat.  Note how the blubber steams as it's removed.  The perfect insulation for the whale's inner body, which is why they process the whale quickly before the meat can spoil:

whal4o.jpg (118408 bytes)  whal4j.jpg (130678 bytes)  whal4k.jpg (114033 bytes)  whal4m.jpg (113889 bytes)

whal4n.jpg (131021 bytes)  whal4p.jpg (123965 bytes)

This whale was harpooned so close it came out the other side (there was a concern that it had not exploded properly), also a harpoon through its lower jaw.  This is not usual.

whal4g.jpg (129276 bytes)

 

WHALE STRIKE 5

The triumphant crew and other boats following.  This was a small whale, we did not get the measurement.  Note the smaller baleen. In case you didn't notice, it is VERY COLD right now, we curtailed our photography, opting for survival.

bar215.jpg (155336 bytes) bar216.jpg (148010 bytes) whal5.jpg (126124 bytes)  whal5b.jpg (119891 bytes)

View of the eye, and the blowhole, and the tail:

whal5c.jpg (126179 bytes)  whal5d.jpg (121793 bytes)  whal5e.jpg (116821 bytes)  whal5f.jpg (124823 bytes)

 

WHALE STRIKE 6

A small whale, lost after harpooned, recovered for the blubber when it popped to the surface again.  Called "a Stinker" for a good reason.

bar217.jpg (170835 bytes)  bar218.jpg (183096 bytes) bar219.jpg (140433 bytes) whal6a.jpg (121302 bytes)

 

THE AREA WHERE THE CARCASSES ARE LEFT for the seagulls,

Jawbone

bar197.jpg (148751 bytes)  bar198.jpg (147979 bytes)  bar199.jpg (150352 bytes)  bar200.jpg (143633 bytes)

bar211.jpg (152671 bytes) 

 and for any Eskimo to come for more blubber and meat anytime they want.  Note the Eskimo in white, gathering blubber: 

bar202.jpg (148437 bytes)  bar203.jpg (141338 bytes)

Tail & head section, 3rd photo is baleen, 4th photo vertebrae, last photo is the skull:

bar201.jpg (143428 bytes)  bar204.jpg (141128 bytes)  bar205.jpg (129586 bytes)  bar206.jpg (139538 bytes)

bar213.jpg (158245 bytes)

Later the remains are loaded into dumpsters, taken to the Point, for the birds and polar bears to eat, then eventually it will be returned to the ocean for the hagfish to eat.  Eventually some bones will wash back up on shore, or further south, or to St. Lawrence Island, where it will eventually be used for carving.

Scientific methods of aging, using the fluid in the eye.  Also, information on measuring the blubber, at the NARL building:

bar220.jpg (135422 bytes)  bar221.jpg (140110 bytes)

Views of the seagulls over the ocean:

bar212.jpg (154768 bytes)

 

Glenn, refreshed by the Arctic cold:

bar-glenn.jpg (152717 bytes)  bar-glenn2.jpg (147776 bytes)

Old fishing boats now rest on the shore of a small lake near the ocean and town:

bar195.jpg (142559 bytes)  bar194.jpg (128058 bytes)

A typical sight, Glenn brushing snow off our rental car more than once a day, outside our hotel

bar196.jpg (133121 bytes)

 

OTHER SIGHTS, BARROW
The famous Football field, funds raised by a woman in Florida.  Not for October or winter use, however, the winds swept across this field like a hurricane

bar100.jpg (149307 bytes)

Snow cat, the ultimate machine

bar210.jpg (132686 bytes)

Another snow machine, they can make ANYTHING run, believe me.

bar101.jpg (142766 bytes)

House with caribou skins

bar102.jpg (131224 bytes)

bar103.jpg (133808 bytes)

Akita/wolf tied up outside one home (glad he was tied up!)

bar104.jpg (136552 bytes)

Baleen snowshoes decorating one home like shutters:

bar105.jpg (160178 bytes)

Northern Lights Restaurant, great food.  A dumpster fire (prank) while we were there..

bar110.jpg (155352 bytes)  bar109.jpg (141233 bytes) 

bar111.jpg (139671 bytes)  bar112.jpg (142408 bytes)

All the dumpsters around town had great paintings of whales, walrus, seal or inspirational messages

bar113.jpg (146052 bytes)

Ethel Simmons showing off a friend's sewing handiwork (girls parka covers) & her husk son Sonny boy, we just loved to watch him enjoy his food.

bar114.jpg (143950 bytes) bar115.jpg (131609 bytes)

bar116.jpg (133358 bytes)

The beautiful parka Ethel had made for Sonny boy:

bar117.jpg (121897 bytes)  bar118.jpg (124419 bytes) 

Lisa Adams house, where we had bought a piece of polar bear hair made into a ruff to make a fringe on a winter coat.  Note the beautiful walrus tusks head mount.

bar124.jpg (140586 bytes)  bar123.jpg (136471 bytes)

The seal hat Glenn tried on does not QUITE fit (smile).

bar122.jpg (96007 bytes)

A seal Lisa's husband Billy had recently caught was outside waiting to be skinned.  They will use or eat EVERYTHING.

bar121.jpg (140906 bytes)

p.s. Lisa has sighted strange UFO lights from her picture window in the middle of the night.  No kidding!

