traveled to the whaling village of Kivalina on July 27 and 28 to do an immunization clinic. It is located about 100 miles north of Kotzebue on the coast. The village is actually situated on a spit of land that has now become an island because of runoff from the tundra. It is by far as close to a third world village as any I have seen here. The houses are close together with three rows off them between the back bay and the sea. Most are very weather beaten and do not have running water. There has been talk over the years of relocating the village but no funds have been forthcoming.
The flight out was to say the least, interesting. It was rainy with low clouds and after repeatedly checking the controls and consulting multiple forms the pilot attempted a takeoff which he aborted. We made it up on the second try to the bumpiest ride I have ever experienced. The plane was rolling side to side and bouncing all over as we traveled inland. After about 20 minutes the pilot began banking left and right then turned around completely. After getting his attention he said there were mountains all around in the clouds and he was looking for an opening. He finally found one to the sea and we followed the coast to the village and a much welcomed landing.
The clinic has running water but no hot water, shower, or more importantly, no toilet-just a five gallon bucket with a seat on it. I slept on the bed in the trauma room which was one of only two exam rooms at the clinic. I stayed for two days before returning home to a welcome bed and warm shower.
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Last updated:
08/29/05
/100_4983.JPG "Getting ready to take off in the rain.")
/100_4985.JPG "I was the only passenger but there was a lot of cargo.")
/100_4990.JPG "The Noatak river")
/100_4994.JPG "A peak with the clouds just above it and us banking away from it.")
/100_4996.JPG "The port for the Red Dog mine which is up the coast and produces zinc and lead.")
/100_4999.JPG "Whale bones and harpoon beside the airfield at Kivalina.")
/100_5000.JPG "Obviously an old plane that has never left.")
/100_5005.JPG "The black sand beach.")
/100_5007.JPG "The town.")
/100_5011.JPG "The other side of the spit overlooking the bay.")
/100_5013.JPG "Another view of town.")
/100_5014.JPG "A view across the back bay to the mountains beyond.")
/100_5017.JPG "The clinic is to the right.")
/100_5018.JPG "Yep, that's the clinic.")
/100_5022.JPG "Another view of the clinic.")
/100_5021.JPG "An upscale house.")
/100_5023.JPG "One of the two exam rooms. It is also the trauma room and my bedroom.")
/100_5028.JPG "The waiting room.")
/100_5030.JPG "Yep, the bathroom. No arguments about seat up or down or who did'nt flush!")
/100_5037.JPG "The village of Kivalina.")
/100_5045.JPG "A better view of the storage facilities for the Red Dog mine.")
/100_5046.JPG "The lighter and tug used to load the ore onto vessels.")
/100_5047.JPG "The road runs about 50 miles into the interior.")
/100_5051.JPG "There has been little rain and some of the small rivers are drying up.")
/100_5058.JPG "Another view of another river.")
/100_5065.JPG "Passing next to the mountains.")
/100_5068.JPG "A bumpy but pretty ride.")
/100_5073.JPG)
/100_5079.JPG "The mouth of the Noatak empties into Kotzebue sound. You can even see the sandbars.")
/100_5081.JPG "Lockhardt point with Pipe spit in the distance. Just a couple of months ago we were riding snowmachines past both.")
/100_5085.JPG "The loop road behind town with the new development road on the left and cemetary hill road on the right.")
/100_5086.JPG "East side of town with Crowley dock and fuel tanks visable as well as the ball field.")
/100_5087.JPG "The hospital.")
/100_5088.JPG "Hospital housing behind the hospital with our apartment the farthest right facing the bottom of the picture. My yellow 4 wheeler is in the parking lot")
/100_5091.JPG "The town reservoir and water line.")