It’s been a year since I’ve updated. In that year I’ve had a few downs and ups and done a wee bit more exploring, mostly away from Nome. Since last May, I’ve visited New Orleans, the North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Boston, Spain’s Barcelona, France’s Paris, and London in the UK. In my opinion, Nome, or perhaps Alaska in general, has some of the least pretty sights of man-made infrastructure, but some of the most lovely wild places, still preserved.
Here are a few bits of the lovely in the last year from around Nome.
May 2023:
So much driftwoodSnow dumps started meltingSpring Furry Friends
June 2023
Beach findsMuskox nappingFresh greenSo many wildflowers!
July 2023
Dropping a line.Wild IrisBeach findsEating subway on the boardwalk around the Train to NowhereBeach finds Foamy seas and drama cloudsHappy little mossThe Last Train to NowhereBird on the marchLast Train to NowhereLast Train to nowhere, rusting away
August 2023
Salmon berries were late this year thanks to a slow start start spring. Fall storms bring fun seas. Salmonberry picking! Musk oxen on the hillside. Can actually see the sunsets again before late bedtime. Kougarok Road driveSalmon LakeNome river just before it meets the Bering SeaOther side of the Nome RiverNome River as the tundra begins to change. Tundra Turning.
September 2023
Rainier days mean more rainbowsNome blueberriesNome – Council road, with Council in the distance. Views off the Nome Council RoadNome Council Road viewsSun is much lower in the evenings now. Coming back the end of September, most of the Tundra has already turnedRainbows Galore!
October 2023
Finally sunset season againFall storms bring rough wavesFrosty tundra out the kougarok roadViews from the nome river bridge out the kougarok roadCouncil of gulls and ducks in the Snake River before it freezes over
November 2023
The colorful twilights are some of my favoritesThe ocean calms a bit as it cools, but no sea ice yet. The moon sees meSnow sticks on the beach, but the sea hasn’t frozen yet. Stunning skiesSkies on fireWe can leave the Christmas lights up till January (or beyond)
December 2023
11:24am, before sunrise on 12/4Nome’s Christmas lights add an extra glow to Front Street.Sunrise at work,11:56am on 12/7.12/8 sea ice begins to form, sun above the horizon at 2:07pm12/13 at 12:36pm sunrise with chunks of ice in the oceanSunrise on 12/19 at 12:59pm, the seaice has extended further from shore. Dawn at 12:24pm on 12/23 overlooking the frozen Snake River.
January 2024
Houseplants have no idea and send out buds 1/1/24Drifts beginning to form.Roomies car became a good snow measurement over 48 hoursDrifts galore.Snow removal got a little complicated after snow many blizzards Sunrise from work 1/19 at 5:02pmLong shadows but the pink dawn and dusk set the world aglow.
February 2024
Pretty much the only outdoor picture I have of February, and I guess it sums it up. 😄
March 2024
Sun returns.Iditarod Nomies. Iditarod Musher Ryan Reddington coming into Nome just before sunsetIditarod musher at sunsetIditarod Dog Mushers coming into Nome on Front StreetAthletes at the end of their 1000 mile run. Denali out the jet window after I leave Nome to head to Europe.
April 2024 – I missed the first half while in Europe, but only missed 2 or 3 blizzards.
Denali on the way back to Nome in Late April Flying home over Nome late April to a still very white landscape.Picked up some new wheels I’m pretty happy about.
May 2024
May 10th brought fresh snow, unsurprisingly. May 14th with more snow flurries. The sea ice broke up and left all over one week the end of May. May 31, Safety Sound’s open waterFresh beach grass at Safety Sound with snow/ice still by the shore.Fluffy summer clouds are my favorite.
June 2024
Return of wildflowers and seashells.
If you made it to the end of this crazy post, I’m impressed, because even my blog editor was trying to quit long before with all these pictures. I hope you got a little taste of what makes Nome so special and why we love it so.
