High Flight! Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings
*Excerpt of High Flight a poem by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
When I first met Jonathan Hanson he was working at the front desk of the Aurora Hotel in Nome Alaska. He and his wife are here for the summer. His wife has a summer internship in Nome and Jonathan decided to come along and work at the hotel. After all, he had to come along as there is no road to Nome but Jonathan happens to be an excellent pilot and owns his own Cessna airplane. We struck up a conversation about flying as in the past I had flown a few times with my Aunt Barbie and loved it! The next day Jonathan saw me and told me that he was going to go for a flight in the morning. He then said he had an open seat, and asked if I wanted to go for a flight. WOW! Yes, without any hesitation! Although we’d just met Jonathan struck me as someone who would be a great pilot.
The next morning he picked me up in front of the hotel and we were off to the airport! His plane was a 1947 Cessna and he’d owned it for more than a year.
Jonathan's Cessna waits for us in the morning. August 24, 2017. Photo by Lisa Seff.
As he continued to talk about the plane and flying it became even more obvious that this young man (he’s 24 years old) had found a calling that was truly his passion.
After thoroughly checking the plan, inch by inch-going over every system, we were ready to go. The plan took off easily and soon we were up with the clouds.
Flying over the Research Vessel Sikuliaq! My home away from home for the next 3.5 weeks. August 24, 2017. Photo by Lisa Seff.
We flew by the R/V Sikuliaq, my home for the next 3.5 weeks, and then back into the mountains and by Salmon Lake.
Salmon lake from the air! August 24, 2017. Photo by Lisa Seff
Breathtakingly beautiful scenery stretched out below us and I was overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers. Jonathan and I had exchanged short stories for only a few minutes before he thought to bring me flying so that my students back in Springs and the rest of the world could gain insight into the overall landscape of the Nome area.
Map perspective of Nome's location in Alaska. August 27, 2017. Photo by Jonathan Hanson
Map of our flight from the coast of Nome Alaska, to the mountains and back! We flew 77 Nautical miles in a little over an hour. Our average speed was 84 knots! August 24, 2017. Photo by Lisa Seff.
Want to join us on our flight? Just click on the video link below, sit back and enjoy the ride!
Appropriate sign for the day inside the Cessna's cockpit. August 24, 2017. Photo by Lisa Seff.
Through the Porthole
Arctic organism artwork from Mrs. Firemark's class at Springs School! Photo by Lisa Seff. August 2017.
Arctic artwork by Springs School student Isabella V. August 2017. Photo by Springs School PolarTREC educator Lisa Seff.
Arctic artwork by Springs School student Rorey M. August 2017. Photo by Springs School PolarTREC educator Lisa Seff.
Arctic organism artwork from Mrs. Fury's class at Springs School. Photo by Lisa Seff. August 2017.
Arctic organism artwork by students from the Nome Anvil City Science Academy. Flown by Dr. Mike Lowe. Photo by Lisa Seff. August 2017.
Arctic organism artwork by students from the Nome Anvil City Science Academy. Photo by Lisa Seff. August 2017.
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