Leaving The Island

There is a fantastically scary and wonderfully special feeling when it comes to leaving the island.  It’s not that kind of

Bering Sea Ice Pack Edge

feeling like you have been in prison and your finally getting out.  It’s more like the feeling you get when you ask someone to marry you in a stadium with forty thousand people watching and the cameras are broadcasting it on national TV. and just before they say yes, they take a few minutes and stare blankly at you.  Leaving you to wonder what their answer will be.

You never really know if your going to get out.  If Vegas was looking for another event to bet on and keep odds on.  I’d suggest leaving Unalaska / Dutch Harbor.

The Tordrillo Mountains

You never know what the weather is going to do.  Our airport is a visual only facility.  That means no flight instrument landings.  The rules are very different for flying out here.  If the wind is too strong, or the gusts are too high, or the visibility isn’t enough or an alternate runway is not available and don’t forget if the planes are down for mechanical.  Your not getting here and your certainly not leaving.

I was lucky, yeah I say luck because really I am.  Getting out, ON TIME, on my scheduled flight was lucky.  With the storms we have had over the last two weeks.  I woke up, the skies were clear, no wind.  Oh yeah.  I knew I was getting out.

I’m happy to say I’m in Fairbanks, Alaska.  Its a crisp, calming 16 degrees, the skies are blue and clear.  All my gear has finally arrived and I’m preparing myself for the event this weekend.  Most of you know that I’m here  as a volunteer for the White Mountains 100 Ultra Race.

Mt. Hunter & Mt. McKinley (Denali)

The White Mountains 100 is a 100 mile human powered race across the interior of Alaska in the White Mountains about an hour north of Fairbanks.  Check out the White Mountains 100 website.  There are three disciplines to choose from.  You can Run, Ski and Bike.  I’m going to take a snowmachine (snowmobile) and all my winter camping gear and hang out along the route keeping track of racers, maintaining the check points, assisting in emergencies and evacuations and photographing the event.  Most of all I’ll be enjoying the incredible backcountry of Alaskas wilderness.