Nuvuk
I finally got to see them. Polar bears. Tour guide Sam took me on a trip to Point Barrow, also known as Nuvuk, which is located about 12 miles from Barrow. We spent about an hour gawking at the bears and I took many pictures. It was hard to chose which ones were the best.
Sam took me to a spot where Barrow residents lay out whale carcasses for the polar bears. The whale carcasses were from last fall's hunt. With the lack of open water, this pile of bones was the polar bears' best bet for getting food. The bears certainly didn't look hungry.
To get to Nuvuk, you have to go off road and onto the beach, which at this time of year is, of course, covered in snow and ice. Sam uses a huge truck to get to the point, and leaves some flagging tape on his route to avoid getting stuck. He's gotten stuck before. In fact, my friend's aunt got stuck with him two days in a row. But my trip with him was perfect.
The closest we were able to get to the bears was within 12 feet I would say. Sam never drives directly at them, instead he drives to the side of them. During our wilderness viewing, a few bears did get curious and walk towards the truck, at which point I quickly rolled up my window. They sniffed at the truck and eventually walk away. When we had the windows down, you could see some of the bears sniffing up into the air, curious about who we were.
An arctic fox. These guys run quickly. We saw two during our trip.
This is a shot I should've taken a long time ago, but never did. On Sunday, when I took the tour, it was -37 air temperature, and a lot colder with the windchill. I'm not dressed in warmer clothing because we were in the truck the whole time. When Sam took this photo, he told me to take my hat off.
Tour guide Sam. This photo is taken at the Point, where the Beaufort Sea and the Chukchi Sea meet, forming the Arctic Ocean. He's standing next to the lower jaw of a bowhead whale.
Barrow trees. Pieces of baleen on top of drift wood.
Sam took me to a spot where Barrow residents lay out whale carcasses for the polar bears. The whale carcasses were from last fall's hunt. With the lack of open water, this pile of bones was the polar bears' best bet for getting food. The bears certainly didn't look hungry.
To get to Nuvuk, you have to go off road and onto the beach, which at this time of year is, of course, covered in snow and ice. Sam uses a huge truck to get to the point, and leaves some flagging tape on his route to avoid getting stuck. He's gotten stuck before. In fact, my friend's aunt got stuck with him two days in a row. But my trip with him was perfect.
The closest we were able to get to the bears was within 12 feet I would say. Sam never drives directly at them, instead he drives to the side of them. During our wilderness viewing, a few bears did get curious and walk towards the truck, at which point I quickly rolled up my window. They sniffed at the truck and eventually walk away. When we had the windows down, you could see some of the bears sniffing up into the air, curious about who we were.
An arctic fox. These guys run quickly. We saw two during our trip.
This is a shot I should've taken a long time ago, but never did. On Sunday, when I took the tour, it was -37 air temperature, and a lot colder with the windchill. I'm not dressed in warmer clothing because we were in the truck the whole time. When Sam took this photo, he told me to take my hat off.
Tour guide Sam. This photo is taken at the Point, where the Beaufort Sea and the Chukchi Sea meet, forming the Arctic Ocean. He's standing next to the lower jaw of a bowhead whale.
Barrow trees. Pieces of baleen on top of drift wood.
posted by Siapiau | 4:34 PM
3 Comments:
Lisa - These pictures are amazing! Kinda crazy really! Can't wait to see you again to hear all the stories in person.
Jonathan
PS - Send me your contact info (phone/mailing address) when you have a second...
PSS - We made the halibut last weekend: delicious!
I want to come visit so bad!!!
Your little tour to the Point has a few similarities to a CC song. Compare the lyrics to the experience:
"...Where no one notices the contrast of white on white..."
"...She walks (okay, drives) along the edge of where the ocean meets the land..."
But you can see something
something round there.
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