Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice Bonfire on Willow Run

Although I intended the posts on the Arctic Ocean to be my last on this blog, perhaps ending the year with some evocative photos of the Winter Solstice and the beauty of winter in general would be a more fitting way to finish it off.  On December 21st the sun rose at 10:58 am and set at 2:40 pm for a length of day of 3 hours and 41 minutes.

Willow Run in winter

We have had a lot of snow in December and temperatures have been unusually low even for Fairbanks.  Last month the average temperature was 23 degrees lower than the overall average (which I think is around minus 20).  We continue to experience temperatures of minus 40 degrees F and lower -- especially in the Goldstream Valley.  One night this month the forecast was for a low of minus 58.  The first couple of years here I found experiencing these temperatures an adventure -- now I find it just COLD!

Ice fog and arctic pink

This is how the world looked at about 2:00 pm on the Solstice from the top of Willow Run.  You can see the Alaska Range silhouetted in the background and the lights of a car coming down Ballaine Hill.        The foreground is blurred by ice fog.

My cabin at the end of Willow Run

There is no question that when I look back at these photos after leaving Fairbanks I will miss the austere beauty of the place.  I will forget about the days my car almost didn't start and that I started parking it facing out on Willow Run in case I were to need a tow.

The cabin in the dark

I will miss less ...  dog walks in the dark with a headlamp, slippery roads, trips to the outhouse in deep snow, taking at least 15 minutes to "suit up" to go outside, shoveling 4 times a day during heavy snowfalls, etc.

The cabin is especially warm and festive during the holidays.

Savannah in a pensive mood

The falling snow adds a sort of magical quality to everying ....

...from the front deck of my cabin

This display of the Aurora Borealis occurred just a couple of weeks ago.  These are the first photos I've been able to take of the lights -- although unfortunately I only had my little point-and-shoot camera at hand.  On the other hand, it is well I did as the display lasted a mere 10 minutes and it would have taken me more time than that to set up my SLR.  Even up here it is not that often we see such a spectacular display.  It is more common to see them as a fluorescent rainbow across the north sky.

...here you can even see a hint of pink

To those of you in Florida, I will see you relatively soon, and to those of you I owe emails -- I have NOT forgotten you.  I will write soon.

                                                  HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!