destination : the bush, fort yukon, alaska

We arrived in 40 below, just warm enough to safely land the plane. We were shuttled around in a van and eventually found keys and our house. The organization for which I work here saved this place for us as soon as it came open. In any case, its not much to speak of, cause its a pre-fab house, quite white and sterile. Not really what we were expecting. But then again, we were expecting running water, heat, and electricity, and most of the other places don't have all that in combination.
Within five days of our arrival the temperature dropped to 60 degrees below zero. The ice crept up the inside of out windows, covered the inside of door handles, and started to seep in under the exterior doors. Like living in a freezer. But the furnace chugged away, keeping it 130 degrees warmer inside than out. Happy to have the prefab insulation now, aren't we.
Our first weekend here, in 55 below Keith and I headed out for a walk. We lasted almost an hour and a half, though Keith had to run down the road to keep the blood flowing. In about thirty pounds of gear we could do alright...though eyelashes quickly froze together, as our breath rose inside our face masks and froze at the exposed eye-slit.
Best quote the next week, when the temperature eased up to a mere 20 degrees below zero?
"Oh, I hope it stays this warm!" My o-worker chirped as she arrived at the office and peeled off her ski-pants.
Just a week later I was walking to work in a cotton T-shirt when the temperature stretched to 15 degrees above.
How quickly we adapt.