Temperatures: Although Alaska is most often perceived to be a cold state, Anchorage temperatures in winter are typically 20 degrees or so above Fairbanks. In summer Fairbanks is much warmer than Anchorage. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Alaska was at Prospect Creek Camp on January 23, 1971. It was minus eighty degrees. Even this is not the actual temperature, since the recording instrument was not able to go lower and the actual temperature was believed to be several degrees colder. The hottest temperature recorded in Alaska was 100 degrees on June 27, 1915 at Fort Yukon. This is partularly interesting because Fort Yukon is ABOVE the arctic circle.
It was noted that one fine winter day in 1998 the temperature outside was -40 degrees, while the temperature inside the house was 70 degrees, a difference of 110 degrees separated by two thin panes of glass.

Alaska generally has ultraviolet levels that are among the lowest in the nation. Go to Ultraviolet index to check current levels.

Snow: The chemical formula for snow is H₂O, except it is at a low enough temperature to freeze, or become a solid. Alaska has a lot of H₂O, locked up in the 3,000,000 lakes, 3,000 rivers, 5,000 glaciers and the oceans. Ironically, the annual rainfall in much of the interior is less than that found in a southwestern U.S. desert. If it were not for cold temperatures most of the year much of the water that is there would quickly disappear into clouds. It is also not unusual for many lower 48 cities to receive more snow than Anchorage. The difference is that in Denver, for example, a heavy snowfall is soon followed by warm enough temperatures to melt most of it, while in Anchorage once temperatures get below a seasonal sub freezing temperature they tend to stay there all winter. As a result the snow in Anchorage, once it arrives, is not likely to go anywhere soon. On mountain peaks snow may be found year round in Alaska. An aircraft may depart the summer warmth of Anchorage in July, and in minutes be flying over a wilderness area with deep snow below.

© September 1999 - Clyde E. Pearce
Denali - "The Great One"
20,320 feet above sea level

The average amount of snowfall in Anchorage is 122 inches a year. A common misconception is that the Eskimo language has 200 words for snow. Actually, Eskimo itself is a generic term, as there are many different native groups in Alaska, each with their own distinct language. The Inuit, in particular, have been described as having many words for snow. Go to SNOW ACTIVITIES and discover for yourself whether or not this is true. Snow in Alaska tends to stay white all winter, due to cold temperatures... unlike cities like Denver where alternating cold and warm days creates black slush much of the season.

The Fur Rondezvous held in Anchorage each February has a weeklong snow sculture competition that is a remarkable display of artistic talent. You can learn more about snow by going to SNOW. There is information on snow science at SNOW SCIENCE

Another interesting site to visit is not in Alaska, but in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden. It is the Ice Hotel. There is another Ice & Snow Hotel (Cathedral) in Quebec, Canada, that you may visit by clicking on Ice Hotel-Canada. Perhaps there will be one in Alaska, too, someday.

© November 2001- Clyde E. Pearce
Fran, on winter walk along Tony Knowles Trail in Anchorage

Avalanches: Avalanche conditions are predictable and dangerous. Still, there are several people killed each year due to avalanches. In the winter of 1998 there were 11 people killed in avalanches near Anchorage. Many of those killed were on snowmobiles. It is extremely diffult to outrun a 150 mile per hour falling wall of snow that can be a mile wide.

The first death by avalanche has been recorded for the winter of 2001-2002. It occurred Sunday, November 11^th in Hatcher Pass, near Palmer, Alaska when one of a couple snowshoeing was buried under three feet of snow. Only time will tell if this season will be as sad as 1999, when 14 people died in avalanches in Alaska.

AVALANCHE REPORT- WINTER 2001-2002

Location of Avalanche	Date	Time of Day	No. Killed	Activity initiating Avalanche
Hatcher Pass	11/11/2001	2:00 p.m.	1 (w)	Snowshoeing
Cordova	12/12/2001	5:00 p.m.	1 (m)	Snowmobiling
Hope	12/23/2001	1:00 p.m.	1 (m)	Snowmobiling
Cantwell	12/24/2001	3:00 p.m.	1 (m)	Snowmobiling
Summit Lake	01/12/2002	4:00 p.m.	2 (m,w)	Snowmobiling

Glaciers: Glaciers are areas of compressed snow and ice that do not melt in the summer. When parts of a glacier break off and fall into a body of water it is called calving. There really are little black worms that live in glacial ice and are called ice worms. Anchorage has several glaciers nearby that can be reached by car. The closest include Portage Glacier, 45 minutes south on the Seward Highway, and the Matanuska Glacier, on the road out of Palmer heading toward Valdez. Knik and Eklutna Glaciers are actually closer, but not accessible by car. These are reached by hiking or flying. Knik glacier is just ten minutes from Anchorage by air. Exit Glacier in Seward is one where you can get real close and even walk across the top.

