Barrow bound

I released this news in an email last week, but it bears repeating here. My boss told me last week that starting in August I will start traveling to Barrow, Alaska! I will travel there every 3 months or so to do home visits with children up there who receive services through Hope (the company I work for). The trips will be short, probably 2-3 days each, and I will travel along with a few other people from Hope.

As I have begun sharing my news with people, it's interesting to see the varying reactions to Barrow. Only a few people are excited for me, and for the opportunity I have to travel there. Many more are surprised and ask me, "have you ever been to Barrow?" in a tone that implies no one would ever want to go. And yes, it's cold there most of the year. And very dark. And flat. And no, I've never been. But still, I'm excited to see part of the world that I've never seen, the northernmost city in North America. The whaling season has started up there. So far it's been a good year, they have harvested 4 whales. Over half the population is Alaska native. Employment mostly comes from the oil fields on the North Slope. My first visit will be when it's still a little warm, right at the end of the summer when the sun finally sets for a few hours at night. I might be introduced to one of the local delicacies, muktuk, which I hope I will like. Wish me luck, friends, as I travel, and hopefully in a few months I will share news from Barrow with you!

We enjoyed a hike last weekend with some of my family up here at Hatcher's Pass in the mountains outside of Wasilla (about an hour's drive from Anchorage). The snow was deep in the pass, so we found ourselves "post-holing" often, walking along on the crust and suddenly one leg sinks into snow up to the hip. There's lots of snow still left in the mountains, but we were warmed by the exercise and good company. Here's some pictures for you to enjoy:

That small figure is my Aunt Betts, hiking along what will be a road when the snow finally melts.

Cousin Jess contemplates the incredible view from a ridge above the pass.