Fall in Fairbanks

How quickly one forgets about scraping frost off the windshield.....

This is Fall ? 

We had our first substantial snowfall on September 22nd, the autumnal equinox.  It seems a little early for the beginning of winter.  The northern lights shows on September 15th and 16th were spectacular -- clear skies, bright stars, and swirling curtains of fluorescent green. Unfortunately, I cannot capture these with my camera.  I have been thinking for awhile that it might be time to upgrade to something a little more sophisticated ...

Toward the end of August the birds began amassing at Creamer's getting ready for the long flight home.

It looked a lot like it did in Spring but there were many more birds.

August 24th was the Tanana Valley Sandhill Crane Festival.  I missed the celebration as we had just returned from the Brooks Range late on the 24th.  The field staff at Creamer's counted over a thousand cranes on site.  I learned that these Sandhills are different from those in Florida.  These Lesser Sandhills are a little smaller and have more reddish-brown feathers.

A walk near our cabins -- Ann and the dogs.

The fall colors in the Goldstream Valley area (very near my cabin) were extraordinary.

Ballaine Lake on the edge of the UAF campus -- looking very fall-like.

A moose just off Willow Run Road ...

The Alaska Range appears most frequently (and clearly) in Spring and Fall.

Willow Run Road decked-out in yellows and oranges.

The hills beyond Ballaine Road where it crosses Goldstream Creek

... Goldstream Creek and surroundings on a sunnier day.

Willow Run Road after the first snowfall

Fairyland just beyond the cabin

Actually, fall has been more beautiful and lasted longer than I expected.  We now have nearly 8 months of winter in front of us.  People say I will get tired of it.  We'll have to see ...  Next stop Unalaska and Dutch Harbor.