Beach views overlooking the Chukchi Sea

bar106.jpg (150995 bytes)  bar107.jpg (165372 bytes)  bar108.jpg (167977 bytes)  bar119.jpg (150355 bytes)  bar120.jpg (140085 bytes)

State Trooper Bill, having his daily lunch at the Teriyaki House.  The village takes care of its own policing, he steps in when requested.

bar171.jpg (142663 bytes)  bar172.jpg (138440 bytes)  bar173.jpg (143637 bytes)

A particularly interesting use of an  Airstream to make a home with additions

bar156.jpg (137905 bytes)

bar157.jpg (134489 bytes)

bar158.jpg (136882 bytes)

Friend Clara (Bunna's mom)

kindly allowing us to photograph her beautiful purple coat with fur collar

bar125.jpg (124944 bytes)  bar126.jpg (125370 bytes)

Clara's grandson Edward (Bunna's son)  fell sound asleep at Pepe's

bar132.jpg (146944 bytes)

BOAT FULL OF CARIBOU

Simeon Paktokak's hunting party returned after 3 months, delayed due to unforeseen setbacks.  The seas were so rough, the trailer was damaged as they loaded the boat onto it from the water.

Here you see his crew and helpers unloading the catch of many caribou caught on the successful hunt. They had very little time to unload the boat, repair it and the trailer, to get the boat launched for the whale hunt.

bar127.jpg (150949 bytes)  bar128.jpg (177631 bytes)  bar129.jpg (149791 bytes)  bar130.jpg (153299 bytes)  bar131.jpg (136497 bytes)

 

SNOWY OWL Sighting

Barrow's original Eskimo name is Ukpiagvik "the Place Where we Hunt Snowy Owls"

bar146.jpg (138922 bytes)

The elusive and famous Snowy Owl, we found a pair clinging to the telephone wires or on top of telephone poles along one stretch of road.  Here is the white male, the winds caused the wires to dance, so he flapped his wings often to stay balanced.  What a fearsome and noble bird.

bar133.jpg (147164 bytes)  bar134.jpg (144836 bytes)  bar135.jpg (144827 bytes)  bar136.jpg (145636 bytes)

bar137.jpg (155080 bytes)  bar177.jpg (106103 bytes)  bar178.jpg (105670 bytes)

Female:  bar179.jpg (139167 bytes)

 

WHITLAM ADAMS, Artist
Whitlam shared his newest boxes and jewelry

bar143.jpg (137828 bytes)

We went up to his workroom again, so he could adjust the size of the lid of one of the boxes we bought.

bar140.jpg (150261 bytes)  bar141.jpg (141486 bytes)  bar142.jpg (142489 bytes)

Newspaper clippings of Whitlam as Whaling Captain during a successful 5-whale day (unknown date), and remembered for his work as an artist (2nd photo):

bar144.jpg (104229 bytes)  bar145.jpg (112992 bytes)

 

ANCIENT SOD VILLAGE, Barrow

Arctic Pizza overlooks this location of an ancient 2,000 year old sod home village, behind the Snowy Owl sign.  The semi-underground home's earthen walls held in the heat and kept out the wind.  The roof was supported by bowhead whale jawbones

bar147.jpg (144939 bytes)  bar148.jpg (126684 bytes)  bar149.jpg (123786 bytes)  bar150.jpg (151969 bytes)
ARCTIC PIZZA

bar188.jpg (119924 bytes)

Some of the finest dining in town.  The upstairs was particularly classy, and overlooks the sod village, where we took photos of an unforgettable sunset.  The Chukchi Sea is beyond that.

bar151.jpg (134082 bytes)  bar154.jpg (140947 bytes)

bar155.jpg (173212 bytes)  bar181.jpg (146594 bytes)  bar182.jpg (128387 bytes)

Sunset becomes an eagle head, then a human head laid back on a pillow:

bar183.jpg (126334 bytes)  bar184.jpg (134566 bytes)

