Barrow is a great Alaska destination. I have spent time in Barrow flying a C-207 and Piper Chieftain (31-350). Flying Alaska is not nessecarily dangerous but it can be terribly unforgiving. You do need to be on top of your game. Know your ability, know your planes ability and always have a way out. Don't go into a pass unless a) You have current and reliable reports that the pass is clear. b) You can see through to the other side. Timing can be the difference between safe and not safe. With that said, I was doing the ILS into Barrow. The reported vis was 1/2 mile with snow. After I passed the final approach fix, FSS advised me that the visibility just went to "about 100 feet". I continued and about 10 feet above the runway I saw a runway light go by. In winter the runway is packed snow and ice. The mains hit and I saw another runway light go by. I debated going around but the mains were on the ground. I let the nose wheel settle and I saw another runway light. I was using the localizer to keep centerline. I got stopped and could not see a thing. I could not even see the wing tips by this time. I called flight service and advised them I was still on the runway and could not see. They assured me that no one else was expected soon and that official wx just went zero zero. I got on the company radio and asked for a tow into our ramp. They called me a few minutes later and said they can't see so I am on my own. After about 30 minutes the visibility went up enough so I could see a runway light. I called the company to send a follow me truck and was advised they are on the way. I finally got onto the ramp, put on the wing covers, engine blankets, cowl plugs, plugged in the heaters and tied the plane down. When I got inside, the visibility was up to 3/4 mile. I should say that the time was about 4pm, but this was winter and the sun had set about 3 hours earlier.
Once in Kotzebue, the weather was really terrible. Ceiling and vis wayyyy below minimums. At about 10am the forecast called for no significant change in weather for the day. All flights were cancelled and we were released from duty. By 11am we were in no shape to walk, much less fly. About 1230, I heard an airplane fly over, and looked out the window to see a bright blue perfectly clear sky.!!! uh oh... The station manager called us a few minutes later and asked if we were in shape to fly. Well, yes, unless you want to use the planes again, otherwise no. So much for accurate weather forecast.... The chief pilot would have admonished us for that, but he was there with us.
I spent 7 years flying bush Alaska without bending sheet metal. I did more special VFR departures and arrivals in one year than most pilots will do in several lifetimes. I've seen the northern lights, seen 24 hours of sunshine, 24 hours of no sun, been trapped in an out house by a black bear, seen tens of thousands of caribou, once carried a dead moose as frieght, watched a 727 land on a gravel runway, rode jump seat on DC-6 (C-54) several times, lost several friends in plane crashes, one was a room mate and met some of the most wonderful Eskimo people.
Sorry this was so long. Flying the bush has been one of the most wonderful experiences in my aviation career.
