Breaking Trail in Barrow for Whaling !! (Point Hope, Hope: property, studio, place)

[JessE86]

The most photographed site in Barrow, the jaw bone arches of a huge bowhead whale !

What most people do not know, is that these were erected in 1964, by people from Point Hope !

Ron Oviok told me the story one day, and I was very surprised to hear what he had to say. The people in Barrow wanted to erect these bones, but did not know the proper procedure, a call was made to Point Hope and some people came up to do the job !!









1934 is when these villages drafted up their constitution for village government.

The skull of a bowhead whale, I think there are 4 of these throughout the village.







Word just came over the phone, we are possibly headed out tonight @ 8:00 P.M. to begin whaling !!

[JohnPF]

Good luck than! Great thread.

[GrammasCabin]

Be safe out there and thank you for the photos! Beautiful! Please keep them coming, I love being out there with you!

[JessE86]

Thanks !! Grammas Cabin; all warm and toasty, yes from the comfort of your own home. I can bring you safely out to the ocean ice for an intimate view of these people, in ways never before seen, so up close and personal. I promise you hours of listening, enjoyment inside the tent, for story telling videos !! I can put you inside that umiaq to feel the excitement and the thrill of 'our way' of obtaining food.

Today, blowing snow, we wait, the wind is East which is good, much ice has been blown in. 7 sleds, two boats (one aluminum one skin boat), all packed ready to bring out and set up camp. We anxiously wait.. .. for the conditions to change.

[Barkingowl]

David the kids snowmachining on the trail, is that a new phenomena?

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by JessE86

Thanks !! Grammas Cabin; all warm and toasty, yes from the comfort of your own home. I can bring you safely out to the ocean ice for an intimate view of these people, in ways never before seen, so up close and personal. I promise you hours of listening, enjoyment inside the tent, for story telling videos !! I can put you inside that umiaq to feel the excitement and the thrill of 'our way' of obtaining food.

Today, blowing snow, we wait, the wind is East which is good, much ice has been blown in. 7 sleds, two boats (one aluminum one skin boat), all packed ready to bring out and set up camp. We anxiously wait.. .. for the conditions to change.

Best of luck in the hunt...be safe all of you!! May you all eat well soon!!

[JessE86]

There will always be people, attempting to do stupid things. These people had no idea what they were getting them selves into, it is a good thing they were seen before they got too far out there.


Each trail is the sole property of the Captain and crew that did all of the work.

It is much too warm out today, about 5 above zero. We need these temps to drop to 30 or 40 below for the ice to get thicker. Meanwhile we sit in town and wait for conditions to change so we can head out to the lead opening and setup camp.

[Barkingowl]

David do the umiaks have anything on their bows? By that I mean do they have eyes or duck feet or something to help the boat "see?" Also are the boats named?

[JessE86]

NO ! there are no names or icons or hood ornaments or such on any umiaq that I have ever seen.

Although I have seen a whale carved into the bow of one umiaq in Point Hope.

[GrammasCabin]

Hey Jess, Have to admit I was warm and toasty today but spent it teaching 2nd grade, 2 weeks in a row subbing in that class - some days I think breaking trail with you might be easier. Keeping you in my thoughts hoping the temps drop for you. I have to ask. What will you do, God forbid, if the ice doesn't get thick enough?