Arctic Pizza framed photos of the Whalebone Arch, and the Polar Bear Plunge by crazy folks wanting to get a free T-shirt:

bar185.jpg (115065 bytes)  bar186.jpg (127607 bytes)  bar187.jpg (119589 bytes)

 

HERITAGE CENTER

One of many visits (see other headings for the Heritage Center on the Alaska pages)

Two whale ear bone scrimshaw and baleen ships, by Whitlam Adams

bar159.jpg (129431 bytes)  bar160.jpg (133068 bytes)

Two totem Snowy owl carvings by  Tommy Coates.

bar161.jpg (146768 bytes)  bar162.jpg (141859 bytes)

Beluga whale teeth, from a harvest at Point Lay, Alaska, another Eskimo village south of here:

bar163.jpg (147500 bytes)

 

TOMMY COATES, Barrow artist

Two-sided Whale Vertebrae.  Within view of our hotel, we met Tommy Coates, well known for his ivory & bone carvings - see the Heritage Center photos on this and other
Alaska pages, Joe's Museum, and the NARC building for other photos of his work)  and persuaded him to carve us a whale vertebrae (both sides, a man & woman).  Here it is, not yet completed

bar167.jpg (131752 bytes)  bar168.jpg (139809 bytes)  bar168.jpg (139809 bytes)  bar170.jpg (144454 bytes)

 

Gas price, "down" $ .10 from last time to $4.45:

bar180.jpg (120396 bytes)

  Regretfully leaving Barrow, east & south of the Arctic tundra the North Slope mountains begin

bar176.jpg (137299 bytes)

 

OCTOBER 11-21, 2006

BARROW, ALASKA

b2-whalebonearch.jpg (110463 bytes)

Whalebone arch during a half moon sky, next to Brower's Cafe on the shore of the Chukchi sea (part of the Arctic Ocean)

Our trip for Heidi's 52nd birthday.  A second trip 330 miles above the Arctic Circle, as far north as you can go in the United States and North America.  Glenn gave Heidi the choice of here, or Venice Italy for her birthday.  Since we had made so many new friends here, it made sense to follow through to come back here to cement those friendships.  We plan to write a book about our experiences here, and about the emerging artists from Barrow.

The Inuit place whale bones here at this Welcome sign as a tribute to the whale, it was fitting to be here shortly after we landed:

welcome1.jpg (37902 bytes)  welcome4.jpg (38693 bytes)  welcome5.jpg (38702 bytes)

The best way to view this place:  Once you get used to what's NOT here (lawns, pretty houses, paved roads, fast food restaurants, warm weather), you can focus on what IS here (a warm-hearted, religious, friendly, sharing and colorful people, a profound wisdom of an ancient civilization, a simpler lifestyle that revolves around family, God and the foods needed to sustain life; arctic land and marine animals that are respected as much in death as they are in life), you will see this place through new and appreciative eyes.  It was food for our souls.

 

ABOUT THE WHALE HUNT & CATCH

We were invited to document the whale hunt from shore, but the whales migrated earlier than anyone had guessed.  It was a very successful hunt, catching the quota of 19 allowed.  These are a subsistence people who use as much of the whale as possible, and leave the bones for the wild creatures such as the polar bear to eat (see the July Barrow trip below for more details).  So we were able to photograph the new bone pile, enjoy tasting all the foods made from the whale, hear all the new stories of the whaling season, and view the fall whale hunt pictures taken by others (see photos from Ray and his mom Clara lower on this page).

 b2bonepile1.jpg (39368 bytes)  b2bonepile2.jpg (40101 bytes)  b2bonepile3.jpg (37550 bytes)  b2bonepile4.jpg (37949 bytes)

 Funny seagull footprints in the snow near the whale bone pile we visited many times during our stay, it was the furthest point we could go with the car. 

b2seagullprints.jpg (39154 bytes)

A dumpster by the landfill:

b2bonepile5.jpg (38507 bytes)

Muktuk (whale skin & blubber) is often stored outside until it can be processed.  Since no dogs are allowed loose in town, and the weather is ALWAYS cold, this is the perfect place to store it, right?

b2blubber1.jpg (39160 bytes)  b2blubber2.jpg (39323 bytes)  b2blubber3.jpg (40410 bytes)  b2blubber4.jpg (40341 bytes)

 

HOUSES & STRUCTURES

A house that had sustained damage from an airborne car accident was finished off in the punishing winds of that storm that took it completely off its foundation:

b2house2.jpg (37905 bytes)  b2house3.jpg (38964 bytes)

A house that was being steam cleaned back in July is all re-painted, we were amazed.  Regardless of the temperature, the constant wind dries the paint:

b2bluehouse.jpg (37015 bytes)

