Joanne's account of her visit to Prudhoe Bay

To begin with, the terrain was completely covered with spruce trees and hills (very green) as far as you could see about up to the Arctic Circle and Coldfoot.  After Coldfoot, the tree line disappeared and it became small multicolored mountains until the Brooks Range which were large multicolored mountains but very stark.  Gorgeous as far as you can see with small arctic ponds which were beautiful deep turquoise color. At times, it seemed as though we were going to drive off of the earth.  On the way up, it was a beautiful sunny day so all of the colors were very vibrant in the mountainous terrain.  After crossing the Brooks Range, the tundra became very flat with a few colorful cliffs. There were areas of the earth that was cracked and bumpy due to the freezing and thawing of the ground up there (nothing green like grass or trees exist). Up at the Arctic ocean and Prudhoe Bay there was no color, just flat land.  At Pudhroe Bay, we took a tour of the beginning of the pipeline (Mile 0) and waded in the Arctic ocean which is 8 miles from the Arctic Icecap.  Also, took some Arctic ocean water to bring back home in a couple little bottles. As far as the wildlife, I think we saw it all.  There was a grizzly under the pipeline and another one sitting in the middle of the road that we were approaching. We stopped our 4x4 and it walked straight towards us then went to the other side of the dirt road and drank from the lake. These were the first grizzlies that we saw in the wild. We also saw a red and a black fox, a ptarmigan, dull sheep and lots of caribou.  We had a CB with us and a full sized spare tire which we did need.  We got a flat, but made it to Coldfoot to get the tire repaired. They warn you to expect at least one flat and they are right. After Coldfoot, there is about 250 miles to Pudhoe Bay and there is absolutely no where to stop.  There are no buildings, except pump stations and no gas stations, so you have to make it 250 miles before you can get gas, food or lodging.  We are glad that we made that trip, but you take a chance by driving almost 500 miles with very little facilities.  As far as seeing mountains similar to the Arctic Mountains, you can see similar ones north of Palmer. They are the Chugach Mountains.  They reminded us of the mountains in the  Arctic, but of course with no trees, etc. in the Arctic. That's about it.

Besides seeing grizzlies, red and black foxes, dull sheep, etc., we also saw wolverines and the most beautiful graceful arctic white birds with about a 2 to 3 foot wingspan.  Once you get to Prudhoe Bay you can stay at the Prudhoe Bay Hotel.  This is where most of the pipeline workers live.  The price in 1999 was $130 a night including meals for two people.  The tour companies board tourists at the Arctic Caribou Inn for the same price, but their meals are not included and they have to go to the Prudhoe Bay Hotel to eat, because there is no other restaurants there.  There is also a one and only general store which was also the hardware store, post office and video store all in one. The people who live and work  there are very friendly.