@@officialnoyakuk Yes, but all the buildings and the Airport said "Barrow" he did refer to it as "i cant even spell it" Utqtugvik. He also spoke highly of the people so I don't think he meant any disrespect.
Well, according to Zillow, there are apparently 3 houses for sale there currently. The cheapest one is 375sf, 1bd/1ba, $250,000. That's some pricey groceries I gotta haul in. Truffles? Maybe caviar?
...the poverty line, in Barrow, the last time I checked was about #37k USD (it may be well over $40k now). When 6-packs of Pepsi are $6, and a gallon of milk is $8, it takes some cash to actually live in Barrow, especially if you are a non-native Alaskan.
@@K03sport "Welcome to Hell. Yeah, it just froze over, ignore that. Here's the deed to the cardboard box our refrigerator was delivered in, that'll be a quarter mil. We'll take cash. Enjoy."
Great video.. Almost 20 years ago I was the Manufacturing Engineer on the project that built and installed the power plant (two Generators powered by Industrial gas turbines) that provides all the power for the town of Barrows.. I've worked on a lot of projects over the years, but somehow knowing that this one has been providing reliable power to an entire town living under some of the most harsh conditions on earth, has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career..
I work for BUECI and we are still operating the units you mentioned for power generation. But we now have 4 units. We need another power plant and many infrastructure improvements to keep up with the growth of Barrow. Believe it or not, the town is growing.
I was born and raised in Barrow. Thank you for making such a wholesome video. There have been so many different people coming to Barrow and posting videos that have given the town a bad rep. Not too many people have actually taken the time to really see the good parts of my home town and though you only spent 3 nights there, Im glad you got to see a small part of the bright side of the most northern town in the US.
@Lisa Surlie Svalbard's got different regulations from Norway. Basically their hospital is deemed unfit for childbirth so Pregnant women are flown to the mainland. I don't believe Barrow has any similar regulation.
I was in Barrow in March of 2019. It is the most unusual place I have ever seen on the planet. Seeing the ocean frozen was surreal. It was -6F but with the wind it felt like -20F The place is like being in a dream. No one can really explain it. You must experience it. I plan to go back. Just unreal. Loved it.
@@K03sport I actually just did research on Yahoo and you are right! I thought you were just joking and being silly but I did a picture search and woah momma!
@@PritchDringle ...no, I was joking and being silly. But with that in mind, Kate Beckinsale is all the vampire women proof I need and all of her coven friends too. Even Twilight's women vampires were attractive, even the baddie. "Once Bitten" is another one, although she was a bit older, but still nice. I put a spell on you...
If you all don’t shut the fuck up I’ll send you here with no home that’s how it feels cause we are not rich and there is a lot of racism when people have there crew jackets on people make fun of us for catching food for our elders to eat they don’t eat regular food like a lot of people they had no money back in the day😒
This video brought back memories of the trip my girlfriend and I took to Barrow in March of 2007. It appears that not much has changed there. We also stayed at the Top of the World Hotel, in an "Ocean View" room just across the road from the frozen Arctic Ocean. We flew into a frigid pea-soup fog, which is pretty much the norm in winter. But as luck would have it, the fog lifted after a couple of hours and we had glorious sunshine, which lifted the temperature all the way to about 0. The locals all remarked on the "heat." I went for a walk on the frozen ocean. The first 300 yards or so out from the beach are flat, as the sea is frozen all the way to the bottom. But beyond that zone, the ice is broken every which way and very difficult to traverse. Being covered with a couple feet of snow, you can't tell what the footing is like, and if you aren't really careful, you can get seriously hurt. Which is only one of the hazards. Upon my return to the beach we found a guy parked facing the ocean, a high-powered rifle within reach. He explained that he was watching me because polar bears like to hide in the broken ice offshore, and wanted to be ready in case one began to stalk me. In the night a front passed through, dropping the temperature to about -30 Fahrenheit. Nothing prepares you for that kind of cold, which can kill you in minutes if you don't dress for it. Standard attire is: five layers above the waist (T-shirt, thermals, Flannel shirt, heavy duty sweater, parka;) three layers below the waist (thermals, fleece-lined pants, snow pants.) On your feet you wear two layers of heavy woolen socks and insulated snow boots. The ground is so cold that if you stand still for even a couple of minutes, your feet begin to freeze. You must keep moving at all times. We had dinner at the famous Pancho's north of the border, where we were served by a locally famous fellow known as T-shirt Joe, a name derived from his habit of wearing only a T-shirt, even in the dead of winter. Before they built the Utilidor, which provides locals with water and utilities, Joe was the driver of the town's water truck, which carried loads of water to all the residents of Barrow. The utilidor put him out of work, so he made a minor living taking tourists on guided tours through the Utilidor. He also worked at Pancho's, which was owned by his mom. I was familiar with Joe because I had watched a documentary about the town before our trip, and Joe was a featured player. Very unusual guy. The meal was fabulous, almost the best Mexican food ever, but very expensive, like everything else in town. I was saddened to hear that Pancho's later burned down, and was not rebuilt. Next day we rode to the Point, maybe 10 miles out of town, where we did see, and were stalked by, a polar bear. Locals dump whalebones at the point, and bears come and feed on them. Fresh tracks, scat, and pee marks were everywhere. It was very weird to be within sight of something that was trying to find a way to eat you. Going to Barrow is like going to Mars, so different (and hostile) is the place. I'm so glad we got to go.
Wow I just read your story and I must say simply incredible on you guy's trip out to the ocean it seems very eerie at first but extraordinary to know that you are literally walking the Arctic ocean and it's frozen completely to the bottom now that's crazy for sure 😃 great story thx for sharing ☺️
I lived in Barrow doing a student rotation for the Indian Health Services from August to December 1990. You did a great job in showing the true Barrow. While there were some new buildings, it looked pretty much the same. The last three weeks I was there I experienced "total darkness" with no sun. Thanks for taking me on a walk down memory lane.
