With Jesus looking over her shoulder and a pistol on her hip, Alice climbs onto her snow machine and drives off toward Barrow

This is Alice Drake, who gave her cousin Jason and his bride Iqaluk a harpoon as a wedding gift. "I love them so much," she explained. "I want them to be successful and happy." Now she is about to head home to Barrow. When she started to fill her thermos with coffee, Maak stopped her and told her to preheat it with hot water for five minutes. It is going to be cold on the trail.

The night before, when the preacher at the Presbyterian Good Friday service asked people what they would like him to pray for, Alice asked him to pray for safe travels for her and her traveling compaion, Darrel Aveoganna.

She and Darrel load their sled. Coming down, she had traveled the 100 miles between Barrow and Wainwright in whiteout conditions and it had taken eight hours. When it came time for her to leave this morning, the temperature stood at -17 F (-27 C) and a stiff breeze blew.

All around Wainwright, people were talking about how nice and springlike the weather had suddenly become. Just the same, it felt pretty chilly and long distance travel in such conditions carries real risk...

Including the risk of hostile polar bear encounters...

Alice and Darrel wave goodbye...

...and then they go. About six hours later, Alice called Maak and told her they had arrived safely in Barrow.

Comments

[Mrs Gunka]

No 6-lane interstates, plowed roads, temperature-controlled chained vehicle, truck stops to refresh the coffee and use the restrooms. A small pistol! No reason for AK-47 with Polar bears in the area. I admire these people and they respect their environment. Good to know they arrived home safely! Wonder what the wind-chill factor was? Burrrrrrr