Bleakness
Well, my excellent guides David and Jenna informed me early in the day that we would have to change our route and leave from the Dalton Road more south of Deadhorse. Our start point west will be the Franklin Bluffs. I had remembered form walking down the Dalton to Fairbanks that the bluffs are known for grizzly bear sightings. No worry I am off!
No worry. The guides are great. The accompanying six dogs leading the way are calm, competent, and can easily pull the two sleds loaded with perhaps 500 pounds of supplies for our eight day journey. I follow the sled walking, of course. And I am struck by the silence and the loneliness of this place called the tundra.
Bleakness