It’s cold (and staying cold).  It’s dark, but getting lighter.  The best way to beat SAD and cabin fever is to get out of the cabin and into the light.  If ice climbing is your thing, then Presidents Day is the weekend to be out and about in Alaska.

The Valdez Ice Fest goes on during this time. And, there is an Ice Fest based around the Anchorage Area.  There’s got to be one in SouthEast Alaska – check these forums for the latest info and to ask questions.

It’s like a big grassroots movement.  But these guys and gals aren’t occupying Wall Street.  They are occupying the frozen waterfalls and canyons all around Alaska.

Enjoy and be safe!

And a new blog to add to the Alaskan Blog Roll:

The Ascending Path’s Blog -Eco tours and Mountain Guides

And, if ice Climbing isn’t your think:

The Ski Hill is up and running!!! The Grand Opening of the Salmonberry Ski Hill will take place this Saturday, February 18th at 10am! The ski hill will be open 10am-4pm both Saturday and Sunday! You can buy your season pass for $10 at the ski hill during normal operating hours, or weekdays at the Parks & Rec office. Anyone under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign for their pass. Call 835-2531 for more information.

This really is the start to the Spring Winter Sports season up in Alaska.  What other activities are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments.

I’m tuning in.

From Kickstarter page:

All I want is to do epic stuff across the face of our amazing planet, then tell you about it so you can do the epic stuff you want to do. Is that so much to ask?

In the last week of March 2012, I’m heading north to the Arctic Ocean on foot, fatbike, and packraft. The estimated duration of the expedition is 6-8 months, but may vary significantly due to ice, ocean, and ground conditions throughout.

• 7,000 Miles
• 7 Rivers
• Zero Fuel
• 2 Oceans
• 4 Mountain Ranges
• ANWR

The project is a film documenting the adventure. It would be naivete or hubris to pitch you a plotline before I’ve left. I’m confident that my mind will be sufficiently blown, and I’ll do my best to translate that into something that will inspire others to experience the sublimity of wildness and wilderness.

via Fatbikerafting the Arctic by Andrew Badenoch — Kickstarter.

But the winter is awesome.  Awesome get over used and probably cliche.  But the Alaskan winter is ‘awesome’ – jaw dropping, spine tingling, mind blowing awe inspiring Alaskan Winter.

And, like most Alaskan stuff that’s awesome – it’s certainly not the man-made stuff.  Although, a mid-winter house party or backyard bonfire or Bear Tooth Concert are pretty cool.  They really don’t match up with the natural wonders the winter has in store.

Let’s see – Horefrost, the way headlines look in ice fog along the Richardson Highway, epic snowdays inside, snow shoveling for money, Sundogs, broadies in icy parking lots, late sunrises, early sunsets, long long nights, the list goes on…

And, the cool thing is that -different than the summer – the experiences are for you and your close friends. The whole state feels empty.  It’s like you are in the amusement park after closing.

One of my favorite natural wonders of the Alaskan winter is the Aurora.  What a crazy cool thing.  It’s part science fiction, part storm chasers, part late night party.

I remember being awakened (awoken?) in the middle of the night.  My brother is standing there with a big grin and a sleeping bag.  “The lights are out” he says.  Minutes later, I’m standing in the parking lot – damp sorels on my feet and sleeping bag draped over the shoulders of my heaviest coat.  There is a green cloud shifting around on the northern horizon above the Valdez Town mountain.

It was the first time I’d seen the northern lights.  Our small group wandered over to some other folks across the street – they were whistling and clapping to call up the show.  In low voices you can hear things like “dead ancestors”, “solar wind”, “ionosphere”, and “H-A-R-R-P project”.  A very cool Alaskan experience.

I went on to really enjoy the aurora and saw it many times.  On the back poach at parties, driving over the pass at night, out in McCarthy, from the plane – that’s pretty cool.

So, Is the aurora happening tonight?  Check the Geophysical Institute from Fairbanks:

Aurora Forecast | Geophysical Institute.

Living The Dream

In Deep (Alaska)

AlaskaFit

ProudLine Productions
Steep skiing, boarding and climbing at Thompson Pass, Chugach Mountains – Valdez Alaska

My brother was there in ’89 and he would tell stories of walking around the town like a rat in a maze. 

6 foot high snowbanks lined the streets and walk ways

Valdez (new town) was designed to handle snow – the streets can be cleared easily because the main neighborhoods all back up to the ‘Park strip’.  There is an army of snow removal folks.  Bobcats, trucks with plows, guys with shovels climbing roofs. 

Don’t forget to shovel your boat at the Valdez Small Boat harbor – My friend’s 34′ Chris Craft sank there in the winter of ’98.  We found is hanging of the dock cleats.

Skiers and Snowsports folks are happy.

And, actually, it’s kinda nice to be hunkered down in snowy Valdez.  All is quiet, except for the beeping of the snow removal equipment.  People come together to do things and it’s a real experience.

Many of these blogs are classics -  from over ten years ago.  If you find one that is no longer being updated, please let me know.  Likewise, if you think I should include one here that isn’t listed, please let me know.

Go forth and explore – it’s the Alaskan Way.

cheers,

Newman