Isn’t it Amazing?
How do you know Nulato? As a checkpoint on the Iditarod trail? As a small village on the Yukon River? Maybe you’ve learned a little history and know it began as a Russian trading post. Being here for only 3 days, I’ve seen mostly the inside of the school and gym. My journeys outside the building were limited to running out to check the temperature and wind speed. Today I asked if I could be shown around the village. I don’t think it’s fair to say I know about Nulato, unless I know more about it.
Bill offered to take me around Nulato on his snowmachine. We began on the river, on the Iditarod Trail, and surprisingly he spotted a musher coming that I couldn’t even see. Considering we are down to just a handful of mushers coming through, it was a gift that there was one on the trail for me to take pictures of. He pointed out fox, rabbit, and lynx tracks.
A trip up to the cemetery was next. I’m awed and amazed at the beauty of the wooden fences and crosses that embellish these sacred places. Bill told me about the families buried there, who they were and their roles in the community. He even pointed out his grandparents’ and parents’ final resting places. It was a history lesson given by someone who had lived it.
From the hill the cemetery is on, Bill pointed out the mouth of the Nulato River on which he would wind back into the hills to fish for grayling and other types of fish. He showed me the mountains the other direction where he goes to hunt wolves and geese.
Around town I saw the airstrip, the electric plant, one of the stores, the tribal council building, two wash-a-terias, the post office and the city offices. Bill pointed out the newly graveled road for expansion building. When we reached the dump site, he mentioned that it is where wolves like to hang out. And he said up into the trees he hunts black and grizzly bears.
When we reached the mouth of the Nulato River, we stopped and I gazed down the Yukon into which it flows while Bill explained that the wolf skins weren’t good this year because there wasn’t enough snow. And he described the breaking up of the river as a big celebration. People sit along the river bank watching the powerful display of nature. Back down onto the river and the Iditarod Trail where there are tripod trail markers. He said, “See where the wolf tracks run alongside the rabbit tracks? The wolf was probably running after the rabbit. Amazing, isn’t it?”
And I thought to myself, “Isn’t this – ALL of this – Bill – Nulato – Amazing?” Now I KNOW Nulato.