i was on a ship in the Bering Sea in 1981. I was on watch on the bridge and observed the barometer fall .11 in one hour. I woke up the Captain to notify him.

The next day we were in 55 ft seas with 75 knot winds and minus 75F windchil. 3 ft of ice built up on our superstructure. The storm was heading east and we were steaming west. luckily we were out of it in a day and a half or the ice build up may have capsized us.

The bulkhead facing forward on the main deck split open from the force of the waves and we took on water. The damage control crew managed to seal the breach.

It had capsized a 250 ft Japanese fishing trawler with the loss of all hands. During the storm I briefly stepped out onto the starboard bridge wing to look at the storm without being behind 2" impact glass.

I saw something in the water that shocked me. It was a full grown walrus swimming for its life. It was porpoising about 100 ft away from the ship. I never imagined that they could swim that hard. I wonder if it survived.

I feel sorry for whoevers out there tonight.

I was in Alaska on a bear hunt in prince William sound, island hopping for 5 days.

4 days were bright sunny, zero waves. The sea was like a lake all over the place, so calm and water glassy.

The 5th day, it rained like crazy and we had to haul ass back to Whittier because the seas were getting really rough, and we didn't know what the hell would happen.

It was insane how quickly everything changed.