Baby, It’s Cold Outside!
I was planning on attending the Annamaet Challenge Series Race today, with my friend Denise. Unfortunately, the race was postponed due to cold. The temperature cut-off is 25 below. When I woke this morning at 7am, it was 28 below outside my front door. I called NOAA, as that’s where the organizers get the current temperature reading, and the temp at 8am was -27F. I’m disappointed, but hope to go next Sunday. I haven’t been to see the dogs run at all this winter.
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The night before last, I was up late - as I usually am when Steve is on day shift. He goes to bed so early, and I don’t like to disturb him, so I usually end up sitting up until the wee hours, or catching a little sleep on the sofa. I go to bed when he goes to work at 4am.
I was keeping an eye on the aurora web cam and the photos were showing faint green light in sky, with slender and brighter green bands low on the horizon. Because we have trees around our house, I can’t see the lights from my driveway or the road unless they’re higher up in the sky.
Suddenly, the camera showed that the bright bands had moved higher in the sky, so I put my camera on the tripod, and bundled up for the short trek down my driveway. The moon was fairly bright, so I didn’t have much hope of seeing anything.
About five minutes later, I saw a green band come over the trees. I shot some long exposures (about 13-15 seconds). Long exposures make the aurora look a lot brighter than it appears to the naked eye, but it’s still so pretty:
These next two photos are a more accurate representation of the brightness of the lights:
And then, as quickly as they appeared, they were gone. Good thing though, because my fingers were burning with the pain of the cold (-20F) - even with gloves on!
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Tomorrow I have plans to go on a road trip with my friend Lori. I’d love to drive down to Black Rapids (about 130 miles one way), or even as far as Gulkana Glacier (about 160 miles), but with the extreme cold, and the fact that my car does not like it when it’s colder than 10 below, I’m a little nervous about making that drive. Once you get through Delta, there’s not much in the way of civilization. Of course I’d be prepared with emergency gear, but the thought of breaking down doesn’t give me any warm and fuzzies. We’ll see what the temperature gauge is reading tomorrow and decide then.
Enjoy what’s left of your weekend!
Beautiful!!
as always!!
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Susan Stevenson Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Thanks Liz. I hope it warms up! I need a roadtrip!
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Comment by Liz McCollough — January 16, 2011 @ 1:12 pm
brr, brr, brr! -20 here this morning, too. BRRRRR!
I have a cousin in Ohio who plans to visit - probably in June. We are going to come to Fbks on the train and spend a couple of days. I hope to meet you while we’re there.
Got any inside info (grin) on places to stay and things to do while in town? It’ll be my first visit to Fbks. I want to show her some of the “real” Alaska - as opposed to the touristy Alaska - although I’m thinking a visit to Santa will be in order.
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Susan Stevenson Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Lodging is going to be fairly pricey here in FBKS in the summer - as it is all over the state. And honestly, I’m not too familiar with the hotels here, as we’re campers. However, these hotels got decent ratings (by locals, as well as travelers): The Bridgewater, Sophie Station, Best Western Chena River Lodge (brand new), River’s Edge, Alpine Lodge, and the The Townsite Gardens B&B. A couple of the hotels offer breakfast/continental breakfast with your stay.
As for things to see and do, keep an eye on the Explore Fairbanks events calendar for the time you’ll be in town. It is updated constantly. However, if you want to participate in some of Fairbanks’ home town fun, plan your visit to coincide with the Midnight Sun Festival. You can attend the Midnight Sun Baseball Game (6/21) which starts at 10:30pm. The Midnight Sun Fun Run (a 10K and some runners wear costumes) is on June 18th, and is a big event. June 19th is our Midnight Sun Festival downtown, which draws a huge crowd and has food, vendors, entertainment, etc. Free.
If you want to come a little earlier in June, June 11th is our Summer Folk Fest at Pioneer Park (I love Pioneer Park) Non-stop music all day long, vendors, food, etc. Free.
