Although I have now made the trip to Alaska a dozen times
in the last 18 months, the six hour flight from Chicago yesterday was
long. I was, however, able to
double-check my notes to make sure that everything was in place for a good
trip. Larry and I exchanged a few emails just as a precaution and to make sure
our schedules were coordinated. Larry is in Nome now conducting research with a
couple of his UAF colleagues, but has also been keeping a close eye on the
weather, road conditions, and the size and number of mosquitoes. So far, so
good, but Larry reminded me that Nome was a coastal village on the Horton Sound
and Bering Sea and that everything could change in a minute. We reviewed Plan A
and then made a few quick notes under the heading of Plan B. It is good to have
Larry as a member of our team!
My travels to Alaska have taught me a valuable lesson. Once you leave Anchorage and head north, your ability to purchase materials and
supplies becomes increasingly limited. The exception to this is
Fairbanks, but that would not be one of our destinations. So we took time to
pick up a few last minute items...bought "Muck" boots for our treks
across the tundra, tucked a few postcards into the backpack, and enjoyed the
evening before heading out towards Nome and the Seward Peninsula Thursday morning.
