There are no roads to Nome, Alaska, so we left the rig behind and flew to this small city on the Bering Sea. The town itself was created after gold prospectors arrived in the late 1890s. The gold prospectors found Native groups of Yupik and Inupiac who lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, hunting seals, walrus and whales and gathering berries, willow and other plants during the long, sunny days of summer and into the fall. In the hundred and sixteen years since Nome’s founding, settlers and Natives have managed to develop a small economy but one still plagued by scarce resources and jobs. To our surprise, the search for gold still attracts many people who scour the bottom of the ocean for bits on the precious metal. Vacuum-equipped boats and scuba divers have replaced the dredging machines of old. Food, clothing, vehicles and other supplies are shipped in via boat or plane. Scarce building supplies means the houses are slapped together with odds and ends, giving the town a rundown look. The presence of the Native people gives Nome a special quality. In town, many suffer the consequences of alcoholism and unemployment while others work to keep alive their traditions of dance and carving spirits into walrus ivory and bone. We attended a cultural evening with traditional dancers and singers. Vehicles are few and far between, but with luck, we rented a work truck and headed out into the tundra, broad rolling hills with no trees that is covered with lichen and moss and, at this time of year, acres of berries. We did not see any bears but did find muskox, like this fellow on the roadside. At Pilgrim Hot Springs we explored an old Catholic mission and orphanage where many children lived 100 years ago after influenza and tuberculosis killed many of the adults. The next day we drove 70 miles out on one of the three dirt roads connecting Nome to Native settlements. The roads are not plowed in the winter and only snow mobiles are used for transportation during those months. We drove through hills of tundra and rivers packed with salmon that were fighting their way upstream to lay their eggs. The town of Teller is a Native village, where people dry their fish on traditional racks on the ocean-side. Many Natives still spend summer months in fish camps by the water, where the fish and berries are plentiful and where they can hunt caribou and moose. Few people have cars, but most of them have snow mobiles and four-wheelers for getting around town. Back in Nome, we checked out the music of the Salmonberry Folk Festival, where the Anchorage-based band Super-Saturated Sugar Strings led a music jam at the famed Safety Roadhouse, the Last Check Point of the Iditarod race. Four days in Nome gave us a glimpse of this remote corner of America and a way of life that harkens back to a way of life thousands of year old, when people learned how to survive in the frigid, but not really barren, land.
12 Comments
Mattie
8/7/2016 07:33:54 pm
Fascinating!
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Ellen Nolan
8/8/2016 06:43:42 am
Great travels! Wow, you guys are really experiencing America!
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Nancy
8/8/2016 08:11:52 am
We're having a blast in Alaska! Thanks for staying in touch. Best, Nancy 6/17/2023 03:00:34 pm
Food is an integral part of any travel experience. Each region boasts its own culinary delights, and sampling local dishes is like embarking on a gastronomic adventure. From savoring exotic street food to indulging in gourmet feasts, the flavors of a destination awaken our taste buds and offer a glimpse into its cultural heritage.
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6/29/2023 11:18:48 pm
From the sun-kissed beaches of tropical paradises to the snow-capped peaks of remote mountain ranges, nature's wonders inspire awe and reverence. Standing at the edge of a majestic waterfall, feeling the spray on one's face, or witnessing the dance of the Northern Lights illuminate the night sky, these experiences ignite a sense of wonder and remind us of our place in the vast tapestry of the universe. They remind us to appreciate the beauty of the natural world and to preserve and protect it for generations to come.
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7/21/2023 01:45:35 am
Regular health check-ups and screenings are vital for early detection and prevention of diseases. Routine examinations, such as blood pressure checks, cholesterol screenings, and cancer screenings, can help identify potential health problems before they become more serious. Early intervention and treatment can significantly improve health outcomes and increase the chances of a full recovery.
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With technological advancements, travel has become more accessible and convenient than ever before. Virtual reality and augmented reality have opened new possibilities for experiencing destinations from the comfort of one's home, but nothing can replace the raw emotions and sensory delights of actually being there.
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8/7/2023 01:14:21 am
Your pictures are amazing! It looks like you had a really fun trip! I love the foot picture collage, what a great way to document where you went. I look forward to reading and seeing more of your trip!
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10/26/2023 06:37:52 am
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11/3/2023 12:06:19 pm
Sandakphu Phalut Trek lies in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal; on this trek, you can expect to experience the breathtaking vistas of the world’s tallest peaks.
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