So Much Snow

UAA on a snowy Thursday morning.

The day after we got back from Christmas and New Years on the East Coast, we got another foot of snow. Just as we finished digging out, we got another 8". Nothing like a nice welcome home. That was almost two weeks ago and we haven't had any snow since. It's been a nice little break. Anchorage is already over 90" for the season. The city usually only averages around 80". Supposedly, the snow sometimes melts away.

That pile is now taller than Kelly.

 We haven't seen bare ground since the first snow way back in October. The snow piles surrounding our driveway are now pushing 6' tall. Good thing Kelly and I really love the snow. It's also a good thing we don't live in Cordova or Valdez. Any place that is up to 25' already is just not for me.

The aftermath of our latest snow.

It's been nice having some time off from the snow. Unfortunately, the lack of snow has been accompanied by a deep freeze. Over the last week and a half there have only been one or two times when the temperature has been above 0. We've found the quickest way to tell if the temperature is 0 or below is to see if your nose hairs freeze. If they are frozen after a couple breaths, it's below 0.

Sunset turned the snow on the hillside a bright pink.

Between 0 and -10 is somewhat tolerable, at least for walks to and from the car. Anything below -10 numbs your skin as soon as you step outside. My winter beard has done a decent job of keeping my face warm, but at -15, even the beard fails me. I spent 30 minutes outside at -15 and ended up with ice crystals in my beard from exhaling. Any moisture at these temps freezes. It's amazing to see ice crystals on everything, even things you didn't think could freeze. According to the locals, the amount of snow and this prolonged cold is extremely unusual. Lucky us.

Frozen gate and hinges.

Crystals on the pile along our driveway.

Winter Recess

It's been a good long while since my last post. The run up to the end of the year got pretty crazy. Kelly and I celebrated Christmas in Anchorage a week before the real thing. We spent Christmas, New Years, and the first week of January back on the East Coast. It was a marathon trip, but we caught up on the sorely needed family and friend time.

Kelly's mom's coolest decoration.

I've never felt so popular as this trip home. I guess it's true that absence makes the heart grow founder. Everyone wanted to hang out (I suspect with Kelly, but I'll take what I can get). Operating from a base at my sister's house we made almost daily trips to see family and friends. Our visits took us to 8 different states (if you count layovers in Chicago, