About the Location: Nome, Alaska

Located on the coast of the the Seward Peninsula in far western Alaska (Russia is less than 100 miles distant across the Bering Strait), Nome first gained fame during the Alaska Gold Rush of 1899. But we'll be mining for a different type of gold. You will be one of six participants on an adventurous trip designed expressly for photographers.

Nome, Alaska

During the short but intense Arctic summer, Nome is a magnet for birds, all in their finest breeding plumages. Other wildlife commonly seen includes muskox, reindeer, moose, and grizzly bear.

There are no roads leading to Nome. The famous Iditarod sled-dog race commemorates the 1925 race against time by Gunnar Kaazen and his dog team to bring urgently needed diphtheria vaccine from Anchorage to Nome, a distance of 675 miles. You may find it more convenient to arrive on one of several daily flights from Anchorage.

From the town of Nome, a 200 mile network of well-maintained gravel roads radiate in different directions from the town, each heading to a different habitat. The road system is a product of the 1899 gold rush, which started when a group of miners known as "The Three Swedes" discovered gold nuggets in a creek on the outskirts of town. Gold mining continues today.

Nome is the unofficial capital of the "Bush," the vast expanse of Alaska outside the few cities. With its modern airport and harbor, it serves as a transit point for goods and people heading out into the remote villages that are scattered through the Bush. The current population of about 3,500 is a fraction of the 20,000 inhabitants here at the peak of gold fever a century ago.

Nome Weather Data June July
Average daily high 53° F 58° F
Average daily low 39° F 45° F
Record high 81° F 86° F
Record low 23° F 31° F
Average rainfall 1.12 in. 2.17 in.
Average rain days 9 days 13 days