I've been looking for a student rotation here through the IHS. Please let me know more information/I'd be happy to exchange emails to learn more about your experience
Nice vid. One thing you didn’t mention is why a lot of the hotels are full in June, and that is because of birders and wildlife photographers. Barrow is famous for its nesting shorebirds, seabirds, and ducks that fly all the way to the north slope to take advantage of 24 hours of sunlight and abundant food (i.e. bugs) to raise the next generation in just a few weeks. Then they turn around and fly back south to winter in the lower 48 or even in South America. When they are in the Arctic they are in their fancy breeding plumage and are photographic favorites.
Just want to tell you- You did a really great job capturing most everything there. Brought me right back to when I spent 5 years living/working out of Barrow- I also worked in seven different villages on the North Slope. Thank you for taking the time to shoot this video, edit and post it. I've been down in the lower 48 for 3 years now. I'm getting ready to head back up to Barrow. To the frozen tundra and land of the midnight sun. Take care.
Been to Barrow(Utqiagvik) many, many, many times. Built the new hospital there, my company built the Top of the World Hotel. Helped harvest a whale in the fall whaling season. Have friends in Utqiagvik and enjoy going there. It is its own place.
No they have a tourism businesses in Barrow already and he should of friended a local that could of took him out to show him Barrow because he really missed the best parts of Barrow and they could of showed him polar bears and lots of other Ananias and he could of tried the Traditional foods and not from a restaurant lol
What about the zombies and vampires? This has been conclusively proven by the top secret government research movie called 30 Days Of Night. You can rent the movie and undeniable data on RUclips.
Welcome to my home state! I'm in a small community a bit out of Anchorage. I'm so glad that you got a glimpse of life here in the north. Most smaller communities are similar in feel as Barrow, with knowing your fellow citizens and caring and coming together when incidents that threaten the lives of the village.
... Anchorage is a far cry from Barrow. So is fairbanks. With no roads into town and air travel the predominant way in/out, life there is tough. I liked visiting (for work), but I couldn't live there. However, the state as a whole is a wonderful place to be and go do things you can't in the lower 48.
It’s really cool that you live in anchorage. I took a trip to alaska, in which I hiked in a lot of small towns between anchorage and Fairbanks. It’s indescribable.
Wow, what a cool adventure, and such amazing cinematography and narration! Some of those views, particularly out of the airplane window, are just stunning. The farthest north I've ever been (and lived) was St. Petersburg, Russia, and the period of the White Nights is not as long nor bright as Barrow's midnight sun. Thanks for your great work and sharing!
Speaking of White Nights, I bought a set of watercolors from Russia called White Knights. I didn't really like them, but they came in a pretty box and the reviews were pretty good :D
I was getting a bit annoyed by these remarks too. Nothing here is overpriced expecially if there are multiple places to get food. They'll be selling it as cheap as they can. And an American shocked at $ 5.5 a gallon. In the UK, we pay $1.70 per litre.
How would an Amazon Prime account work out there? Would I still get free shipping on my $3 bag of Lay's chips, so I wouldn't have to pay $11 for them? If so, then yes, they're overpriced.
@@kevinnewsom3128 - Just seems like the logical solution to me. If I have to wait X amount of time for delivery, then so be it. I'm still not paying an absurd mark up like that on a dry good.
That was really made from the heart kiddo! I simply loved your reactions in the various moments of the video. I was really touched! Congratulations. I'm looking forward to watching the next one! Thanks for sharing!
This was a fascinating video. When I was a youth living in Anchorage, Barrow was this almost mythical place where me and none of my friends would ever see. It kind of looks like I would have expected. Then again, I was never there. Thanks for making this video and satisfying my curiosity!
What a beautiful, fair and honest report. It was a real pleasure to visit with you and experience your journey. Having lived in Anchorage for close to 20 years, what you experienced was so typical. I do hope you can return to Alaska and see more of it as it is a fantastic State!
I really appreciated this video of your trip to Barrow, Alaska. Through you, I felt like I was with you as you explored a place that I will never see in person. Well done, and thank you.
Wow Chris, this was extremely well done! I love your trip reports but this is just a whole new level! They should play this for all tourists to see on arrival!😸
Great video and perfect coverage as always, I'm still yet waiting to visit Alaska in its entirety one day but much appreciated for you to give an insight on what to expect if decide to visit Barrow Alaska itself or probably other parts as well. Continue doing what you do and I hope you have a great Summer 😁😊
I haven’t been to Barrow, but I have been to Deadhorse. Drove up the Dalton Highway to get there. Fascinating trip to get there, fascinating place to see. While it was dirt and mud, the oil patch was also amazingly clean and free of debris, litter, and even cigarette butts.
The day we were fogged in was the most adventurous. We'd been escorted by teachers in the community the other days. Was in the elementary and high school...marvelous facilities. My traveling partner was interviewed on the radio, so also was in the radio station. The library had programs for the children and every child we met was just precious. Loved seeing the young women carrying their toddlers in the hood of their coats. Saw whale being thawed on big sheets of plywood...were told they were preparing for a festival. It was a great experience.
What a great job, Chris! Barrow reminds me some small towns in Puerto Rico, but in temrs of the kindness of people! Thank you for this video. Hope to watch of this kind soon! Bravo!
You remind me very much of a young Carl Sagan. Same inflections. Same halting staccato in your delivery. Of course our Carl would never be dumb enough to butt-dive into an Arctic puddle without getting wicked stoned.
Beautiful! The church you showed is the Presbyterian Church. One of my friends - I'm also a Presbyterian minister - was pastor of that church for a few years. It was interesting to hear his stories!
Hey , I will go there in October 10 for one night.Do you some one over there who can host me ?Hotels in Barrow are expensive but I can pay for my stay .Please let me know.I am christian too but not not Presbyterian.
In a complicated world where just everything is readily available with the touch of your phone, my wife and I love exploring little away places; they're always fun and interesting.
