Alaska Winter Adventure

    March is Alaska's best month of winter.  The snow is set, We've received 129.4" of snow so far this season in Southcentral Alaska.   The days are getting warmer as we gain sunlight daily with 12 hours of daylight by mid month.  This is prime time for Alaska adventure activities and snow sporting events and Alaskans take every advantage of it possible. 

Iditarod 39 musher

   We kick off the month with the world renowned Iditarod race.  This year, Iditarod 40 was won by the youngest musher ever, Dallas Seavey.  We celebrate the coming of spring with a enthusiastic celebration in the snow! Conditions are ideal for skiing, mushing and snowmaching for moderate to high adventures.  There's ice fishing, snowshoe hiking and northern lights viewing for the easier adventurer.   Aurora activity is high with the recent extreme solar flares.

On the river

   When the skies are clear, they are true blue and Alaska's majestic mountain ranges shine as they rise up to meet them.  Denali and the Alaska range is amongst the most spectacular views.  Alaska welcomes visitors this time of year who are looking for some ultimate winter sport.  Mushing behind a sled across frozen tundra and lakes,  snow machining tours, downhill, cross country, alpine skiing trips in pristine countryside, cozy fireplaces and hot tubs, aurora borealis.... it's all here now. 

Carly's first ski

Aurora Borealis Viewing

Last night we saw an amazing display of the Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis.  Fluorescent green bands of light, with a pink hue intermixed at times, extended fully across the sky.   One of the largest geomagnetic storms since 2003 has occurred and the forecast for Aurora activity was high.  Our skies were clear, the stars were bright and as predicted the aurora danced across the Alaska night.

One of the most active Aurora Borealis shows I ever witnessed was in the winter of 1990.  The bright green lights that moved across the sky that night instilled a sense of awe I will long remember.  The changing intensity of light and the way they moved kept your attention.  They seemed to disappear there to reappear elsewhere.  It was a continual show of lights.  That was the first time I saw the Northern Lights dance, such an amazing event.

Since that time I have witnessed the Aurora many times, in varied colors and patterns, at different times of the night. Each time is beautiful to watch.  It's easy to understand where cultures hold this event in sacred esteem.  It's very beautiful to see.

Photographs of the Aurora takes some skills that I do not have.  I will share these links of those who are more adept.

Anchorage Daily News - Aurora photos