Huslia in September

"Way up in Alaska wherever you are

If you're headed out close or you're headed out far

When you go to the airport, you may need your knitting

For you'll only be flying, weather permitting"

I left Fairbanks and clear weather on Wednesday, but when we stopped in Galena, the pilot let us know we were on weather-hold.  There was fog on the river.  We waited and I chatted it up with Vivian from Huslia.  I grabbed a free, take one, book by Sue Grafton and drank coffee from a styrofoam cup.  Eventually we left, about 2 hours delayed.

Huslia is known for dog mushing.  It waned for awhile and now it's revived somewhat and young people are getting involved.  There are annual races here and in nearby Galena.  I understand there are about 5 dog yards.  George Attla put Huslia on the map in a manner of speaking, but the Huntington brothers, authors and characters, also made Huslia famous.

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The Koyukuk River intersects the Huslia River nearby and they are tributaries to the Yukon.  The river is a road in the winter but proximity causes major flooding in breakup in the Spring so the old log houses huddled near the river are being relocated.  Also, the fishing has been really restricted in the past few summers.  Moose hunting was happening when I was there and folks were getting their moose.  Local foods are really important in this subsistence village.  

The Mercantile and the Bifelt store were both closed when I was there.  Locals can call for it to be open to them, but I wasn't there long enough and I was mostly just curious since I brought my own food.

Wright Air didn't come in Thursday as scheduled because their pilots timed out for the day and the month.  I was bummed because the weather was great.  I suspect their pilots timed out on expensive charters to go hunting and left the rest of us flightless, much like the emu.  Courtney made my day by making me a mango smoothie.  When she was cutting meat early the next day, her dad brought me the prepaid mocha to the school.  Courtney and Curtis, you're the best!

The Jimmy Huntington School, home of the Huslers, is a wonderful place.  I liked the lavish artwork and welcoming fishbowl.  This wall of Elders is only one of the walls of art, done with 1% for Art on public buildings.

Shoutout to Keely who went with me, and her dog Silna, on a great walk of discovery.    Scenes from around town include Main St., the log cabin Post Office,  an outhouse in the middle of the woods, and views from our walk.  

 


                                         

     

More from Huslia in the future.