Woah!!!! 1:30 am, and the sunlight is beating through your window!!!!! I'm thinking that heavy blinds sell well there!!! Truly the land of the midnight sun!!!!!
Darn good video. I have a good friend that was born there, grew up there and still lives there and will until he passes away. Some think that all there are just is just a bunch of drunks but that's so far from the truth. They have a strong rich culture and are a very proud community. Going there is on my bucket list and might just happen this year.
Semi fascinated with this place because at one point my dad was considering taking on either a sheriff's role or a police chief's role there. This would have been my life if he had.
Your ever growing on screen confidence perfectly compliments your superb editing skills. Super youtuber and looking forward to more on screen commentary in your videos. You have an amazing accent! ;-)
Yes, a great channel about Alaskan life. Bert Somers owns an HVAC company in North Pole, AK (a suburb of Fairbanks) and did a great program about Barrow. He interviewed a minister of a church in Barrow and discussed the issue of poverty there for some residents. Also talked about depression and other problems associated with living in such an isolated environment.
Thank you for sharing this video on Burrow. I was up there summer 1995. The town has changed. I was part of NOAA survey team. Working on the airport. Never did get use the 24hr day light.
This was a nice change of pace from your already enjoyable channel. I hope you're able to do more videos like this! And I bet Sam from Wendover Productions would highly approve this video.
I'm obsessed with maps and I've been staring at Barrow on the map for many many years. I ended up living right on Lake Superior and I thought that was North... I'm so glad I ran into this video. I feel like an odd veil was lifted. I'm All about The surreal weird stuff! Subscribing!
Awesome video. I had to live vicariously through this one because I only plan to go as far north as the interior, but I was still curious about Barrow. This was a great capture.
RUclips recommended me your video and it’s by far the best video I have seen about Barrow, even better than some big channel out there. Definitely made me want to visit the city!
Great video of one of the many small towns in Alaska. I live in a small town in southeast Alaska. And thank you for appreciating the Alaska airlines pilots. They are truly one of a kind and fly in the most inhospitable weather in Alaska and are the safest pilots on the planet.
Very well done... Thank you for putting this together. I've been visiting as many small, obscure towns in Alaska as I can, but I haven't made it to Barrow yet.
Which towns have stood out to you the most? Which would you recommend? Did you get there by airplane for the most part? I Would like to know as I hope I get to do this sometime in the future
Barrow, this small town attracts crowds of tourists. Barrow, where day becomes night. It lies beyond the Arctic Circle, forgotten by all, seperated from the word, it is the northernmost city of the United States. Although the climate is memorable, Barrow is inhabited by the indigenous people of Alaska.Thank you for the beautiful video and for the virtual tour...
It's an interesting cute little town in the summer but the winter extremes are a big no no for me. I wouldn't survive 24 hrs in that cold weather so thank you for filming on our behalf. Ha!
Barrow seems amazing want to go there one day. Great video, do more like these like what certain destinations are like as well as your trip reports. Keep it up 👍🏼
I love this video! I would love to visit Barrow in a near future, I have always been fascinated by the place…..it seems so magical, not to mention I love cold weather and snow lol 😂 I love the format of the video, you should create more videos like that! Greetings from fellow Pole 🇵🇱
@@deanwhite4190 I hadn't heard it in years either, or even thought about it until this story .. Had to pull it up on you tube and listen to the whole song .. .. : ]
You just reminded me of an episode of “King of the Hill.” In that episode, Buckley dies and appears in Louann’s dream one night. Buckley is jumping on the trampoline while “Life in a Northern Town” is playing in the background.
. Good job on the soundtrack. I was halfway through the video when I realized that there was some very subtle, calming and unobstrusive music playing in the background. So many youtube video editors use awful, ham handed background music. You did really well. Also you narration is very good as well. Good work all around.
I wondered why I didn't see Pepe's. That's too bad. They'd boast that they were the northernmost Mexican restaurant on the planet. And a big yes to Joe's museum.
I was wondering about Joe's. Being that his museum is/was his home, is it still there. Joe worked during the day at Pepe's and did 'showings' at his home. I never met him but he seemed like a great guy. I hope Joe's can carry on
Interesting video.... My wife and I went to Barrow for the summer solstice in June 2006. Just a few corrections and additional facts. One thing we did was to hire a local tour guide and he took us way out to the most northern point of Barrow, usually were they hunt for Polar bears and whales. I find that talking to the locals is the best way to experience somewhere new. (did this in Hawaii too). Whale hunting is illegal in Barrow. They are allowed to harvest two whales a year that is shared with all that help in the hunt. The guide actually gave us mukluk. It was tastey but I just couldn't swallow it. My wife enjoyed it. Barrow is a dry city. Special permission is required from the mayor to buy and possess alcohol. The median income is high due to the oil lease rights owned by the local tribes and shared by all the members. This is why there are so many broken vehicles in Barrow. They just buy new ones. All goods are not flown in. It's far too expensive. Most of it is brought in by ship over the summer months. They don't fly cars, trucks and snowmobiles on Alaska Airlines. The restaurants are wonderful. Everyone treated us like kings. We visited every restaurant there and had a great time. We still have all the menus. We stayed at the King Eider which was more like home that a hotel. There is a taxi that runs 24/7 and is cheap. The grocery store was amazing. Yes, the prices are high but they are higher at the bottom of the Grand Canyon ($3.50 for a sing can of pop). The Inupait Heritage Center was wonderful to go through. We got the personal tour and we dressed in traditional Inupait clothing. We went to the local Inupiat rec center were they were making all sorts of crafts. We did buy some baleen that was carved with a lot of hunting images. We went to the military radar sites on where there are so many totems. The guide explained how to interrupt them and what teach one meant. Barrow isn't for everyone. It's isolated, desolate and expensive. But seeing the midnight sun was once in a lifetime experience. We are planning to return but in December for the winter solstice.