Calving glaciers generally require a boat to reach them. Glaciers that do not reach the bottom of the mountain they are on are called hanging glaciers. The black lines seen down the middle of a glacier are called moraine, and consist of many rocks and smaller gravel that ride along with the glacier.

Although glaciers cover 29,000 square miles of the state, that is only 5% of the total land area. The area covered by glaciers in Alaska is greater than the area covered by Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C., combined. If all of Alaska was a single glacier and 1,000 acres a day melted, it would still take 1,000 years before it would be all gone.

Ice: Ice fog creates hoar frost, a beautiful crystalline structure that envelopes the branches of plants and is very sensitive to heat. Here is a photo taken near the new Department of Health laboratory in November 2001.
It shows snow on the trees with hoarfrost.

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© December 2001- Clyde E. Pearce

An iceberg is at least 75% to 80% under the surface of the water, but may be as much as 90% submerged due to rock inclusions that increase the overall density of the berg. Smaller icebergs are called growlers.
Some days during the winter roads and paths are so icy they are dangerous for travel, so studded automobile tires, and foot coverings such as Stabilicers are used to improve traction and safety.

In late winter Anchorage and Fairbanks have ice carving competitions which are wonderful to see.

Darkness: It DOES get dark in Alaska. One point that is often overlooked is that the distance from the far north (Barrow) to the most southern point in Alaska is about the same as the distance from Detroit, Michigan to Miami Beach, Florida. Now, if I am in Miami in November, and you are in Detroit, we will experience very different conditions of daylight and temperatures. Similarly, although Barrow will see the sun set about November 18, never to re-appear until the following year, this is not true for most of Alaska. In Anchorage the shortest day is about four and a half hours. Similarly, the shortest night in late June is about that long. Never-the-less a common malady referred to as SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a very real problem for some who live in Alaska. It can be minimized by keeping active, especially during the short period when there is daylight. Daily exercise; walking, skiing, snow shoeing and similar activities help reduce its effects. Also, diet plays a role and it is best to stay away from excessive amounts of sugar. Some people also buy bright lights, at least 10,000 lux, because it has been proven that exposure to the bright light reduces the intensity of depression. Another technique used is to buy a dawn machine, a device that slowly increases room brightness in the morning, simulating the sun rising. The best treatment for many is to just get out of town. Hawaii is a very popular winter destination for Alaskans. Airfares from Anchorage to Hawaii are very good, lower then from any other state. Some suggest that the state wine (whine) is "I wanna go to Hawaii".

Interestingly enough, some people have more difficulty with the long daylight hours in June then the darkness. It can be irritating when you can't seem to "turn off the lights" when it's time to go to bed. Another fact about winter in Anchorage is that the snow reflects a lot of light, and the city encourages frequent use of lighting in winter. Anchorage is known as the "city of lights" because of it. As a result, the darkness is actually lighter then one would expect.

Wildlife: I know, there is another whole section on wildlife. But there are some unique features about Alaskan wildlife associated with the cold environment and this seems like a good place to mention them. For example, the only white bear in North America is the polar bear, found in Canada and Alaska. Some may be surprised to learn that this animal is considered to be a marine mammal rather then land mammal. There are several others well adapated to cold environment, such as the muskox and caribou. Animals which are normally white in the north country include the polar bear already mentioned, Dall sheep, mountain goat and beluga whale. A few white wolves can be found as well. Some animals and birds adapt by changing color from a grey or brown summer phase to a white winter phase. Those that have a white winter phase include the Willow Ptarmigan, snowshoe hare, arctic fox and weasel (ermine in winter).

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© September 1999 - Clyde E. Pearce