A fish shanty with seal skins stretched and drying outside, near the Point:

b2house1.jpg (37468 bytes)

Assorted whale vertebra are drying out on this roof.  This is also the house with the famous whale baleen palm trees, near the Point:

b2house5.jpg (37371 bytes)  b2house6.jpg (37693 bytes)

A sled house is sturdy and mobile:

house6.jpg (38200 bytes)

A boat frame in storage, the framework is used for drying meats such as Eider duck and Arctic char fish:

b2house4.jpg (38099 bytes)

Ducks hung on the porch poles ready to process, caribou antlers curing beside the garage: 

house8.jpg (38171 bytes) house9.jpg (38516 bytes)

Spray foam insulation is a godsend to create an addition that is waterproof and warm:

house1.jpg (37379 bytes)

Additions are common:

house2.jpg (36462 bytes)

Elvis lovers are worldwide:

house3.jpg (38047 bytes)

Boats awaiting use in their yards:

house4.jpg (39540 bytes)  house5.jpg (39459 bytes)

Some still need work.  They waste nothing, every piece of lumber is used or re-used, or it must be barged or flown in at great expense:

house7.jpg (37689 bytes)

The Eskimo Shop with its bone pile outside the front door:

house10.jpg (38997 bytes)

This whale shoulder blade still hangs outside this front door, Glenn liked it when we saw it on the last trip:

house11.jpg (37735 bytes)

Snow machines and four wheelers outside a typical house:

house13.jpg (37372 bytes)

A gorgeous polar bear skin curing on the porch railing:

house15.jpg (38513 bytes)  house14.jpg (37452 bytes)

The Airport Inn where we stayed.  Hospitable folks!

house12.jpg (36525 bytes)

 

SUNRISE
Sunrise from our 2nd floor (The Airport Inn) hotel room window, the first day, at around 10 a.m.

b2sunrise0.jpg (38035 bytes)  b2sunrise1.jpg (38723 bytes)  b2sunrise2.jpg (37276 bytes)

Did we see the Aurora Borealis?  Indeed we did!  (but sadly, no pictures to prove it).  Purple and green sheets of color increased in the sky on the coldest & clearest nights.  It was delightful to get a call from our Inupiat friends late at night telling us to 'GET OUT THERE' (sounded like the Carnival Cruise saying).

 

BUNNA & PEPE'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

We made contact right away with our guide and friend Bunna and his family again (Eva and son Edward, and Mom Clara, at Pepe's Mexican Restaurant.  Well loved restaurant owner Fran just had a birthday before our arrival.  A fellow business woman flew 50 DOZEN ROSES in for her birthday.  That is a huge gift, when you see the prices for such items we share later:

b2bunna-fam.jpg (37425 bytes)

b2pepeflowers1.jpg (40074 bytes)  b2pepeflowers2.jpg (39165 bytes)  b2pepeflowers3.jpg (40112 bytes)

 

ARCTIC FOXES

We saw our first arctic fox, he had not yet changed color to white, thanks to Bunna's sharp eyes during our first outing to the Point.  Here's Bunna (in his element, wearing his sandals as always) with Glenn

b2arcfox1.jpg (38232 bytes)  b2arcfox2.jpg (39702 bytes) b2arcfox3.jpg (39658 bytes)

b2arcfox4.jpg (38969 bytes) b2arcfox5.jpg (38079 bytes)

 b2bunna-glenn.jpg (37528 bytes)

 

DAVID & CHARLIE

At the car rental office (UIC Vehicle Rental), we connected again with friend Charlie, who shared a beautiful golden baleen boat with us that is a family heirloom from his uncle.  We usually don't see Charlie this solemn!

b2charlie.jpg (37545 bytes)

His boss and our friend David Leavitt also greeted us and gave us fireweed and berry jam he and his wife had made while in Anchorage, and we got our first jar of pickled muktuk (whale skin & blubber) to try.  We brought this home with us.

b2-david.jpg (37405 bytes)

 

ICE CELLAR
Speaking of David, he invited us to view his dad's ice cellar where meat is stored, dug in the permafrost about 12 feet down (about 30 people in town have these, with a little house built atop).  Glenn climbed down the ladder and video taped it and took digitals for me.

cel1.jpg (38496 bytes)  cel10.jpg (39102 bytes)

 They had quite a lot of whale blubber squares & meat, ducks, and fish.  In the process, he lost the claustrophobia he started having when they put him in the MRI machine that was too small for him.  He said the feeling down there was like being in a church.

cel2.jpg (40741 bytes)  cel3.jpg (38349 bytes)  cel5.jpg (38275 bytes)

cel6.jpg (38974 bytes)  cel7.jpg (38769 bytes)  cel8.jpg (39230 bytes)

Looking up from the cellar floor:

cel9.jpg (38250 bytes)

The ice cellar is more than just a storage place.  They clean it out each spring and give away all the meat, scrape the walls, re-pack them with fresh snow, to receive the new whale meat as the new home for the whale & other animals that give themselves to them, out of respect for the animals.  We were privileged to experience this, though for some reason I did not feel the need to go down.

