I was up early today, even after the late night last night.  I was awake, packed, and breaking down my tent by 8am so I could have ample time to further explore and photograph Anigaaq before having to say goodbye.  We were told our flight out would be in the afternoon, but the way flying by charter works here, there is no firm knowing when you're going until you're actually going.  I wanted to be ready by noon so I could spend time exploring details and taking more photographs.

Breakfast was chocolate chip pancakes for Marguerite, who is flying to Kotzebue with us on her way to Fairbanks to start her master's program.  As hard as it is for me to leave this place, it would be acutely painful after living out here for three months.  We got everyone's gear consolidated and piled up to take to the landing strip (such as it is).  Eventually we loaded it all into the trailer and drove it down with a four wheeler.  I hung out with most of the group back at the cabins for a time, had a snack for lunch, then made my way to the runway to wait with the two park rangers for our flight.  Very mixed feelings while waiting, on the one hand looking forward to some adventures with Tyler and Cassia during my last couple days in Alaska, on the other hand mourning the leaving of Anigaaq.  It's fascinating how quickly one can fall in love with a place.  There are so many up here now that I would love to be able to go back to, though it's unlikely.  Travel in this vast landscape is very different from most of the US; without roads, these are places that take a lot to get to, for most of us.

Our plane arrived, we loaded up, and were back to Kotzebue before 3pm.  We borrowed a park truck, loaded up gear, and dropped things off where they needed to go, including bringing me back to Tyler's house.  No one was home so I unpacked and showered.  For dinner Tyler grilled chicken, his co-worker Masaki grilled ribeye, I made garlic green beans, and Cassia made a pasta salad.  It was all wonderful.  Later that evening I made horchata and some of Cassia and Tyler's friends came over to hang out and play games.

View of Anigaaq from the beach.

Caribou skull.

More tundra plants, another I need to look up to identify.  I love the colors and shapes of this, reminds me of some of the succulents my grandmother grew.

Starfish on driftwood.

Starfish on beach.

Ocean, Anigaaq, river, from the outhouse.

Remains of a structure.

Anigaaq.

Captivated by the Chukchi Sea.

Not that many plants are still blooming, but some flowers can be found yet.

Sandhill Cranes.

Tukrok River

Chukchi Sea, Arctic Ocean

The path toward the landing strip.

Tukrok River.

The old mail station.

Looking back at Anigaaq.

Our ride arrives.

Loaded up and ready!

Anigaaq from the air.

Aukulak Lagoon in the foreground, a small spit of land separates it from the ocean.  This was the first lagoon we visited here, the day after we arrived.

Flying over the maze of wetlands along the coast.  The more linear water at the left is defining some of the beach ridges, a major archaeological site and the main reason for Cape Krusenstern's existence as a national monument.

An area of beach ridges, these result over time from the movement of the ocean levels.  Humans have occupied this area for 5,000 years.

Last bit of Cape Krusenstern before we cut across the water toward Kotzebue.

Open ocean.

Kotzebue and the loop road.

Approaching the landing strip.

Sunset from Kotzebue.

The most distant ridge, at the far left, is the ridge at Krusenstern Lagoon, where I was two days ago.

Good night, Cape Krusensetern.