Winter: a chilly subject

Posted by admin on Dec 2, 2008 in Community | 0 comments

Winter is that time of year when snow is supposed to fall gracefully from the clouds while Santa’s elves scurry about preparing for Christmas. However, obviously the teller of these lies has never journeyed as far as Alaska, because if he had, his opinion of the winter season would likely be drastically altered.

That’s not to say that winter is all bad; there are a variety of reasons for cheer during the winter season. For instance, eggnog is a vital component for surviving those cold nights. And then there is the added benefit of having an unlimited supply of snow for the delicious creation of snow cones. However, there is a catch to all of this festive cheer, especially if one spent any sort of time in or about my hometown of Squirrel Creek. While seemingly a magical middle-of-nowhere locale, this haven for the dog musher and the wayward hitchhiker is ridden with all of winter’s most delightfully terrifying trappings.

What sort of things might winter bring that would cause such trepidation? Alaska, itself is considered the Last Frontier, a place for the family, with wondrous beauty and an endless supply of moose droppings. But hidden below the surface of the sunset-less summers lies the chilling truth; there is no spring and no fall, there exists only three seasons in Alaska: summer, winter and thaw.

Growing up in what the locals call the “boonies” was a special experience. It was filled with sub-zero temperatures, six layers of clothing, bunny boots and snow blindness. These, however, at times brought with them a mild sense of enjoyment, because they helped to mask the ultimate strike that winter would deliver in those frigid months: for example, the creek deciding that “glaciering” would be a good idea.

This little phenomenon is when temperatures drop rapidly and then soon skyrocket back up in a repeating fashion. The whole process in the meantime causes a dam to form which then releases bountiful amounts of H2O that then proceeds to be released under, around and in my house. Needless to say that there were moments when the State Troopers were considering evacuating us out of there, but ultimately decided against it as the temperatures decided that they’d had enough fun and would be a little more stable.

Winter: a concept that often conjures up memories of sledding, snowball fights and hot chocolate. But for the Alaskan, it brings back memories of minus-50 degrees Fahrenheit weather, weeks without going out the front door due to snowstorms, and warming up the car 30 minutes before going anywhere. It truly is a winter wonderland, but rather than the Wonderland envisioned by Disney, this one is probably more in tune with something Tim Burton would cook up.

All in all, despite a few choice aspects, winter is a great time of year, although there would be some hesitancy to say that “it’s the most wonderful time.” The festive nature of winter is rarely matched by any other season and while Alaska’s winter elements are harsh, there still remains that tingling sensation that you “feel in your toes” when winter reaches its peak. Although, that is more than likely the numbing Alaskan cold killing the circulation in your feet.