Have you ever thought of landing in Nome, Alaska in the middle of February? 5/2021

I was a tour guide, mostly through Canada and the East Coast of the US during the 70's. It was my family's business and it started with my grandfather on my dad's side. He had gone off to enjoy the associations related to the tour business, namely ASTA. The American Society of Travel Agents. This volunteer job was a full time, and it took up most of his time. As a result, I became the 'operator' and developer of tours. These tours were mostly designed for the retiree age group and did not involve the nature of true adventures. However, I had developed a reputation for the unusual. This has provided me with many opportunities!

I was invited on a trip to Nome, Alaska during their 'off peak' time. I flew into Anchorage and then on to Nome. Nome is a town situated on the coastline near the Bering Strait and just below the Artic Circle, then a straight shot to the then USSR. When the plane landed, it was a white out snow storm! I wondered how the pilot knew where to land? I knew he could not visualize any landmarks at all! A bumpy landing to say the least! I was taken to my hotel for the night. The flight arrived into Nome at 11am. I was escoted to my hotel for my stay and I was told by the clerk that my room wasn't ready yet. So, I went across the street to the hardware store. It was an everything store. Food, toiletries, lumber, tools, snowmobiles, everything into one store! That was kind of convenient, more like a concrete Amazon! I bought some necessary weather realated clothing, perhaps a little more suitable for sub zero snowy weather. Nome was beautiful in a unique way. It seemed so desolate. The ground the sky, all blended into the Arctic Ocean. It was just one grey mass! It was so desolate, it was beautiful in its own way! As I was finishing my purchase at the checkout stand, I looked across the street and saw a helicopter gently placing what appeared to be a module unit into the hotel I was registered at. When the clerk advised me that my room wasn't quite ready yet, I had no idea it was quite literal!

I finally checked into my room after they made sure of all the electrical. plumbing and heating were all hooked up. It was nap time. Nome is the quintessential country one horse town! However, dog sleds and snow mobiles were the transportation necessity. Snowmobiles were for the more affluent citizens in Nome. I used a dog sled to cross the bay in Nome. I then My stay was short but sweet in Nome! I met some of the very interesting natives of Nome and spent time at their homes (not igloos; wink!). I enjoyed their food and entertainment thoroughly. From Nome I traveled briefly to Kotzebue, an even smaller town just above the Arctic Circle. I then left there for Anchorage again. This time I was taken to Mt. Alyeska which is southeast of Anchorage and halfway to Whittier, AK. it is a ski resort. Half way up it stopped, and I got to spend almost an hour on the lift. It became a blizzard, I nearly developed frost bite of my hands and feet as a result.

Then back home!

I have always wanted to return to Nome. Perhaps enjoy more of the lifstyle that they have to offer there. For instance, dog sledding, snow mobile, cross country skiing, and the Norhtern Lights (summer or winter), whale (killer whale and California Grey whale) watching, fishing for wild salmon, halibut or the fabled cod! Adventures to come!