We spent the night in Fairbanks, ate breakfast at the northernmost Denny’s, and then boarded a plane for Barrow. The front portion of the plane that is usually reserved for first class had been altered. It is used for carrying cargo to Barrow on these flights.
I have no words that can describe what I saw in Barrow. Sixty-five percent of the residents of the village are natives - real Eskimos! Beautiful blue icebergs still fill the Arctic Ocean in July. Our guide told us there is a window period of 2 to 4 weeks in August when the barges are able to get through to bring supplies. We put our hand into the ocean and the water was freezing. There are no trees. It’s frozen tundra. You can actually see the horizon. The roads are dirt. There are cars, but they are mostly four-wheelers and snowmobiles along with sleds. We saw the northernmost flagpole and northernmost totem pole, and atop the totem pole was the first flush toilet in Barrow. We traveled to the end of the northernmost road in the United States and just stood there in awe!
We were going for lunch at a restaurant called Pepes. I had heard of the owner being on the Johnny Carson show, and she is quite a character. As we turned the corner to head to the restaurant, I saw it - THE TOP OF THE WORLD! It came in the form of a blue two-story motel! I had accomplished my goal! Pepes is also known for their Polar Bear Club. We had eight members in our tour group who joined the club that day by jumping in the frigid Arctic Ocean. They get certificates to commemorate this event in their lives. We saw the mounds, participated in a blanket toss, saw native dancing and music at the heritage center, learned all about whaling, crossed the Arctic Circle, and so much more!
We chose the day tour and it is wonderful. We booked through Alaska airlines at www.alaskaair.com. Our guide Joe was a native to Barrow and gave us an awesome glimpse into life in Barrow! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip and well worth the extra dollars.