Life In Bethel, AK

I have been in Bethel, AK for 3 days now and have experienced a little of what Alaska life is like.  The bunkhouse (Fig. 1) we are staging at is now packed full since another bird group came into town yesterday.  We are all waiting on the weather and tides to be just right so the pilots can take us to our field sites. As we are playing the waiting game to be dropped in the field I have been exposed to the culture of Bethel.  Life here is far different than anything I have experienced.  In the lower 48 we are used to pampered lawns and gardens, clean shiny cars in driveways and reasonable prices at the grocery store.  Here in Bethel, AK those things are not to be found, the presence of trucks overwhelm cars, and dust coats them from top to bottom.  Lawns are non existent and are replaced with tundra and grocery store prices are overwhelming considering everything has to be shipped in.

Figure 1- Refuge visitor center, offices and bunkhouse.

Our crew had to go to the grocery store to pick up misc food items, and I was completely shocked at the prices!  Good thing the food bill went on a US Fish and Wildlife credit card or our crew would be forced to sell our gear to afford the grocery bill (Fig. 2).  The other thing that is different about here compared to home is how the sewer lines are above ground, not below (Fig. 3).  Due to the permafrost (frozen soil under ground), they can't penetrate beneath the surface for pipes, it's very different to see big pipes connecting all the houses and businesses.  

Figure 2- Price of potatoes in Bethel, AK.

Figure 3- sewage pipes in Bethel, AK.

Hopefully today will be our last day in the bunkhouse, it's nice to have amenities and a bathroom, but when they're being shared by 12 other people it can get quite absurd.  I am ready for the field life and am eager to board the float plane (Fig. 4) and venture out into the Alaskan wilderness.  Hopefully the weather cooperates tomorrow and we can head out to our field site, get camp set-up and begin our field research. 

Figure 4- An example of a float plane we will be using to reach our research site.

Until then we are hunkered in the bunkhouse and doing last minute preparations, watching lot's of TV, surfing the web, and soaking in our last moments of civilization!  Once we depart we will not see civilization for over a month.