The Yukon River

This view of the Yukon was taken on a southbound flight looking east. If you look carefully, you can see the bridge over the river.  I flew this same route yesterday, and the river had open areas of water on it. May 8th was the first day I had seen waterfowl arrive on the coastal plain of the Beaufort Sea, though there is no open water and everything is still frozen with a hard crust of snow. Temperatures are supposed to rise into the 30's this week in the high arctic, and the long days will open lakes and expose tundra. Another fast and furious summer is on its way to arctic Alaska.