One plane to the next

5 flights later

Reed and I flew from JFK to Seattle, Seattle to Anchorage, Anchorage to Fairbanks. The next day we got on an 18 seat plane to Prudhoe Bay and a 6-person plane from Prudhoe Bay to Nuiqsut and Nuiqsut to Barrow. This is the last leg our our journey. Reed was a bit nervous because the plane was so small. I fell asleep. I think it was the vibrations from the propeller.

Fairbanks, AK

Reed and I had a great stay in Fairbanks, AK with my cousin Andy and girlfriend, Lisa! 360 degrees of birch trees all around the house.

Beauty of Barrow

Just happy as a clam in Barrow, AK! Mom, the hats were a great idea. Thank you so much for that trip to the Army Navy store. As it may appear, I had to make significant changes to my wardrobe since the D.R.! This hat has become my new best friend. Reed is still in the running (despite his brilliant idea to come to the north pole), but the hat has proved to be slightly more useful.
Barrow is great. It is flooded with character, ATVs, snow and ice. There is much more diversity here than I anticipated. About 60% of the population is Native (Inupiat) and 40% are a medley of white, Thai and Filipino. We have yet to interact with any natives, but that is why we are here for 17 more days!

Just a glimpse of Barrow!

No, this isn't Russia. We are still in the U.S.!
I mean, I can't help but wonder why anyone in their right mind lives in this very little town north of the arctic circle. I can kind of understand maybe why Okpeana Naekok (imaginary name and character I just made up for the purposes of this argument!) just could never fathom leaving her family who has lived here generation after generation and wants to maintain her Inupiat values. But, Matt, this white dude we met from Orange County nonetheless, lives here in order to make money so he can afford the property he owns in L.A. in hopes that one day he himself will be able to enjoy overlooking the beach on his laptop sipping some fancy alcoholic beverage, instead of the current tenants renting the place!
Needless to say, it is a bit depressing here, but the residents we have come across thus far don't seem to mind the bitter cold or the overpriced super market or the inflated everything but below freezing temperatures.