Spring is on its way as the snow quietly leaves the tundra exposed. The days are longer and the sun is hitting the horizon about 11:45 these days. The snow is grainy, difficult to walk and ski on. The sound of the first galuk, galuk arrived and then more and more. Canada Goose, Snow Geese, Tundra Swans, Greater White Fronted Geese, Snipes, Robins and Swallows are now seen in great numbers.
Our huge drift out front is ever so slowly lowering. It's in the shade for a majority of the day so it isn't going down very quickly. We may be flooded though, as there is a pool set up on the other side of the drift.
Out for a walk I found this crew having a great time in the spring melt. The boys would take turns running through the water. There are a few of them in the village. One of our 2nd graders was out pulling a sled full of younger ones around. These mini snowmobiles can really move!
I'm disappointed as I have several photos of children playing in the water using sleds as boats, but they won't load onto the blog for some reason.
Another sign that spring is on it's way is the amount and variety of food seen on the drying racks. Fish is cut and hung, Northern Pike and Sheefish. People are talking the Kings are on their way. Ptarmigan is skinned, split and hung for jerky, seal and walrus strips are also showing up on some families' racks. Last week, out for a visit I was invited in for soup, walrus and rice (tasted like beef). Walking onto porches for visits I see the geese and swan piling up, but no ducks yet. These photos are also not loading up. The subsistence food cycle begins again.
Several people in the village are commenting on how late the ice is staying and predicting break up not until June. Some say that hasn't happened since the '60's. Another person sees the river as being very low and hopes there is enough water for the fish to come. She just said, "I really care about the fish getting here, we need them so bad."
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