Just some info for you outsiders, if you call it Barrow in person, you be will looked down upon. Utqiagvik is the name and you will be respected for calling it that. This place is very beautiful, relaxing and peaceful. Not a sad place to live. No stress, no anxiety, just working and enjoying life. Pay in Utqiagvik is like 30+ an hour, so the prices of products is fairly normal tbh. Midnight sun is pretty normal, and I’m in Fairbanks. It’s horrible though, because it makes sleeping harder. To other people, it’s a tourist dream, to us Alaskans, it’s not always heaven lol PS. You pronounced Utqiagvik wrong in the video, but it’s okay!
"if you call it Barrow in person, you will be looked down upon"...REALLY? I moved there shortly before the name change was voted in, and was ther 5 years. 99% of the locals still called it Barrow when I left, and still do.
@@marybethfuesting2894 I know many locals there who hate when the word barrow is said lol. The Alaskan natives would prefer it be called Utqiagvik, and I respect the Alaskan natives because they were there before us Americans. I’ll be moving there next year, it’s a paradise to me
You've got a beautiful way of capturing unique moments. I especially appreciate the beautiful way in which you speak and pace your thoughts out. Please keep sharing moments like these with the world 🙏🌎💙
Never heard of this place before. Looks pretty much like those alienated little Russian towns right "across the road" from Alaska. I guess you need some real thick curtains to sleep tight at night haha Great video, Chris! Thanks for sharing these views.
King E-I-D-E-R Inn is the other hotel...honestly don't know how I missed that till now but thanks for catching that folks! 🙏
Any good herb?😇
I hope that you and your partner survive your medical condition.
You also missed that it’s no longer called Barrow. It hasn’t been called Barrow since 2016. It’s now known as, Utqiaġvik.
Would you recommend this town for those that prefer a vampiric existence?
@@officialnoyakuk
Yes, but all the buildings and the Airport said "Barrow" he did refer to it as "i cant even spell it" Utqtugvik. He also spoke highly of the people so I don't think he meant any disrespect.
Pro tip: If you're going to Barrow, fill your luggage with groceries. You can either eat them after you arrive or sell them and buy a house there.
True shit! This comment is underrated af
Well, according to Zillow, there are apparently 3 houses for sale there currently. The cheapest one is 375sf, 1bd/1ba, $250,000. That's some pricey groceries I gotta haul in. Truffles? Maybe caviar?
@@Widdershins. lol right? Might as well bring the whole damn store lol...
...the poverty line, in Barrow, the last time I checked was about #37k USD (it may be well over $40k now). When 6-packs of Pepsi are $6, and a gallon of milk is $8, it takes some cash to actually live in Barrow, especially if you are a non-native Alaskan.
@@K03sport "Welcome to Hell. Yeah, it just froze over, ignore that. Here's the deed to the cardboard box our refrigerator was delivered in, that'll be a quarter mil. We'll take cash. Enjoy."
That was one of my flight routes for 28 years flying for Alaska Airlines. Lots of great memories of great people from Barrow.
Were your passengers predominantly Prudhoe Bay oil workers?
Barrow sucks bro and prudhoe bay is not the best city in America
Yeah. Hey Tom. 🤚long time since Ive seen you.
I always wanted to go there.
why?
Great video.. Almost 20 years ago I was the Manufacturing Engineer on the project that built and installed the power plant (two Generators powered by Industrial gas turbines) that provides all the power for the town of Barrows.. I've worked on a lot of projects over the years, but somehow knowing that this one has been providing reliable power to an entire town living under some of the most harsh conditions on earth, has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career..
I work for BUECI and we are still operating the units you mentioned for power generation. But we now have 4 units. We need another power plant and many infrastructure improvements to keep up with the growth of Barrow. Believe it or not, the town is growing.
Good sport Brett.
Psh, I wired my own treehouse once.
Thank you for your service sire. God bless!
My dad was one of the engineers on the Alaskan Pipeline back in the 70s....was stationed in Prudhoe Bay....
I was born and raised in Barrow. Thank you for making such a wholesome video. There have been so many different people coming to Barrow and posting videos that have given the town a bad rep. Not too many people have actually taken the time to really see the good parts of my home town and though you only spent 3 nights there, Im glad you got to see a small part of the bright side of the most northern town in the US.
@Chris C those of us who live in and are long-time Alaskans are used to lack of sunshine in the winter months.
@Chris C dude that's like paradise to me eff the heat!
@Lisa Surlie Svalbard's got different regulations from Norway. Basically their hospital is deemed unfit for childbirth so Pregnant women are flown to the mainland. I don't believe Barrow has any similar regulation.
I'm sorry
Yeah me to
I was in Barrow in March of 2019. It is the most unusual place I have ever seen on the planet. Seeing the ocean frozen was surreal. It was -6F but with the wind it felt like -20F The place is like being in a dream. No one can really explain it. You must experience it. I plan to go back. Just unreal. Loved it.
Umm.. no thanks
@@CloseYourBrownEyes maybe i missed the comment where anyone even asked for your opinion?
@@mikecronin4968 No one asks for opinion on YT; you defensive weasel. I wouldn't stay there a weekend if you paid me. How's that for opinion?
The ocean around the arctic circle was frozen?
check out anthony bourdain when he went to Antarctica. its like the moon.
I went last year. For $30 a cab driver will take you on a tour of the entire city. My driver was very proud of this city.
Gotta be a drag dealing with all the vampires in the winter, though...
Only for 30 days of night.
... But vampire women are hot, so it's cool
@@K03sport not the women from 30 days of nt
@@K03sport I actually just did research on Yahoo and you are right! I thought you were just joking and being silly but I did a picture search and woah momma!
@@PritchDringle ...no, I was joking and being silly. But with that in mind, Kate Beckinsale is all the vampire women proof I need and all of her coven friends too. Even Twilight's women vampires were attractive, even the baddie. "Once Bitten" is another one, although she was a bit older, but still nice. I put a spell on you...
