Leaving New Yorks JFK Thursday night at 6:30pm my plane flew West landing about 5 hours later in Seattle Washington. My next flight headed North, past the Arctic Circle and over an amazing array of mountain glacial features, eventually landing in Barrow Alaska on Friday morning at 10:39a.m.
Glacial features on Alaskan Airlines from Fairbanks to Barrow Alaska. May 18th, 2012. Photo by Lisa Seff
Within just a few hours I was standing on the Arctic Ocean! The word “vast” came to mind as I stood looking out over the cool blue sea ice extending far beyond the horizon.
Lisa Seff standing on the Arctic Ocean sea ice edge in Barrow Alaska. May 18th, 2012. Photo by Darcy Dugan.
While I was in awe of the scenery nature had presented in front of me, I was also mindful of my surroundings as we’d been warned to keep an eye out for polar bears!
Be Alert for Polar Bears poster at the NARL Campus in Barrow Alaska. May 18th, 2012. Photo by Lisa Seff. Poster by North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management.
Well it's time to go check out my Arctic home for the next few days and then head over to the cafeteria! I haven't eaten much since New York so I can't wait to see what's for lunch and hopefully meet some of the other educators and researchers I'll be working with on Arctic Ocean curriculum this week.
Arctic Question of the Day
How far north of the Arctic Circle is Barrow Alaska?