Yes, I know I have not done an update in a few days. I would like to say I have been so busy that I just didn't have the time..but time is what I have. Well, the truth is that I have been enjoying being out of the "rat race" and "hustle and bustle" of living in a larger city. I have been giving time to myself, by that I mean I am taking time to do what I want to do. Spending time just thinking, contemplating, examining who I am, discovering myself.

I am really enjoying my time here North of the Arctic Circle in Barrow, Alaska. Life is simple but yet contains the complexities that all persons face. However, the complexities are of less concern here.

I'm finding that the longer I'm here the more clear my mind is becoming. I'm in a better mood, I have less stressor in life, and I’m more relaxed, mellower. I have noticed that things that would have angered me or made me unhappy are less or gone all together. I said it earlier that this was to just be an adventure, but it has turned into a journey of self-discovery. I love this journey!

My roaming remains a constant, there is too much to see to not continue to roam....




Just a beautiful view of the frozen Arctic Ocean.

Appears to be some type of mining equipment.  I have not asked a local yet to be certain, but the area around it has been stripped down.

I know I post a lot of views looking out over the frozen Arctic Ocean, but I just can't get enough of the beauty.  It is like nothing I have seen before and it gives me a sense of calm every time I see it.

Looking East towards Barrow, Alaska.

Looking West up the coast away from Barrow, Alaska

Bowhead Whale Bone arch, Bowhead Whale Skull in background, flanked by two boat frames.  This is the type of frame they strecht seal skin over.

ME! It was NOT sweater weather.  This was a jump out of the vehilce, hit the timer on the camera, run, take pic, and run back to vehicle.  It was 25 degrees when this was taken, and oh... taken at about 11pm.  I am still having a hard time with the 24hour a day daylight.

I took this pic and thought the perfect caption was "Remember When" The abandoned boat, old buildings; I'm sure the Elders in the community can "Remember When."

Seal skin boats out on the ice awaiting a hunt.

A view of Barrow, Alaska.  I am facing south with my back to the Arctic Ocean.

A view of Barrow, Alaska. I am facing south with my back to the Arctic Ocean.

Birds on the water.  This area of non-frozen water is actually part of the waste water treatment plant thus explaining why not frozen as it is moved / pumped all the time.

You can drive over the bridge or take the road next to it.  I took the road so I could take a picture.  The bridge actually spans an area were waste water is mixed.

Ilisagvik College, basically a community college in Barrow, AK. The college is built on and utilizes an old Military installation.

Old military quonset huts that have been converted into housing.  They are on the same tract as Ilisagvik College

I thought the Florida crowd would get a kick out of this.  An airboat in Barrow, Alaska. 

Ilisagvik College, Barrow Alaska

Bowhead Whale Skull in front of Ilisagvik College.

Arctic Science Research Center, love the no loaded guns sign! The people here spend a lot of time on the ice and tundra.  They would always be armed due to the danger of Polar Bears.

Road side sign on the way to Point Barrow.  Point Barrow is the Northern most point of the USA.  Barrow is the Northern most city. Those are Bowhead Whale upper skulls.

Baleen "palm trees"  Baleen is a filter-feeder system inside the mouths of the Bowhead Whale.  Again, it was NOT sweater weather.  Same as before, run, timer, snap, run back to vehicle. The building in the back is part of a series of mostly abandoned buildings with some still used as cabins for hunting..etc.  

Bowhead Whale bones onthe side of the road.

Boat ramp on the way to Point Barrow.  I laughed, what type of boat am I launching this time of year?



Point Barrow is the Northern most point in the USA (Barrow being the Northern most City) the Point is the divide for the Chukchi Sea & Beaufort Sea (All being part of the Arctic Ocean)  The Point is actually a lot further ahead than you can see.  This isn't a safe area to walk (Polar Bears) and too soft to drive in the vehicle I was in.  I will post pictures of this same area once the ice breaks up.

Lost fishing net

 A Series of mostly abandoned buildings with some still used as cabins for hunting.  Most of them have been destroyed by the elements. 

 Electricity once flowed here, but now abandoned.  A Series of mostly abandoned buildings with some still used as cabins for hunting. Most of them have been destroyed by the elements. 

 Same section of buildings, I just though the shot was nice with the boat.  In the background you can see a DEW Line station.    See below for explanation on the DEW Line.

The DEW Line or Distant Early Warning Line was a series of radar stations in the Arctic used to detect Soviet Aircraft (or ground invasion) during the Cold War.  The picture doesn't show it but from this point I could see two additional radar stations (one to the left / one to the right) of the pictured station.  I didn't take a picture but there was the typical Government NO TRESPASSING sing on the pole to the right.  I took the advice of the sign as this is still a US Government facility.



A zoomed in view of this DEW Line Radar Station.



Metal Airstrip outside Barrow, Alaska.  This is an abandoned Military strip that was used to support the DEW Line.  The runway and hangers are still present. I can't find any information on what the name of this field / airstrip was / is.  I will ask the locals and update later.  

Large Hanger (1 of 2) on the abandoned airstrip.  Yes, I did peak inside the open door.  It was too dark to take pictures of the inside.  My eyes did adjust and it was a massive open area with what appeared to be office area at the rear. 

The second hanger at the abandoned Military airfield.

An abandoned Helicopter Port that (according to the sign) once supported the Arctic Research Facility. 

Home of Whalers Football.  A blue & gold artificial turf football field.  Games played here are the Northern Most football games in the United States.  This is a traveling team, remember, no roads lead out of Barrow...they fly to opposing schools.

Spenard Building Supply in Barrow, Alaska. 

Snow Machines (Snow Mobiles for us from the Mid-West...lol)  and an unknown piece of equipment.  The machines and equipment belong to the Arctic Research Facility.  Note, they are sitting on the edge of the frozen Arctic Ocean.

It says Theatre, but all I know is that it is a building on at the college.

Gotta' store your things

I don't care if the ice was thick, I'm not going out onto wastewater even if treated. 

Looking south toward Barrow, Alaska.  The crane is at the location of the new hospital under construction.  This is a small segment of Barrow show.  I will also dedicate an entire entry to the new hospital.

Liked the shot, Caribou Skulls are everywhere.

Natural Gass pipeline Northwest of Barrow, Alaska.  This Natural Gas is used to fuel the city of Barrow only (so I was told.)  I didn't take a lot of pictures in this area but imagine the pipes you see all over the place...lol.

Polar Bear Hide stretched and drying next to a house.  I don't know the story behind the taking of this bear, but it was very recent.  The fur it towards the house, you are seeing the inside.



Santa, is that you?

Very unique home / Dentist office

Every town needs a tanning bed!

ME again!  I'm getting shaggy. I thought, what the heck, I'm growing a beard and letting my hair grow.  BTW, this picture was taken at 1am, yes, it was bright and I did need my sunglasses to drive.

Here is a quick photo tour of the Emergency Department at Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital in Barrow, Alaska.  SSMH is a Critical Access Hospital with 14 Inpatient rooms, a 2 bed Emergency Department, and there are 6 Clinic Beds located within the Emergency Department footprint.  The clinicl rooms are utilized on day shift for scheduled clinic visits.  We use the clinic rooms at night for minor care type patients.

The main doors leading into the ED from the waiting / registration area.

Clinic Rooms on the Right.

Nurses Station (Clinic rooms on the right)

Back view of the Nursing station, still use a handwritten tracking board.

Point of Care Testing room

Two bed Emergency Department, Barrow Alaska.

Another view of the ED

X-Ray equipment located by the ED.

Just another view of the ED



Clinic Room

Ortho / Casting Clinic Room

Pyxis Medication Station, the Hospital Pharmacy is License to dispense medication (like CVS or Walgreens would do).  At night when the Hospital Pharmacy is closed we dispense from our supply.