“Where not a single tree grows”
Imagine living your entire life and never seeing a real tree. Like what
I'm not sure what would be worse, no foliage, or no decent architecture . It's very depressing
@Master Of puppets Lol nah its just ugly bro
Who grows up there and settles for that? Sad really.
If you all don’t shut the fuck up I’ll send you here with no home that’s how it feels cause we are not rich and there is a lot of racism when people have there crew jackets on people make fun of us for catching food for our elders to eat they don’t eat regular food like a lot of people they had no money back in the day😒
@@dark_knight6826 You live there?
This video brought back memories of the trip my girlfriend and I took to Barrow in March of 2007. It appears that not much has changed there. We also stayed at the Top of the World Hotel, in an "Ocean View" room just across the road from the frozen Arctic Ocean.
We flew into a frigid pea-soup fog, which is pretty much the norm in winter. But as luck would have it, the fog lifted after a couple of hours and we had glorious sunshine, which lifted the temperature all the way to about 0. The locals all remarked on the "heat." I went for a walk on the frozen ocean. The first 300 yards or so out from the beach are flat, as the sea is frozen all the way to the bottom. But beyond that zone, the ice is broken every which way and very difficult to traverse. Being covered with a couple feet of snow, you can't tell what the footing is like, and if you aren't really careful, you can get seriously hurt. Which is only one of the hazards. Upon my return to the beach we found a guy parked facing the ocean, a high-powered rifle within reach. He explained that he was watching me because polar bears like to hide in the broken ice offshore, and wanted to be ready in case one began to stalk me.
In the night a front passed through, dropping the temperature to about -30 Fahrenheit. Nothing prepares you for that kind of cold, which can kill you in minutes if you don't dress for it. Standard attire is: five layers above the waist (T-shirt, thermals, Flannel shirt, heavy duty sweater, parka;) three layers below the waist (thermals, fleece-lined pants, snow pants.) On your feet you wear two layers of heavy woolen socks and insulated snow boots. The ground is so cold that if you stand still for even a couple of minutes, your feet begin to freeze. You must keep moving at all times.
We had dinner at the famous Pancho's north of the border, where we were served by a locally famous fellow known as T-shirt Joe, a name derived from his habit of wearing only a T-shirt, even in the dead of winter. Before they built the Utilidor, which provides locals with water and utilities, Joe was the driver of the town's water truck, which carried loads of water to all the residents of Barrow. The utilidor put him out of work, so he made a minor living taking tourists on guided tours through the Utilidor. He also worked at Pancho's, which was owned by his mom. I was familiar with Joe because I had watched a documentary about the town before our trip, and Joe was a featured player. Very unusual guy. The meal was fabulous, almost the best Mexican food ever, but very expensive, like everything else in town. I was saddened to hear that Pancho's later burned down, and was not rebuilt.
Next day we rode to the Point, maybe 10 miles out of town, where we did see, and were stalked by, a polar bear. Locals dump whalebones at the point, and bears come and feed on them. Fresh tracks, scat, and pee marks were everywhere. It was very weird to be within sight of something that was trying to find a way to eat you.
Going to Barrow is like going to Mars, so different (and hostile) is the place. I'm so glad we got to go.
Wow I just read your story and I must say simply incredible on you guy's trip out to the ocean it seems very eerie at first but extraordinary to know that you are literally walking the Arctic ocean and it's frozen completely to the bottom now that's crazy for sure 😃 great story thx for sharing ☺️
I think I'd prefer somewhere else for a holiday LOL
Thanks so much for taking the time to write about your visit to Barrow, that was fascinating!
Amazing
I lived in Barrow doing a student rotation for the Indian Health Services from August to December 1990. You did a great job in showing the true Barrow. While there were some new buildings, it looked pretty much the same. The last three weeks I was there I experienced "total darkness" with no sun. Thanks for taking me on a walk down memory lane.
I've been looking for a student rotation here through the IHS. Please let me know more information/I'd be happy to exchange emails to learn more about your experience
Nice vid. One thing you didn’t mention is why a lot of the hotels are full in June, and that is because of birders and wildlife photographers. Barrow is famous for its nesting shorebirds, seabirds, and ducks that fly all the way to the north slope to take advantage of 24 hours of sunlight and abundant food (i.e. bugs) to raise the next generation in just a few weeks. Then they turn around and fly back south to winter in the lower 48 or even in South America. When they are in the Arctic they are in their fancy breeding plumage and are photographic favorites.
Just want to tell you- You did a really great job capturing most everything there. Brought me right back to when I spent 5 years living/working out of Barrow- I also worked in seven different villages on the North Slope.
Thank you for taking the time to shoot this video, edit and post it.
I've been down in the lower 48 for 3 years now. I'm getting ready to head back up to Barrow. To the frozen tundra and land of the midnight sun.
Take care.
I appreciate it man!
Did you ever go to barrow?
Been to Barrow(Utqiagvik) many, many, many times. Built the new hospital there, my company built the Top of the World Hotel. Helped harvest a whale in the fall whaling season. Have friends in Utqiagvik and enjoy going there. It is its own place.
Did you help build the hospital housing too? Looking to work there 😬
Thank you ...I really enjoyed that. A good look at a place most of us will never go. 😀
Without realizing it, you were the minister of tourism for Barrow, Alaska.
No they have a tourism businesses in Barrow already and he should of friended a local that could of took him out to show him Barrow because he really missed the best parts of Barrow and they could of showed him polar bears and lots of other Ananias and he could of tried the Traditional foods and not from a restaurant lol
What about the zombies and vampires? This has been conclusively proven by the top secret government research movie called 30 Days Of Night. You can rent the movie and undeniable data on RUclips.
Scratching Barrow Alaska off my bucket list
Welcome to my home state! I'm in a small community a bit out of Anchorage. I'm so glad that you got a glimpse of life here in the north. Most smaller communities are similar in feel as Barrow, with knowing your fellow citizens and caring and coming together when incidents that threaten the lives of the village.