 

2nd ARCTIC FOX, SHORE ICE
David was kind enough to drive us all the way to the Point in a 4-wheel drive truck where we saw fresh polar bear tracks, the bone pile, and the beautiful snowy owl the area is known for (too quick for pictures though).

The waves of two seas crash violently together here, plus it was very windy.  What an experience.

beach7.jpg (37256 bytes)  beach8.jpg (36666 bytes)  beach9.jpg (37826 bytes)

On a second trip with David to the south end of the beach we saw a white arctic fox that actually came closer to the vehicle to check us out, then bounded away with HUGE leaps that had us laughing so hard we were holding our sides:

fox1.jpg (38344 bytes)  fox2.jpg (39974 bytes)

Multi-year ice (iceberg) on shore, and the view through through David's windshield

beach10.jpg (37574 bytes)  beach11.jpg (37348 bytes)

 

BALEEN

We also stopped at the Heritage Center, where Perry, an artist we met the first time (left side of photo with Glenn), invited us back to the workroom where he had completed several new baleen etchings (we bought them all, he does precise and exquisite etching work in spite of his wrist problems).

b2perry.jpg (37382 bytes)

His jolly friend Delbert (Inupiat name Suqqaq which means "Baleen") we met that day, prepares the baleen for him to work on. Here you see a particularly long baleen, then pieces ready to be polished, then polished and ready to etch:

b2delbert.jpg (37279 bytes) bal2.jpg (38146 bytes) bal3.jpg (38957 bytes) bal1.jpg (39526 bytes)

Glenn wired megalodon teeth as necklaces for all we met on this trip, as a thank you for what they all meant to us.

 

BEACH

We are always drawn to the beach soon after arrival.  Instead of the usual gentle waves, the aftermath of a storm caused 10-12 foot dirty waves that boomed on the flat shore, awe-inspiring and unlike any hurricane we had ever experienced.  The waves had breached the shore road in several places, causing some to evacuate their homes.  A new berm wall was hurriedly shored up to prevent further loss.  Though the weather while we were there was in the 20's, the wind on the beach was frigid:

b2waves1.jpg (37541 bytes)  b2waves2.jpg (38207 bytes)  b2waves3.jpg (38047 bytes)  b2waves4.jpg (37765 bytes)

We walked the frozen beach a lot and brought home sea glass (looked sandblasted due to the action against the pea gravel on the beach), rocks & shells (you do NOT pick up any fossils, other marine mammal bones or artifacts, they belong there).

b2beach1.jpg (40068 bytes)  b2beach2.jpg (38900 bytes)

 For two days after the storm, there were clams, sea worms, crabs and shrimp that washed up on shore (frozen, well preserved; also we found it odd that the clams had no shells).  Everybody took time to walk along the shore to pick up the seafood, except the worms which, we are told, are TRULY subsistence food. Third photo is Glenn gesturing while talking with two of our new friends:

beach4.jpg (37237 bytes)  beach1.jpg (37713 bytes)  beach2.jpg (37298 bytes)  beach3.jpg (38173 bytes)

Ice edge on the shoreline

beach5.jpg (39214 bytes)  beach6.jpg (37932 bytes)

THE HAUNTED DINOSAUR RIDE
We happened past a playground near the shore one day, and saw this dinosaur spring ride rocking wildly back and forth by itself, caused by the wind coming from just the right direction.  What a hoot.

 dino.jpg (38511 bytes)

 

When we were home we made a habit of checking the Sea Ice Cam website (link below) on a regular basis to watch the winter set in.  Now we were experiencing it for ourselves.  *this sea cam site is updated every couple of hours:
 

 

FOUR-WHEELING

This is a four-wheeling HEAVEN here, from the challenge of riding on the berm wall moguls to the speed achieved on the frozen flat sand & pebble beaches that stretch for several miles (okay, with a few detours around icebergs of multi-year ice). Now that the sand & gravel is freezing and hard, the young kids and adults are all riding them everywhere.  They really don't like the soft sand in the summer.  So we had a blast watching them zip down the beach and the great moguls.  I'm sure as there's more snow later in the season, more of the snow machines are used, we saw literally 2-3 machines at almost every home (working or not).

