Haines Border Visit

It was the middle of January and twenty below zero at the destination. She had flown from Anchorage to Juneau, and now Oneida was waiting to fly on to Haines. The day was windy, and the small planes were tied down on the tarmac. The flight was delayed until the wind died down.

When the departure was approved, a pilot who looked like a young Dennis Quaid rushed everyone outside to quickly board. Oneida counted twelve passengers.

Once lifted above rainy Juneau, she viewed snowy Alaskan scenery of mountains and sea inlets. She was startled as a Bald Eagle, turned sideways in the wind, floated past her window, his gaze locked with hers, as they passed each other.

Arriving in snowbound Haines, Oneida rented a small room, waiting for daylight to drive the fifty miles to the Border Station. The narrow road had frost heaves and was covered in ice. Spruce tree trunks were buried with several feet of snow, and high mounds became sidewalls for the road. Driving slowly and watching for black ice, she came upon The Chilkat Bald Eagle Reserve on her left, with THOUSANDS of Bald Eagles cawing atop the trees. Startled by the scene, she almost slid off the icy highway as she pulled over to better see.

Reaching the Dalton Border building, Oneida was relieved to see that the workers had plowed the parking lot. The men waved and welcomed her inside, as she stared at snow so deep it reached the building’s eaves.