my classes, I could clearly see the detailed ridges of this magnificent mountain from so far away. Fairbanks topography is relatively flat which interestingly causes some of the worst air pollution in any city in the world! Yes, in the cold winter there would be an inversion that essentially would trap the pollutants in the air very close to the ground. Who wouldn’ t have known that such levels of pollution would be present in Alaska. I also had no idea how cold it could get as well. In my freshman year I took a photography course that was listed under the journalism department. The professor was very cool and liked my work and my enthusiasm and tried to get me to change my major. One night on the radio in my dorm, I heard that there was a big fire in one of the heritage hotels and I thought that this was my chance to get published. I dressed up in my goose down pants and jacket and hitchhiked several miles into town. It was 56 F degrees below zero and there I was riding in the back of a pick up truck going 60 miles an hour. The wind chill factor was literally off the charts as it was so friggin cold. I got to the fire and it was a three story building ablaze. I still couldn’ t stop shaking as I was across the street from the fire and getting some incredible shots of the water freezing off of the ladder and the fireman. I hitch hiked back to the dorm, processed the film, printed some photos and got published on the front page of the local newspaper in Fairbanks.
Before traveling to Alaska, I had signed up for the compulsory Army draft in Miami, Florida and I was now going to put Canada between me and my draft board. There was absolutely no way that I was going into the Army. If there was ever a definition of anti-discipline, I was it. If they wanted me, I would have disappeared into Canada and I understand that those that did this were later pardoned by President Nixon.
Flying into Fairbanks from John F Kennedy airport in Long Island, New York was so exciting back then as I was on my way to my university experience in Alaska that would allow me have an adventure of a lifetime and study biological sciences.
Of course in 1970 traveling to that part of the world raised eyebrows by my New Jersey and New York friends and family. Words much stronger than crazy were banded about quite frequently regarding my decision to attend this totally out of the way college. I did get accepted to the University of Colorado but the idea of going to Alaska was intriguing as I really wanted to see mountains that were greater than 20,000 feet such as McKinley. On the flight, I met the most incredible girl from Long Island, Maud, who was also attending the college for the first time. Was it my hippie appearance, my New Jersey upbringing or something else that attracted this wonderful person? I will never know but she was lovely, vibrant, extremely bright and an accomplished cellist. Listening to her play the cello was amazing as it resonated with my soul and it is still my favorite instrument.
The university had a strong mining and engineering history so most of the students had crew cuts and were very conservative. When I attended some classes, some jaws dropped and usually the class became silent when I arrived! My hair was down to the middle of my back and was bushy like a lions mane. The sight of me in my overalls was novel indeed. Paradoxically, when I graduated from the university around 4 years later, I had cut my hair and the overwhelming majority of students now had long hair. This uniqueness had its advantages and disadvantages. It was very unique to have met another student who was an American Native and he wore all of the traditional animal skins. His name was Hotuwasu or something like that. But he also carried a very big 3 foot long peace pipe and he was sanctioned to smoke marijuana at any time, in class or otherwise. Hotu, as we called him, was always fun to hang around with.
I shared a dorm room with a very conservative Texan and we got along great from the beginning. He was most interested to learn about this Jersey boy. Life at the dorm was filled with excitement. Many nights we had dinners prepared of caribou or moose roasts or burgers as the meat was supplied as a result of hunting activities of some of the residents. The meals were tasty and many of the conversations focused on how the animal was hunted. I was invited on a hunting expedition for caribou. Although I had hunted before, I decided to simply participate as a photographer.
BARRY STEVEN EPSTEIN- PhotoAutobiography DRAFT 20 of 156