You can walk the nature trails at Creamers Field (sandhill cranes arrive in May and will probably still be here in June). The boreal forest trail is beautiful, but don’t forget deet. It’s a very easy walk.
The Museum of the North at UAF is very nice too ($10). As are the free museums around town: Fairbanks Community Museum downtown in historic City Hall, the Pioneer Museum (Pioneer Park), and the exhibits housed in our new Visitor Center/Morris Thompson Cultural Center. Free movies are shown at Morris Thompson too.
The Georgeson Botanical Gardens are gorgeous, but June is a bit early for peak blooming. It’s still a pretty walk. Also LARS is an interesting place to visit. I know they give summer tours, but I don’t know how much they are. I usually go on ‘free day’ (and I can’t remember when that is either).
Here’s a website with a list of low-cost things to do in Fairbanks: http://fairbanks-alaska.com/inexpensive-recreation.htm. Not sure how up to date it is with any fees though.
Depending on when you come, I would love to meet up with you and your cousin. Steve is off from June 16th-22nd, which means we’ll probably be camping in Seward, and I will miss the Midnight Sun festivities.
But if you come earlier in the month, I’d love to get together and show you around schedule permitting. 
I hope this has given you things to think about. I hope the links all work too!
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barbara Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 9:50 am
thanks, Susan!!! We are busily planning - not sure if it will be May or June - so many reasons for either month.
One of these days we will connect.
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Comment by barbara — January 16, 2011 @ 1:52 pm
Listen to your inner voice, I am a big believer that we all have one for a reason! The aurora shots are beautiful, your photos always make me smile and recall such good times up there. Thank you!
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Susan Stevenson Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
I usually do listen to my inner voice and was going to cancel. But then Lori said she’d drive (she has a jeep and it does MUCH better in cold) so we’re going.
I WILL have plenty of winter gear with me, and all the emergency stuff we need. Now I’m excited about a change of scenery, and heading out with my camera! 
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Comment by Therese — January 16, 2011 @ 5:40 pm
Susan, I just love reading your blog - your pictures are OUTSTANDING! Appreciate so much the time you take in answering everyone’s comments. I’ve learned so much from even reading that part. Thanks for all the links, too. I put the Aurora web cam in my favorites just to check on it from time to time. Now I’m gonna check out come of the links you mentioned above. This is better than geography or social studies when we were in school. I’ve learned so much from your blog this winter. THANK YOU!!!
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Susan Stevenson Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
Thank you Connie! I’m happy to answer any questions and help in any way I can. I want everyone’s visit to Fairbanks, or Alaska in general, to be fabulous.
The Aurora Web Cam is my new favorite link. When the lights show on there, I know I have a good chance of seeing them here.
Have a fabulous week!
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Comment by Connie in PA — January 17, 2011 @ 9:33 am
Beautiful photos, but then again they always are
Cant wait to hear about the road trip!
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Susan Stevenson Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 7:18 pm
I’m so glad we went. It was 34 below when we left Fairbanks. It warmed up to about 4 below down near Donnelly Dome, but the wind was kicking. Painfully so! Give me my 40 below and no wind over that ANY DAY! Now I know how much you all suffer when the wind kicks in your neck of the woods. Just awful!
Lots of photos to download now.
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Comment by Lisa J — January 17, 2011 @ 3:35 pm
I love your shots of the Aurora’s. I’ve never seen anything like that and I’m always intrigued! I’m also always amazed at how quickly to run outside to take pictures in -20 degrees! LOL
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Susan Stevenson Reply:
January 20th, 2011 at 2:36 pm
I do hope you’ll see the aurora someday, Connie. It’s gorgeous!
As for running outside in below zero temps, sometimes I feel like it and sometimes I don’t. Minus 40 though? No thanks! LOL
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Comment by Connie — January 20, 2011 @ 1:35 pm
OMG, your pictures are AMAZING! I absolutely love these.
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Susan Stevenson Reply:
January 27th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
Thank you. I’m glad you like them.
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Comment by Cherokee P. — January 27, 2011 @ 5:42 am