While in Alaska

Waiting for the time when I can finally say. This has all been wonderful. But now I’m on my way.

// August 27th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // 2009: Adventuring, 2009: The Workplace

The time has come and gone where I bid farewell to Alaska and the incredible people I spent over 100 days with. My summer in Alaska has been without a doubt one to remember for a lifetime. Not only did I meet 33 very interesting people but I learned many things about myself and the vast land they call Alaska. Cory and I went from dreading the long work days and plotting ways to make an early departure to happily exploring the beautiful land around us and befriending most if not all of our coworkers. We learned that a positive attitude goes a long way especially in such a foreign environment. I consider myself very fortunate that Sukakpak gave me the opportunity to work for them this summer. Without hesitation, I would recommend working at Coldfoot to anyone who wants to experience one of the most unique landscapes in the world. It’s hard to make a final post. I hardly know where to start. Seeing the Arctic Ocean, the biggest oil field in North America, the biggest mountain range in North America, touring native villages and subsistence living villages, experiencing large scale forest fires… the list could go on.

I learned that seasonal employment is not limited to college kids wanting to see the world. For many, it is a way of life. Many choose to work for part of the year with hardly any expenses if any at all. They seek out places like Coldfoot where the food and housing is free. They’ll work 4-6 months a year and then vacation for the remainder in places like Hawaii or Mexico. It is a very nomadic lifestyle full of single-serving friends. At the same time, it is a life with few worries. Bills are a rarity for many of these people. For others like myself, it is an opportunity to broaden my experiences through seeing new places and meeting a unique group of people. And then there are those who are “finding themselves.” Those who have experienced a rough time in their life or wish to start anew by seeking reason through nature. The diversity of employees coupled with the incredible land and wildlife makes for an unforgettable experience.

My home for the summer, which I may or may not miss living in

Saying goodbye to all of the people I spent so much time with was as hard as you can imagine. Luckily, sites like Facebook exist that will allow me to stay in touch with everyone. Cory and I wrote our names in the saloon where many before us had visited and left behind their names and origins. The saloon today is inactive. It is rumored that the camp lost the liquor license after suspected prostitution. Now, it is simply a piece of Coldfoot history. It’s hard to find a place on the wall where there isn’t a name, a town, and a date. Hundreds upon hundreds of people from all over the world recorded their visit to Coldfoot in the saloon. Even the Ford Cold Weather testing team took a visit!

The saloon in all its beauty

Our goodbye message and names in the saloon

Chad, the camp manager, hosted a going away party for Cory and me. There was quite an impressive turnout! A few of us stayed up until breakfast! I wouldn’t have it any other way. I couldn’t ask for a boss better than Chad. His job at Coldfoot is an important one and he did it enthusiastically and professionally every day. If you ever find this blog Chad, I’d like thank you again!

The crew on one of our final days

On my final flight out of Coldfoot, I was fortunate enough to fly in the co-pilot’s seat. One of the props failed to start at first. I thought it was a sign and that I’d be stuck in Coldfoot. The view of the mountains was obscured by clouds but flying right up there next to the pilot with all of the instruments was something else.

I arrived in Fairbanks Sunday evening and walked part way to the hostel until someone from the NATC office gave me a ride the rest of the way. The hostel was particularly interesting that evening. There were people from Austria, Israel, Belgium, and all throughout the US. I even met someone that had lived in Saco, Maine where my sister used to live. I played a few games of ping pong with a younger guy from Austria. He recently graduated from The University of Edinburgh in Scotland. We talked economics and he discussed his plans for the future. Later on in the evening, I was cooking myself some dinner in the hostel kitchen and a long haired middle aged gentleman came into the kitchen decked out in camo gear. He talked about his life and he reminded me of the type of person you often see work as seasonal workers. He retired when he was 29 and since then has traveled to every continent. He showed me a necklace he had with turkey talons and he told me that’s what he uses to keep away “Barbie.” I didn’t understand what he meant by that but he explained that he meant women who were gold diggers that might be scared of such a primitive piece of jewelry. Very very strange guy. Speaking of strange, later on that evening a couple of Alaskan natives who appeared to be in their 70s, stumbled into the kitchen evidently drunk and asked for a piece of the pizza that I had just cooked. I obviously refused. They were falling all over the place. They eventually fell asleep on the deck of the hostel, hiccupping as loud as can be. They weren’t even staying at the hostel. A lot of times, the residents of the dry native villages come into Fairbanks and have their fair share of substance abuse. They clearly had more than a fair share.

The next day, I got in touch with David Offer, the former editor of the Morning Sentinel and Kennebec Journal, the newspapers that serve the Waterville and Augusta areas. He is now a professor at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. He had known my grandfather who worked 50 years at the Sentinel. He took me out to the Silver Gulch, a local Fairbanks restaurant. It was very nice. After dinner, he and his wife then took me to the airport where I waited for my 1AM flight. From then on, it was Fairbanks to Seattle to Denver to Dallas to Boston! I arrived in Boston at around 10:30PM the same day where my sister waited to drive me home. Unfortunately, they lost my luggage along the way. I filed a claim and they Fedex overnighted it to me here in Waterville. It was a relief that I received it in the mail so soon. Props to American Airlines for the quick recovery!

This is likely my final post. I would like to thank everyone who read my blog this summer especially those that made my camera replacement possible. I have met a lot of great people through writing this blog and I’m very glad that I took the time to record my journey. I hope that I inspired readers to visit Alaska or even travel a bit more! I know that my experiences this summer have prompted a desire to travel more frequently. Farewell Alaska and farewell whileinalaska.com!

P.S. I haven’t forgotten about the picture gallery. It will happen, trust me!