sevendown

I will be in Anchorage for the start of the Iditarod in early March. I'll be involved in a lot of Iditarod activities in Anchorage, then I'm heading down to Homer for a couple of days to photograph eagles. Around March 12 I would like to visit Barrow before I leave the state. (I can fly there for free on the airmiles ticket I have.)

My first desire would be to see and photograph polar bears or other wildlife. I would also love to get lucky and see the auroras, and I've heard your luck is best that far north.

Can anyone give me some ideas or hints? My thought is to spend two nights and two full days in Barrow. Has anyone used or know of a good guide there you can recommend?

Thanks.

spirobulldog

Have you looked into Bettles Lodge north of Fairbanks? I haven't been to Barrow or Bettles, but the Bettles website has some tour and info.

sevendown

Thanks, but I'm interested in Barrow.

NewPlaces

You won't be able to take good pictures of the northern lights right in Barrow. Too many lights, too bright.
http://www.gi.alaska.edu/snowice/sea...ow_webcam.html

Be prepared for a very cold temperatures, something like 40 below, and extreme winds. I don't know if you can find any native guide who would take you outside of the town in March. You may or not see one or two polar bear somewhere outside the town closer to Point Barrow but that's about 9 miles from the town. It is not like Churchill where tundra buggy takes you to see polar bears. Nothing like this exists in Barrow. Not enough bears to guarantee sightings. If you want to photograph the aurora then Fairbanks may be a good option. I'll be staying in Aurora Borealis Lodge 20 miles north of Fairbanks. That's a place to be. They have new lodging available or you can just spend a few hours there. www.auroracabin.com Good luck

sevendown

Thanks. Yes, I expect it to be very cold. And I appreciate the advice on the best place to see the lights.

But the aurora is not the only reason I'm going. Polar bears are an important reason. (I know Churchill is better for that, but in March I will be in Alaska, not Manitoba, so I have to work with what's available.) Another important reason is that I just want to go to Barrow. I've been to Ushuaia Argentina, "The End of the World", and want to go to Barrow Alaska, "The Top of the World."

So for now, it's advice on Barrow I'm looking for if anyone knows anything.

BudgetQueen

I've stayed at the King Elder in Barrow, and had a private guide for 3 days.

I suggest you contact them or Top of the World lodge for guide suggestions.

Be advised this is definately a poor year for aurora, at the bottom of the cycle which won't peak again until 2011-12.

BudgetQueen

Also plan on maxing out your baggage weight with some food/bev items. Was very worthwhile to me, but do budget about 4 times the cost for meals compared to what you spend at home.

sevendown

Thanks BudgetQueen. I booked a room at the King Eider and they gave me the name of a guide.

The aurora is not the primary reason I'm going to Barrow. I mostly just want to experience the place, and I hope to see polar bears and other arctic wildlife. I am an amateur wildlife photographer, and wild polar bears (and tigers) are the only animals high on my list of not yet seen.

I know the food will be more expensive, but I will only be there for a few days, so I think I'll be OK. I'll bring some snacks, but anything else I need I think I can buy there, except alcohol. I understand it is not sold there and although it is legal to bring some and possess it, the hotels forbid it in the rooms. Did you notice that at the King Eider by chance?

NewPlaces

sevendown, your trip sounds really exciting. Have a great time and good luck with polar bears. Please get back with more details after you return. I'll be spending in Barrow a few days in September and would like to use the best private guide. Thanks

sevendown

The folks at the King Eider hotel recommended John Tidwell as a guide. If you do some Google searches on Barrow his name comes up a lot.

So I called him, and he told me that he now guides polar bear photography trips exclusively. (At first he thought I wanted someone to show me around town - which he used to do - but he doesn't do that anymore.) He just told me to call him again a few days before I arrive to determine the bear situation at that time.

NewPlaces

Thank you sevendown. I'll contact John Tidwell anyway. Maybe he can recommend someone we can go hiking with after we get a permit.

I have this link in my files if you want to check it out.

http://web.newsguy.com/floyd_davidson/

If you go to Pepe's North of the Border Mexican restaurant ask Joe if he can show you his museum after work.

I hope you'll see northern lights and polar bears. Good luck and please post after you return. Thanks

stpetereb

I understand wanting to go to Barrow because it is the Top of the World. We visited there for the same reason, only we went in the summer. I hope you see a polar bear. It may not be as cold as you think. It was 11 above today.