This morning when I had checked in from Anchorage to go through St. Mary's to Alakanuk, they were able to find my reservation. This was good news, because after some of the problems trying to get out of the bush (I had a confirmation number but no reservation information, so they gave my seat up), I was assured that they could fit me in January 3rd to make it back in time for work. So I double checked my itinerary and found that I was scheduled for the flight from Anchorage to St. Mary's "10:34 A.M. Jan 03", but my next leg of the trip wouldn't happen till "1:30 P.M. Jun 03." This posed to be a bit of an issue since the plane that brings people downriver usually hold only six (Cessna 207) or nine people (Caravan). I didn't exactly want to inconvenience the kind people of Pitkas Point (village population 125) by spending another night there over Christmas Break. They were able to fix the mistake and I honestly made it home with no mishaps.
To land on our small gravel airstrip in the extremely white and frozen terrain was exciting. It means opportunities to travel and play around on our snowmachines. The low sun was bright against the frosted branches, but lucky for us it was really only 1:30 and we still had about 3 hours of daylight to enjoy the outdoors.
I packed a few totes across the courtyard, each time huddling inside my house for even a few seconds of warmth. Once my frozen and frozen (was supposed to be refrigerated but that's nearly impossible with this weather) groceries were put away, I had regained some warmth on my face. I text Sammy to see if she wanted to try dig out our snowmachines to go play, and she text back saying she was halfway over. Fanatic minds think alike.
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| Sammy measures the snow accumulation on her seat. |
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| We finally got them alive with a little love, warmth, and prodding. |
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| Okay, so we're not doing the environment any huge favors. |
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| Due to some last minute riding before vacation, mine ran out of gas. |
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| Our eyelashes were freezing. |
Sammy gave me a ride to the Native Store to get gas and then we rode around to the dock, on the Yukon, over some places where ice built up, some trails, and behind the airport. I felt like my roommate's dog Briar when he first saw me today. He started jumping up and down, running left and right, and trying to do all sorts of tricks. That was me on my machine today. I didn't really have much of a plan, but I loved having the freedom to go hit tiny jumps, plow through powder, drive around a bush, then up over a little mound just for fun.
The cold weather was causing my goggles to freeze, my forehead to feel like it had pins sticking into it, and my thumb to go numb. When I got back inside I checked the weather and found out that it was -33 degrees in Alakanuk and 52 degrees in Winlock. No wonder the screws in my foot had been bothering me! However, it was definitely worth it to go out and explore. I can't wait till the weather gets a little warmer so its safer and more comfortable to start visiting some of the other villages soon.
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| Frost on the branches next to my house |
