WIW: At the top of the world - YouLookFab Forum

My husband and I returned this weekend from a week in Alaska. The highlight was Barrow, the northernmost town in the US. It is on the Arctic Ocean, about 300 miles above the Arctic Circle.

Barrow’s forecast was from 29 to 34F, with fog. It was also windy at times. I was very concerned about my clothes, being warm enough. I am happy to report that I packed perfectly! For the first time in my life, I think.

I wore the same thing every day:
REI fleece pants
Marmot waterproof pants
Long sleeve tee
North Face quarter zip fleece or Patagonia hooded fleece
REI down jacket (hand me down from my son!)
Buff wool neck gaiter
REI fleece lined cap
REI gloves
Muck boots
I also had a waterproof shell, but didn’t need it in Barrow, only in Anchorage. We also took hand and foot warmers, but didn’t need them, either.

We were a small group - twelve people including two guides. Because of the light, we were out birding probably 14 hours a day. While we saw a lot of birds we see in our area, they were in their vibrant breeding plumage. We also witnessed courtship displays which was fascinating.

1. My outfit
2. Our group
3. It was a good year for snowy owls
4. Lemming
5. Skin boat
6. A hunter with a seal
7. Dogs and sled
8. Satellite dishes - notice that they’re not pointing up
9. Our guide was checking the road to see how deep the water was. With permafrost, there’s nowhere for the water to go.
10. Mud is a problem
11. Arctic Ocean with pack ice
12. View out our window at 11pm. The sun doesn’t set for several weeks.
13. For birders: Ross’s gulls

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5 years ago

Sara L.

Veteran

Wow, fascinating trip! Sounds like you had good luck with the birding. I'm glad you packed well and weren't cold. That would have been my big fear too.

Cardiff girl

What fascinating pictures,thank you so much for sharing them.

Classically Casual

Thank you for the photos! It’s so cool to get to see your “home birds”
far away on their migratory travels. And now we all wil be able to recognize a lemming! Sort of the YLF mascot in a very good way...

rachylou

Super super cool! I have to show my mum your birding pics!

Thistle

What an amazing trip! Sounds like you were perfectly packed and warm.

Makes you think about what it was like there even 50 years ago. Such an amazing trip.

Katerina

So exciting! Love the photos. Is it the first time you have been there?

Runcarla

Congrats on your successful packing. I think it is brave of anyone to go vacationing in a place that is cold, but understand the draw of an adventure trip!

Suz

(website)

Ha, a lemming!! That is hilarious.

You did well on your packing and what a fascinating trip that must have been!

JAileen

Sara, we had opposite vacations, didn’t we? I was worried about getting cold because I have a hard time warming up again.

Cardiff girl, thank you.

Classically Casual, yes, it was so interesting. A lemming looks like a hamster.

Rachy, it was a fascinating place to visit. I hope your mom enjoys the pictures. My husband’s pictures are better because he had the long lenses.

Thistle, you bring up a good point about what it was like years ago. On the way home from Anchorage which was already a red eye, I discovered Alaska Air had a documentary on Barrow. Of course I had to watch it. It was about Barrow high school students being faced with the traditional versus modern way of life. It’s called Children of the Arctic. I highly recommend it.

Katerina, thank you. It was our third trip to Alaska, but first trip to Barrow or anywhere in the Arctic.

Carla, we’re actually planning another trip to Alaska next year, probably to Nome, another remote place, but probably not as cold.

Suz, it was so very interesting. It was the opposite of home. The day before we left it was 96F/35.5C.

Linda

Active Member

That looks like so much fun! The snowy owl is just breathtaking!

Joy

What a great trip. Are you planning to be with the same group or guides next year? Your photos are festinating. We may get to 100 degrees F (36C) here today but it does not feel that hot with low humidity. You look dressed for the cold and I'm so glad that you stayed warm.

Linda, thank you.

Joy, we’re are planning to go with the same guide. Not only did he have an amazing ability to spot things, but he was really fun.

Anonymous

Thank you for sharing such extraordinary pictures of Alaska. Certainly did not see that on our trip along the coast. Always smart to dress for warmth- freezing is just no fashionable. Being member of a raptor society it is no surprise that owl is my favorite

bj1111

How fun! You look fab in your outfit!

The skin boat is so interesting. And the birds and little rodent are adorable. How close could you get to the wildlife?

JAileen thank you so much! What an amazing adventure!

We moved farther out of the city last year and its been super interesting, unimaginable to me to move back in, but I had some of my most incredible and enlightening bird experiences before we moved, things that really changed my thinking in the most profound and unforseeable ways.

I imagine it must be like that for you too.

Barbara Diane

Wow, what an amazing trip. And so glad what you packed worked so well.

Bj1111, thank you. I think we were about 20-25 yards away.

Isabel, thank you. You sound like a birder. We have feeders up by our deck, and I love seeing the birds come by.

Barbara Diane, thank you. It was amazing.

Jane

Thank you so much for sharing, fascinating photos. Ha ha, the lemmings! The colours are amazing! Well done with the packing. Alaska is a place I’d love to go to.

Brooklyn

Wow! What a great adventure. I love your pics, especially no 3. Thanks for sharing.

Jaime

Thanks for sharing your great pictures! Looks wonderful!

Jane, thank you. Barrow is pretty flat, so I asked what cliff the lemmings go off. Gary Larson apparently liked drawing lemmings.

Brooklyn, thank you. I had never seen a snowy owl, so that was a priority for me. We also saw a lot of short eared owls. They are diurnal which is unusual for owls, and brownish, so not as stunning, but still an owl, which I love.

Shevia, thank you.

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Christina F.

Thank you for sharing these pictures. That owl! You look appropriately warm

unfrumped

Neat looking gear outfit, and I so enjoyed the photos.

Mainelady

What a wonderful trip! I am glad your clothing worked for you, so you could make the most of everyday and not worry about staying warm or dry enough. Your pictures are great.....love the snowy owl! Thank you for sharing!

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