... Anchorage is a far cry from Barrow. So is fairbanks. With no roads into town and air travel the predominant way in/out, life there is tough. I liked visiting (for work), but I couldn't live there. However, the state as a whole is a wonderful place to be and go do things you can't in the lower 48.
It’s really cool that you live in anchorage. I took a trip to alaska, in which I hiked in a lot of small towns between anchorage and Fairbanks. It’s indescribable.
I've been to Barrow, Alaska four years ago. It's one of those places, you will always remember for it's uniqueness.
Your video allowed me to visit Barrow, without spending a fortune on food. Thank you!
Dude, I just booked tickets/hotel for Barrow, June 2022 because of your video! Thanks for the inspiration!
Wow, what a cool adventure, and such amazing cinematography and narration! Some of those views, particularly out of the airplane window, are just stunning. The farthest north I've ever been (and lived) was St. Petersburg, Russia, and the period of the White Nights is not as long nor bright as Barrow's midnight sun. Thanks for your great work and sharing!
Speaking of White Nights, I bought a set of watercolors from Russia called White Knights. I didn't really like them, but they came in a pretty box and the reviews were pretty good :D
5:42 Correction, not overpriced. Priced correctly for the location.
Yep, lots of people don't seem to understand basic economics. They think everything should be free.
I was getting a bit annoyed by these remarks too.
Nothing here is overpriced expecially if there are multiple places to get food. They'll be selling it as cheap as they can.
And an American shocked at $ 5.5 a gallon. In the UK, we pay $1.70 per litre.
How would an Amazon Prime account work out there? Would I still get free shipping on my $3 bag of Lay's chips, so I wouldn't have to pay $11 for them? If so, then yes, they're overpriced.
@@ericmaloney3889 I was just wondering the same thing!
@@kevinnewsom3128 - Just seems like the logical solution to me. If I have to wait X amount of time for delivery, then so be it. I'm still not paying an absurd mark up like that on a dry good.
dude, you need to make more videos like these! you're absolutely amazing at narrating. Awesome video dude. You just earned a new sub :)
Yes I really enjoyed watching your video.
100 % agree ..
I can point a camera and talk also
I would love to live out here. It seems so peaceful and isolated which is exactly what I love about small towns.
Keep in mind everything is more expensive, as it has to be flown in. No roads from the big cities upon which to transport food and supplies.
That was really made from the heart kiddo! I simply loved your reactions in the various moments of the video. I was really touched! Congratulations. I'm looking forward to watching the next one! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks much for making this. I went to Barrow as a little kid, and I'm glad to have experienced it again through your video.
This was a fascinating video. When I was a youth living in Anchorage, Barrow was this almost mythical place where me and none of my friends would ever see. It kind of looks like I would have expected. Then again, I was never there. Thanks for making this video and satisfying my curiosity!
I am so proud of my self being in Barrow 2 years back for a day and took an Arctic dip .
Is the Pacific Ocean water temperature colder then the Atlantic ocean water temperature @ the Coney Island polar bear dip on New Years day-???🤔.
I love your content,so tempting and staggering to see,the imagery and the scenery.
I have always wanted to go there!
I live in Kodiak, Alaska ❤
What's the hold up-???🤔
@@asullivan4047 the price to get there.
What a beautiful, fair and honest report. It was a real pleasure to visit with you and experience your journey. Having lived in Anchorage for close to 20 years, what you experienced was so typical. I do hope you can return to Alaska and see more of it as it is a fantastic State!
I really appreciated this video of your trip to Barrow, Alaska. Through you, I felt like I was with you as you explored a place that I will never see in person. Well done, and thank you.
Wow Chris, this was extremely well done! I love your trip reports but this is just a whole new level! They should play this for all tourists to see on arrival!😸
I appreciate that you took so much out of this place. Really cool.
Great video and perfect coverage as always, I'm still yet waiting to visit Alaska in its entirety one day but much appreciated for you to give an insight on what to expect if decide to visit Barrow Alaska itself or probably other parts as well.
Continue doing what you do and I hope you have a great Summer 😁😊
I haven’t been to Barrow, but I have been to Deadhorse. Drove up the Dalton Highway to get there. Fascinating trip to get there, fascinating place to see. While it was dirt and mud, the oil patch was also amazingly clean and free of debris, litter, and even cigarette butts.
My wife and I did the drive from Fairbanks to Deadhorse for our honeymoon. It's hauntingly beautiful, something I will never, ever forget.
The production quality is on par with something you would see on Nat geo
It was an amazing experience.
I'm really relishing the experience right now glad I tuned in to this one
The day we were fogged in was the most adventurous. We'd been escorted by teachers in the community the other days. Was in the elementary and high school...marvelous facilities. My traveling partner was interviewed on the radio, so also was in the radio station. The library had programs for the children and every child we met was just precious. Loved seeing the young women carrying their toddlers in the hood of their coats. Saw whale being thawed on big sheets of plywood...were told they were preparing for a festival. It was a great experience.
What a great job, Chris! Barrow reminds me some small towns in Puerto Rico, but in temrs of the kindness of people! Thank you for this video. Hope to watch of this kind soon! Bravo!
You remind me very much of a young Carl Sagan. Same inflections. Same halting staccato in your delivery. Of course our Carl would never be dumb enough to butt-dive into an Arctic puddle without getting wicked stoned.
Beautiful! The church you showed is the Presbyterian Church. One of my friends - I'm also a Presbyterian minister - was pastor of that church for a few years. It was interesting to hear his stories!
Hey , I will go there in October 10 for one night.Do you some one over there who can host me ?Hotels in Barrow are expensive but I can pay for my stay .Please let me know.I am christian too but not not Presbyterian.
I burst into laughter at the sea bathing scene. LOL. Greetings from Japan.
Extremely well done! I enjoyed it very much. Thank you!
In a complicated world where just everything is readily available with the touch of your phone, my wife and I love exploring little away places; they're always fun and interesting.
Well this is another interesting video! I can’t believe how expensive that grocery store was! Can’t wait for the next one!
The next grocery store will be just as expensive.
