How is the weather this winter?

[the dufferz]

there has been so much talk about weather in the lower 48. I was wondering how the weather has been for the general area of Alaska compared to a "normal" winter?

I know it's cold, and I wonder if it's colder than Poland where markablue moderator lives?

[CandyApple]

Here in Anchorage it's been snowing a LOT lately. The snowplows have been making the rounds quite often this past month or so. No shortage of snowman material here. Fortunately there hasn't been much ice this year. Last year, though, it was a mess.

As far as temperature- it's rarely sweater weather. I missed my down jacket so much, maybe now that I have it back I'll start going outside again. Today it's a balmy thirty-something, so I could probably go out for a while even if I didn't have it. How this year compares to the average? I don't get out enough/not observant enough to really tell the difference!

I keep a thermometer outside so I know how many layers to wear when I venture outdoors, it really comes in handy when I bother to use it. I should pay more attention to it.

[the dufferz]

Originally Posted by CandyApple

Here in Anchorage it's been snowing a LOT lately. The snowplows have been making the rounds quite often this past month or so. No shortage of snowman material here. Fortunately there hasn't been much ice this year. Last year, though, it was a mess.

As far as temperature- it's rarely sweater weather. I missed my down jacket so much, maybe now that I have it back I'll start going outside again. Today it's a balmy thirty-something, so I could probably go out for a while even if I didn't have it. How this year compares to the average? I don't get out enough/not observant enough to really tell the difference!

I keep a thermometer outside so I know how many layers to wear when I venture outdoors, it really comes in handy when I bother to use it. I should pay more attention to it.

So, I know it's beautiful there, but with the winters being so cold, winter days being very short, what is the draw for living there?

[CandyApple]

So, I know it's beautiful there, but with the winters being so cold, winter days being very short, what is the draw for living there?

Some people don't mind the winter weather, and some of those even enjoy it. Others came up as tourists during the summer and fell in love with the place. And I know a lot of college kids who moved to Alaska to get as far away from their parents as possible.

[Plato]

Originally Posted by the dufferz

So, I know it's beautiful there, but with the winters being so cold, winter days being very short, what is the draw for living there?

I occasionally cast a lustful glance toward Alaska ..... I guess the attractions for me would be the incredible scenery, that it never gets too hot, easy access to the wilderness, plenty of food walking or swimming around, gold panning and dredging, aurora borealis, and it would be easy to get the hell away from people and live a simple, subsistence life. I mean easy to get away, actually living that kind of life is hard.

[Sekretgardengal]

I want to take a cruise to Alaska!

[kdm31091]

Another attraction may be the super-low taxes?

[Plato]

I don't know what the taxes are like, but every resident receives some free money once a year from oil revenues, I think usually a few hundred dollars.

As far as temperature- it's rarely sweater weather. I missed my down jacket so much, maybe now that I have it back I'll start going outside again.

Try a real fur coat, my mom used to tell me there's nothing like one for really, really cold and windy weather - she was very grateful to have one when she lived in Montreal.

[Wyoming53]

Originally Posted by Sekretgardengal

I want to take a cruise to Alaska!

I have a dear friend who is 88 years old. She drives a pickup, with a fully self contained camper on the back. On top of that is her canoe. She loads it an unloads it all by herself. She goes camping at least twice a month. Tough old blister.

She wanted to take a cruise. The one she booked, she can't stop talking about. She never took one picture. When I asked her why, she said, I wanted to see it and I did. If you want to see it, book one for you. Pictures won't do it justice.

The one she booked takes off from Vancouver BC and goes up the inside of the islands. She saw lots of wild life, beautiful scenery. It docs up north somewhere, not sure where. Then you come back to Vancouver on a glass topped train. Past glaciers and what not. Sure sounded like something I'd like to do someday when I get a chance.

I've been to Alaska many times. Unfortunately, the only thing I saw was the inside of the airport in Anchorage during a 20 minute layover. I did see the grizzly in the airport. Impressive. Wouldn't want him/her after me.

[CandyApple]

She wanted to take a cruise. The one she booked, she can't stop talking about. She never took one picture.

I find when I take lots of pictures I tend to look at scenery in terms of "would this make a good pic" instead of just enjoying it. It makes it hard to just "take things in" and fully appreciate what I'm seeing. Then I start doing that even when I don't have my camera.

I think she had the right idea. But what would be even better is to con a friend or someone into taking the pictures for her so she could enjoy the scenery while she was there and look at the pics when she got back.

[Sekretgardengal]

I agree. When your face is behind the camera you don't really enjoy the beauty. Yes, you have photos but you didn't experience it the way you could have without the camera.