But some go a little too fast for conditions.

b2beach4.jpg (38013 bytes)

 

SUNSET

Our first sunset on this trip, memorable.

b2beach3.jpg (37780 bytes)  b2sunset.jpg (38247 bytes)

A serene half moon in the sky, a bowhead whale skull in silhouette on the horizon of the snowy beach, and another colorful sunset on the shores of the Chukchi Sea (part of the Arctic Ocean):

b2halfmoon1.jpg (34553 bytes)  b2halfmoon2.jpg (37441 bytes)  b2sunset2.jpg (36473 bytes)

 

BARROW CARS
Examples of cars driven on these muddy gravel roads in Barrow:

car1.jpg (37983 bytes)  car2.jpg (37191 bytes) No licenses or registrations are necessary for cars or vehicles here, most have cracked windshields from the extreme cold and a 3D layer of mud from driving the unpaved roads (ours was unrecognizable by the end of our stay).

 

RAVENS

Two ravens (they are always in pairs) squawk to each other on a frozen pond.  Glenn captured their conversation on video/audio tape.  We can find humor wherever we go, it just depends on how you look at things.  We found this hilarious.  Okay so we're a little twisted:

b2ravens2.jpg (37254 bytes)  b2ravens.jpg (39278 bytes)

 

CLARA'S HOUSE, 

eating whale meat & blubber

We met Bunna's mother Clara who was so hospitable we spent time in her home twice.  Here's Clara (in the sunglasses) with daughter Angela (in blue), Angela's friend, and Clara's young toddler, 2nd photo is Clara's son Ray, Angela & toddler with their puppy:

clara8.jpg (37606 bytes)  clara10.jpg (37502 bytes)

Clara has a strong sense of family.  There were many family pictures on the walls, and masks and other items, some new but many are family heirlooms:

clara.jpg (38268 bytes)  clara5.jpg (36146 bytes)  clara11.jpg (37932 bytes)

Yes!  We ate boiled whale blubber and whale meat, it was not as bad as I feared, though I watched Glenn eat it first (Clara suggested that we eat the blubber with sweet pickles, a good idea).  The blubber was like a seafood flavored mushroom (black skin on top, white blubber below).  The meat was dark and bloody (you can't bleed a whale) and tasted surprisingly like beef otherwise and was pretty tender.  They sent some pickled muktuk (blubber) and seal meat jerky home with us. 

clara7.jpg (37955 bytes)  clara9.jpg (36749 bytes)  clara13.jpg (38579 bytes)  clara14.jpg (37104 bytes)

Her son Ray was part of the whaling team that caught a whale, they were very proud (see Ray below with his flaying knife).  We spoke with Ray extensively about the experience and he put all the photos on a CD for us that his mom had taken of him as their boat brought in the whale, and pictures he'd taken in the boat. 

clara12.jpg (38418 bytes)

 But since using one hand for a camera is a liability when he should be paddling or doing something else, next year he'll wear a head cam and really document it.  His sister is a videographer and he's learned from her, they will be going to Point Lay in a couple of weeks to do a documentary on village life there.  He also shared pictures of baby snowy owl he found in a ground well structure, and great photos he took of Jaeger predatory birds in the area.

He also showed us two walrus heads he dragged home that had washed up on the beach, they need to be boiled to clean them (they looked mummified and frozen but we could still smell them), Clara and Eva complained that he had to take care of it soon...

clara15.jpg (40796 bytes)  clara16.jpg (38983 bytes)

Sled dogs in Clara's neighborhood.  I wish you could hear the symphony of howling that moves to a crescendo when they decide something is worthy to howl about:

b2sleddogs.jpg (39959 bytes)  dog1.jpg (37423 bytes)

 

JOE'S MUSEUM
We couldn't resist another visit to Joe "the Waterman" Museum home, 

jo52.jpg (37529 bytes)  jo51.jpg (38565 bytes)  jo1.jpg (37413 bytes)

where he has added a giant Moose head, 55" across antlers, and 55" out from the wall:

jo2.jpg (40834 bytes)  jo3.jpg (40059 bytes)

Elk head 

jo5.jpg (37463 bytes)

and black bear skin to his collection

jo4.jpg (37825 bytes)

They came in a crate bigger than his car, and getting them uncrated and into his house produced yet another humorous tale.

Full Elk mount

jo6.jpg (37822 bytes)

 

Polar bear rug

jo7.jpg (38151 bytes)

Red fox, caribou face mask, and feathered raven

jo10.jpg (39286 bytes)

Wolverine with ptarmigan on huge whale bone (creative use of a feather in the wolverine's mouth); baleen and face mask in background

jo11.jpg (40896 bytes)

Beaver

jo13.jpg (38143 bytes)

Ivory spirit mask, Eskimo in kayak, Joe's Water Truck carved in ivory, woolly  mammoth tooth

jo38.jpg (40538 bytes)

Whale ear bones (top), vintage timbers, and a rare ivory chain link necklace

jo15.jpg (38871 bytes)

Skin trousers

jo17.jpg (38678 bytes)

Deer butt, deer head, and mountain goat

jo18.jpg (38745 bytes)

Musk ox skull

jo40.jpg (87678 bytes)

Dahl sheep horn with carved Narwhal

jo41.jpg (85311 bytes)

Walrus jaw bones & several artifact ancient clubs made from rib bone or ivory

jo44.jpg (75013 bytes)

Woolly mammoth tusk carving of whale hunt, and caribou jawbone

jo29.jpg (37493 bytes)

Harpoon points recently recovered from Bowhead whales in Alaska

jo31.jpg (64589 bytes)

Photos of Mother polar bear and cub in town:

jo36.jpg (38747 bytes)

Photos of polar bear feeding at the Point

jo37.jpg (72322 bytes)

News article of rare musk ox sighting in Barrow

jo32.jpg (63771 bytes)

Eskimo dressed in seal skin & polar bear fur, in kayak

jo45.jpg (66709 bytes)

jo46.jpg (37553 bytes)

Built by visiting scientists, the shadow across this instrument made of baleen determines when certain birds will migrate there

Portions of whale skull

jo47.jpg (37420 bytes)

jo48.jpg (40510 bytes)

Portion of whale skull, and vertebraejo49.jpg (38809 bytes) Ancient timbers that wash up on shore from Russian ships or homes

jo53.jpg (38859 bytes)

   
BALEEN, and BALEEN WOVEN BASKETS
Outside barrel full of baleen (frozen in place)

jo50.jpg (38720 bytes)

Baleen etching of walruses (awesome) and also two of Perry's baleen etchings (we love his work):

jo33.jpg (98381 bytes)

Baleen etching of dog sled team

jo30.jpg (38933 bytes)

Huge baleen woven basket

jo26.jpg (37603 bytes)

jo27.jpg (38408 bytes)

Baleen basket made with a whale vertebrae disk as its bottom

jo35.jpg (37986 bytes)

Ancient Baleen sled

jo19.jpg (40084 bytes)

Baleen, one with caribou design

jo14.jpg (37270 bytes)

Another baleen basket with ivory Eskimo finial

jo28.jpg (92840 bytes)

Numerous baleen baskets, and an ivory shaman polar bear piece

jo39.jpg (82787 bytes)

FACES carved from WHALE VERTEBRAE

This is museum quality art work

jo8.jpg (38478 bytes) jo9.jpg (37388 bytes) jo12.jpg (37359 bytes) jo20.jpg (37666 bytes)
jo21.jpg (38367 bytes) jo22.jpg (36857 bytes) jo23.jpg (37751 bytes) jo24.jpg (37793 bytes)
jo25.jpg (37325 bytes) jo42.jpg (60278 bytes) jo43.jpg (37256 bytes) Bone Face mask with teeth; below it is an unfinished baleen basket Joe is making

jo34.jpg (38460 bytes)

 

GROCERY STORE (referred to as the "AC")

bar175.jpg (143734 bytes)

What does stuff cost in Barrow?  We were frequent visitors at the grocery store for the hot lunches, ice cream, coffee and groceries.  It was also a gathering point for many children and other Native people to share news.

Here's a mom carrying her baby in the beautiful and functional parka they make with a baby carrier in the back:

food4.jpg (37366 bytes)

Some buy baby items from drugstore.com or larger items directly from samsclub.com and it's cheaper even with shipping than buying from the grocery store.

Here's the good & bad news...

Major appliances sold right here in the grocery store

food3.jpg (35866 bytes)

food18.jpg (40557 bytes)

Bread $4.69/loaf

food17.jpg (39277 bytes)

$13.63 for 1.24 lbs of strawberries with dip

Alaskan Reindeer steak

food19.jpg (39326 bytes)

food20.jpg (36261 bytes)

Milk $7.79/gallon

food21.jpg (39618 bytes)

Orange juice $8.45 half gallon

food22.jpg (38885 bytes)

Margarine $9.95/

5 pounds

food23.jpg (36663 bytes)

Gas can $19.99

food24.jpg (39482 bytes)

Meow mix, 3.5 pounds $10.57

Ranch dressing, $7.15 for 24 oz.

food25.jpg (38394 bytes)

Chairs in the Freezer aisle

food26.jpg (39081 bytes)

12 pack Pepsi $7.58

food27.jpg (40034 bytes)

food28.jpg (38855 bytes)

Dawn dish soap $6.57, 25 oz.

Windex $12.79, 2 liter

food29.jpg (37569 bytes)

Oil, $5.29/quart

food30.jpg (35687 bytes)

Windex, $25.49 for 1.34 gallon

food31.jpg (36053 bytes)

food32.jpg (34943 bytes)

Huggies diapers $66.99 for 150

food33.jpg (38696 bytes)

Paper towels, 12 rolls $31.85

Apple juice, 1 gallon $ 19.35

food34.jpg (38306 bytes)

food35.jpg (39226 bytes)

Cheerios, $8.65 for 1 lb. 4 oz.

food36.jpg (37199 bytes)

Apple juice, $7.39 for 2 quart

food37.jpg (39253 bytes)

Starbucks coffee, $13.99 for 12 oz.

   

 

CUSTOM MADE PARKA JACKETS

food38.jpg (38145 bytes)

Next to the $7000 Four-wheelers is this coat rack of magnificent creations of rich, bright fabric coats with fur collars and incredible detail using multiple layers of fancy edging material.  They deserve to be individually displayed on a special wall, they are so lovely.  We've shown some of the prices.

food5.jpg (38169 bytes)

food6.jpg (38209 bytes)

food7.jpg (37890 bytes) food8.jpg (40141 bytes) food9.jpg (38710 bytes)

food10.jpg (36690 bytes)

food11.jpg (38060 bytes)

food12.jpg (37698 bytes)

food13.jpg (40846 bytes)

food14.jpg (38292 bytes)

 

food15.jpg (40853 bytes)

food16.jpg (39022 bytes)

Elderly Barrow woman wearing her bright parka with a lush fur collar, walking across the Wells Fargo parking lot

wells1.jpg (37156 bytes)  wells2.jpg (37702 bytes)

 
GASOLINE

Gas is brought by barge once a year (Oct. 16th), stays the same price for the whole year.  Silly us, we went for gas on the 17th and paid $4.55/gallon instead of $3.75 that it was before.  Why their gas is so high when they're so close to Prudhoe Bay is beyond me.

food39.jpg (35068 bytes)  food40.jpg (36413 bytes)
We came home to see gas at $1.94/gallon here in South Carolina (October of 2006), a far cry from Barrow's prices

food1.jpg (35895 bytes)

 

IVORY CARVINGS

ASRC Building and 

North Slope Burrough Building (Mayor's office)

Both locations had impressive displays of carvings of Barrow and other Native Alaskan carvers

ASRC BUILDING
Walrus stone carving, seal vertebrae, whale rib, and mammoth tusks

asrc1.jpg (39696 bytes)

asrc2.jpg (38194 bytes)

Large Eskimo drummer in stone

asrc3.jpg (37983 bytes)

Walrus tusks on whale vertebrae, baleen whale & Eskimo, polar bear fur

asrc4.jpg (37966 bytes)

 
North Slope Burrough Building (Mayor's office)
A huge modern bowhead whale FIN showing all the bones in place.  This covers an entire wall 

asrc18.jpg (38297 bytes)

A beautiful Ptarmigan totem, and a carved Dahl sheep horn:

bar165.jpg (130056 bytes)  bar166.jpg (152151 bytes)

SAMUEL SAALAAGRUK SIMMONDS

Carving Inupiaq Values - A Tribute to the late Samuel, a devout Christian minister, an eloquent Inupiaq speaker, a skillful hunter and carver of ivory, what is abundantly clear from this display is how much this elder has meant to the people of Barrow.  We are honored to share the carvings on display here.

asrc15.jpg (37765 bytes)  asrc17.jpg (37573 bytes)  asrc16.jpg (38928 bytes)

Eskimo hunting seal

asrc5.jpg (38602 bytes)

Eskimo skinning seal

asrc6.jpg (38078 bytes)

Eskimo throwing harpoon

asrc8.jpg (38249 bytes)

Seated singing drummer

asrc9.jpg (38427 bytes)

Husband and wife 

bar164.jpg (164506 bytes)

Eskimos holding harpoon, pulling seal home on rope

asrc11.jpg (38254 bytes)

asrc12.jpg (38416 bytes)

Paddling kayak

asrc13.jpg (39142 bytes)

Teaching a child

asrc14.jpg (38181 bytes)

(TABLE OF CONTENTS IS ON PAGE 1)

Click to:  Alaska Page 1 Page 2 Page 3  Page 4Page 5 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12

Twitter   Facebook   Ebay   Etsy   Shopping Cart