Thanks for the update.

I have actually been ready to fly to Barrow at a moment's notice the past two autumns if I heard reports of polar bears. But unfortunately my contact there said that they were not to be seen (except once very early in September and never seen again).

How long did you go for? I have heard that the Northern Lights have been quite active in recent weeks. I was in Fairbanks in March 2009 for close to a week and never saw the Northern Lights. Going back to Alaska this coming March and hope to see them (will be there for almost a week but a bit further south). Too bad you didn't see them. I was camping at Wonder Lake Campground inside Denali NP last August and there was a great Northern Lights show one night for close to an hour. Pretty incredible actually, even though not stunningly bright.