Over the Arctic Plains

Alaska

After flying hours below the layer of fog we see a silver lining at the horizon. We need to put the plane down on a gravel bar and set up camp for the night. My pilot, Ken, wants to look for a spot where we can get out of the wind. We are fighting a stiff breeze of 20 – 30 knots on the nose of the plane.

As we are flying further inland, the sun finally breaks through the layers of fog. In the far distance, I see the Brooks Range. Dark clouds are hugging the mountains and create a dramatic backdrop for photographs. We follow a river drainage south as I see a group of caribou in the riverbed heading to climb a steep snow bank to join their group up on the extended plains, where food is plentiful.

We swing around with the plane while I keep an eye on the group running up the steep snow bank seemingly without effort. I am trying to capture the images, struggling to keep the horizon straight in the viewfinder while the pilot goes into a steep bank and balances out the gusts of wind. After hours of flying through bad weather, there it is: A few seconds of action in wonderful golden arctic light.