Alaskan Seasons

Alaskan Seasons

          

         Technically there are four seasons. In Alaska, it seems more like two; winter and summer. Everyone who thinks about Alaska thinks; snow, ice and cold. Many people from the lower 48 states also think; igloo’s and total darkness, but we sourdoughs know the truth about the real Alaska. 

          First of all Alaska is just like every other state. We have subdivisions with houses and garages. We have gas fireplaces and flushing toilets. We also have electricity. My family and I moved to Rochester, NY in 2004 when the Coast Guard transferred us. Our cars had bright yellow Alaska license plates that got a lot of attention. Every time I went to the grocery store someone in the parking lot would ask me about Alaska. These plates got me more attention than Brad Pitt and Angelia Jolie get when they’re out and about. Elderly men and women would strike up small talk about the cruise they took, about how beautiful it was and how they can’t wait to go back. So many people asked me if it was dark all day long. This question started to annoy me. I mean, why would anyone live in a place where it was constantly dark? Hello…… Another question that surprised and baffled me (and was posed by adults) was, do you guys live in like, houses or are there only igloos? I never quite understood the motivation for this question, but the person always seemed quite serious. 

          So, this is why I wanted to point out that Alaskans live just like everyone else. The biggest difference is the fact that we seem to only have two seasons, in reality there are four, spring and fall are just not really noticeable. This happens because about the middle to end of April, we will get temperatures around 50 degrees in the daytime and 30’s at night and the snow will melt. While this is technically spring, these temperatures are also likely in the summer and in the fall, and snow can fall at any time. Summer temperatures can range from 45-75 in the day and 35 and up at night. I grew up in Alaska. I have lived here for 24+ years. When my husband and I moved to New York it was my first taste of what real seasons are like. In New York the springtime is the most amazing time. The cherry trees are covered in fragrant pale pink blossoms and there are daffodils everywhere. The Magnolia trees are in bloom and only these trees can outdo the Cherry blossoms with beauty and scent. There is the most wonderful perfume on the breeze and magnolias are a truly beautiful flower. They come in white, pale pink and fuchsia and they seem to be everywhere in Upstate New York in the Spring. Living in Rochester, NY made me yearn for a real spring in Alaska.

          Fall in Alaska is also less than amazing. While the trees change colors and the sight is quite nice, it happens far too early for my taste. The end of August and into September is Alaska’s fall. By October we have snow and freezing temperatures. This lasts until April, and then it’s a muddy cold, spring again. 

          By far the best of the Alaskan seasons is summer. Even though we have mosquitos the size of small birds in numbers much like the population if India, Alaskan summers are wonderful! The days seem to last forever and the weather is mild with an occasional hot day. We get a lot of rain toward the end of the month but summer is great. There is so much to do outdoors in the summer in Alaska. We hunt, fish, fish, fish, hike, bike, camp and just have an all-around super-dooper time.  

For information on visiting Alaska  check out www.travelalaska.com