Kodiak, Nome, and the Bush

The Bush is the last frontier of the Last Frontier, what many folks, residents and Outsiders alike, consider the "real" Alaska. Regions not connected by Alaska's road system are considered the Bush. From Nome to Barrow, much of the ground is permanently frozen, and for months at a time the sun never sets—or rises. In the Arctic are the hardy Eskimo people and the Prudhoe Bay oil fields, near Barrow, America's northernmost community. Prospectors still pan for gold on the beach in Nome, where they are occasionally joined by a wandering polar bear. Only one road leads up to the Arctic, the Dalton Highway. Otherwise, the only link between these outposts of civilization is by air or sea—unless you happen to have a sled-dog team, a snowmobile, or a Rollagon (a vehicle designed for crossing tundra).

Brown bears roam Katmai National Park, volcanoes steam on the Alaska Peninsula and more than 100,000 square mi of watery wilderness dominate the Aleutian Islands and the Bering seacoast. If you want an unguided Bush visit, keep in mind the research and planning involved, and the primitive facilities you'll find here, if you can find any at all. Many of the smaller villages don't have any visitor amenities such as hotels, restaurants, or public transportation. However, if you can get past the logistical barriers, exploring the Bush is true adventuring. You're miles from civilization, without the conveniences of modern life; self-reliance and creativity go a long way in making your stay safe and enjoyable.

Less »