Photos

Photos: Spring sunshine and breakup in Bethel

By Emily Mesner
Updated: May 11, 2022 Published: May 11, 2022
Bethel, spring, rural alaska

Bethel and the Kuskokwim River photographed on Friday, May 6, 2022. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

BETHEL –– It was busy in Bethel last week as U.S. House candidates took part in a candidate forum, followed by Breakup Bash, an annual event that celebrates the end of winter as Kuskokwim River ice moves away from town.

Summer is steadily approaching in Bethel and the town’s energy is electric. Basketball courts around town have thawed as ribbons of orange and yellow remained on the horizon past midnight.

Here are photos of spring in Bethel.

Bethel, spring, rural alaska

A group of young men play basketball in Bethel as the sun begins to set on Thursday, May 5, 2022. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Bethel, spring, rural alaska

St. Sophia Russian Orthodox Church reflects in a large puddle. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Bethel, spring, rural alaska

A young boy sits on top of a fence and looks to the crowd as Bethel Regional High School Warrior Dancers perform during Breakup Bash on Friday, May 6, 2022. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Breakup Bash, bethel, thaw, melting, spring, kuskokwim river

Kiarra Evon performs with the BRHS Warrior Dancers. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Bethel, spring, rural alaska

The setting sun highlights grave markings in the Bethel Memorial Cemetery on May 5. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Bethel, spring, rural alaska

Pieces of dried salmon sit in a bowl at a home in Bethel. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Bethel, spring, rural alaska

Permafrost heaves are visible along the Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Bethel, spring, rural alaska

A man walks along the Kuskokwim River. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Bethel, spring, rural alaska, covid, pandemic

A sign for face coverings is adhered to a post along the Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Bethel, spring, rural alaska

Jesslyn McGowan gets a kiss from Sister, a puppy originally from Scammon Bay, as she holds it in Bethel. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Bethel, spring, rural alaska

People boat in the Kuskokwim River. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Bethel, spring, rural alaska

A trash container is painted with the words, “No Justice No Peace”, photographed on May 5. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Bethel, spring, rural alaska

Portions of a pond begin to melt in front of a neighborhood in Bethel. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Bethel, spring, rural alaska

A woman takes a photograph of the moving river ice on the Kuskokwim River. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Bethel, spring, rural alaska

A young girl sits along the riverfront and watches ice move by along the Kuskokwim River. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Bethel, spring, rural alaska

The day’s last light hovers on the horizon around 12:15 a.m. on May 6. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Emily Mesner

Emily Mesner is a multimedia journalist for the Anchorage Daily News. She previously worked for the National Park Service at Denali National Park and Preserve and the Western Arctic National Parklands in Kotzebue, at the Cordova Times and at the Jackson Citizen Patriot in Jackson, Michigan.

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