There's a reason that whaling is still a thing among Alaskan natives.
Woah!!!! 1:30 am, and the sunlight is beating through your window!!!!! I'm thinking that heavy blinds sell well there!!! Truly the land of the midnight sun!!!!!
Darn good video. I have a good friend that was born there, grew up there and still lives there and will until he passes away. Some think that all there are just is just a bunch of drunks but that's so far from the truth. They have a strong rich culture and are a very proud community. Going there is on my bucket list and might just happen this year.
On my bucket list too. Have an affinity for remote towns & communities.
Semi fascinated with this place because at one point my dad was considering taking on either a sheriff's role or a police chief's role there. This would have been my life if he had.
Your ever growing on screen confidence perfectly compliments your superb editing skills. Super youtuber and looking forward to more on screen commentary in your videos. You have an amazing accent! ;-)
Yes, a great channel about Alaskan life. Bert Somers owns an HVAC company in North Pole, AK (a suburb of Fairbanks) and did a great program about Barrow. He interviewed a minister of a church in Barrow and discussed the issue of poverty there for some residents. Also talked about depression and other problems associated with living in such an isolated environment.
Somewhere new to add to my bucket list, love arctic towns!
I'm from Pennsylvania too, want to see more of the world, have always been curious about Barrow and northern towns and cities.
Sorry to say this but there's no hot Amish girls in barrow
@@eddiew2325 There's no hot Barrow girls in Pa either. Just a few mediocre looking ones.... but they may be from Prudhoe Bay.
Thank you for sharing this video on Burrow. I was up there summer 1995. The town has changed. I was part of NOAA survey team. Working on the airport. Never did get use the 24hr day light.
Very interesting and informative. I love to travel, so this was very helpful in knowing what Barrow is like. Thank you for documenting and sharing!
That's the King Eider Inn, not the King Elder Inn. A king eider is a type of duck.
This was a nice change of pace from your already enjoyable channel. I hope you're able to do more videos like this! And I bet Sam from Wendover Productions would highly approve this video.
I'm obsessed with maps and I've been staring at Barrow on the map for many many years. I ended up living right on Lake Superior and I thought that was North... I'm so glad I ran into this video. I feel like an odd veil was lifted. I'm All about The surreal weird stuff! Subscribing!
Awesome video. I had to live vicariously through this one because I only plan to go as far north as the interior, but I was still curious about Barrow. This was a great capture.
RUclips recommended me your video and it’s by far the best video I have seen about Barrow, even better than some big channel out there. Definitely made me want to visit the city!
I learned about Barrow Alaska from the movie 30 days of night.
They weren't even in Alaska. They were in New Zealand filming that movie.
@@ShaneSILVA187 yes. But they said it was Barrow, Alaska
@@hopekatz2725 i thought he meant he learned about barrow Alaska. He should have said, i learned of the NAME barrow Alaska from a movie.
@@bob4811not anymore. Josh hartnett killed them all!!
It would be interesting to see a home. What it looks like on the inside and out to see how they live. Are there any subdivisions? Hahaha
no subdivisions lol it’s basically a “big” village
The inside of the homes un Utqiaġvik are no diffent than anywhere else.
@@marybethfuesting2894 how do you know, may I ask?
@@CEO_Laura I lived there for 5 year
@@marybethfuesting2894 I find it so fascinating. I’d like to visit one day. What made you move?
Towns and experiences like that is why Alaska is home.
thejazzguy13, This is hands down the best video you’ve ever made. Hope you can make more content like this in the future!
Really well done. Chris. Thank you.
Great video of one of the many small towns in Alaska. I live in a small town in southeast Alaska. And thank you for appreciating the Alaska airlines pilots. They are truly one of a kind and fly in the most inhospitable weather in Alaska and are the safest pilots on the planet.
Yes, try to get back in the Winter, and enjoy the Northern Lights!
WARNING: The clear sky nights are some of the coldest nights to be outside.
Gotta go before the snow melts and the see levels rise . The most amazing place awesomest!!!🥰🥰
Very well done... Thank you for putting this together. I've been visiting as many small, obscure towns in Alaska as I can, but I haven't made it to Barrow yet.
Which towns have stood out to you the most? Which would you recommend? Did you get there by airplane for the most part? I Would like to know as I hope I get to do this sometime in the future
I visited Pt. Barrow one July back in the 80's with a couple friends, and can still remember still how cold it was.
Good job,buddy 👍 I was able to see land of midnight 🌞 over 50yrs ago.
Uranium City Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan is way below the Arctic Circle….they don’t have permanent darkness at any time of the year.
Barrow, this small town attracts crowds of tourists. Barrow, where day becomes night. It lies beyond the Arctic Circle, forgotten by all, seperated from the word, it is the northernmost city of the United States. Although the climate is memorable, Barrow is inhabited by the indigenous people of Alaska.Thank you for the beautiful video and for the virtual tour...
It's an interesting cute little town in the summer but the winter extremes are a big no no for me. I wouldn't survive 24 hrs in that cold weather so thank you for filming on our behalf. Ha!
Well filmed and produced! Beautiful pictures, and especially liked your choices for audio.
So, it's not technically overpriced. There are extra costs to transport stuff.
Quite possibly the best video I have watched on RUclips. Great job! Thanks for taking us along.
Outstanding video.....truly enjoyed it.
This is great. People need to see these places. Would love to visit, but never will, so these videos will suffice. Top stuff!
Barrow seems amazing want to go there one day. Great video, do more like these like what certain destinations are like as well as your trip reports. Keep it up 👍🏼
One of the better travel videos of Barrow Alaska that I've seen, good job
Thanks for the video. Keep up the good work. Ps you look so much like my son. Handsome man.
I admire you that you did not take the girl but the boy to such a special place and you were not ashamed to openly tell about it and show you.
I love this video! I would love to visit Barrow in a near future, I have always been fascinated by the place…..it seems so magical, not to mention I love cold weather and snow lol 😂
I love the format of the video, you should create more videos like that!
Greetings from fellow Pole 🇵🇱
Hi Lola trust me you don't want to wrestle with polar bears
Lucky to see Denali, it is almost always cloud covered. Awesome.
This immediately made me think of the song "Life in a Northern Town" by the Dream Academy.
I remember that song but haven't heard it in years.
@@deanwhite4190 I hadn't heard it in years either, or even thought about it until this story .. Had to pull it up on you tube and listen to the whole song .. .. : ]
You just reminded me of an episode of “King of the Hill.” In that episode, Buckley dies and appears in Louann’s dream one night. Buckley is jumping on the trampoline while “Life in a Northern Town” is playing in the background.
.
Good job on the soundtrack. I was halfway through the video when I realized that there was some very subtle, calming and unobstrusive music playing in the background. So many youtube video editors use awful, ham handed background music. You did really well. Also you narration is very good as well. Good work all around.
incredible how people can adapt to harsh conditions like that. great video loved it
Barrow has been inhabited for over 1500 years.
One of the great things about traveling north from Barrow is that soon enough- you're going south.
Great video. Too bad Pepe's burned down. "Best tacos north of the border." Joe's museum was a must see also. RIP Joe. 🙏👼
I wondered why I didn't see Pepe's. That's too bad. They'd boast that they were the northernmost Mexican restaurant on the planet. And a big yes to Joe's museum.
Oh bummer, when did that happen?
@@AndrewDeLoose Google's your friend (well, not really): www.adn.com/alaska-news/article/pepes-landmark-barrow-restaurant-burns-ground/2013/08/31/
I was wondering about Joe's. Being that his museum is/was his home, is it still there. Joe worked during the day at Pepe's and did 'showings' at his home. I never met him but he seemed like a great guy. I hope Joe's can carry on
Yes, and I miss Joe and Fran Tate. Beautiful people.
So happy I found this video with Kylo Ren exploring that beautiful Alaskan town
😂 Not the first time I've heard that
Interesting video.... My wife and I went to Barrow for the summer solstice in June 2006. Just a few corrections and additional facts. One thing we did was to hire a local tour guide and he took us way out to the most northern point of Barrow, usually were they hunt for Polar bears and whales. I find that talking to the locals is the best way to experience somewhere new. (did this in Hawaii too). Whale hunting is illegal in Barrow. They are allowed to harvest two whales a year that is shared with all that help in the hunt. The guide actually gave us mukluk. It was tastey but I just couldn't swallow it. My wife enjoyed it. Barrow is a dry city. Special permission is required from the mayor to buy and possess alcohol. The median income is high due to the oil lease rights owned by the local tribes and shared by all the members. This is why there are so many broken vehicles in Barrow. They just buy new ones. All goods are not flown in. It's far too expensive. Most of it is brought in by ship over the summer months. They don't fly cars, trucks and snowmobiles on Alaska Airlines. The restaurants are wonderful. Everyone treated us like kings. We visited every restaurant there and had a great time. We still have all the menus. We stayed at the King Eider which was more like home that a hotel. There is a taxi that runs 24/7 and is cheap. The grocery store was amazing. Yes, the prices are high but they are higher at the bottom of the Grand Canyon ($3.50 for a sing can of pop). The Inupait Heritage Center was wonderful to go through. We got the personal tour and we dressed in traditional Inupait clothing. We went to the local Inupiat rec center were they were making all sorts of crafts. We did buy some baleen that was carved with a lot of hunting images. We went to the military radar sites on where there are so many totems. The guide explained how to interrupt them and what teach one meant. Barrow isn't for everyone. It's isolated, desolate and expensive. But seeing the midnight sun was once in a lifetime experience. We are planning to return but in December for the winter solstice.
Why is Barrow dry?
Muktuk. And the radar site is also known as NARL, Naval Artic Research Lab. NORTH SLOPE BOROUGH is best pay and benefits employer.
Thank you for the video!
My older brother lived there until his death in a bush plane flying out of there back in 68'!
I like this vlog-style video from you. You should do one of these whenever you travel to an interesting city (like NYC or LA)
Dude you did good , loved your video in Barrow , keep up great 👍🏽 content
Met one person from Barrow in my life. I met Charles at the Univ. of AK in the early 90s. He was definitely a different breed.
Just some info for you outsiders, if you call it Barrow in person, you be will looked down upon. Utqiagvik is the name and you will be respected for calling it that.
This place is very beautiful, relaxing and peaceful. Not a sad place to live. No stress, no anxiety, just working and enjoying life.
Pay in Utqiagvik is like 30+ an hour, so the prices of products is fairly normal tbh.
Midnight sun is pretty normal, and I’m in Fairbanks. It’s horrible though, because it makes sleeping harder. To other people, it’s a tourist dream, to us Alaskans, it’s not always heaven lol
PS. You pronounced Utqiagvik wrong in the video, but it’s okay!
How should it be pronounced? Want to say it correctly. :-).
"if you call it Barrow in person, you will be looked down upon"...REALLY? I moved there shortly before the name change was voted in, and was ther 5 years. 99% of the locals still called it Barrow when I left, and still do.
@@marybethfuesting2894 I know many locals there who hate when the word barrow is said lol. The Alaskan natives would prefer it be called Utqiagvik, and I respect the Alaskan natives because they were there before us Americans.
I’ll be moving there next year, it’s a paradise to me
You've got a beautiful way of capturing unique moments. I especially appreciate the beautiful way in which you speak and pace your thoughts out. Please keep sharing moments like these with the world 🙏🌎💙
You have a gift of story telling. Keep at it. 👍
I grew up in Anchorage 1970-80 . Thanks for this video I really enjoyed it .
Never heard of this place before. Looks pretty much like those alienated little Russian towns right "across the road" from Alaska. I guess you need some real thick curtains to sleep tight at night haha Great video, Chris! Thanks for sharing these views.
this takes me back. I haven't been home in a while, and its nice to see a high quality video of it.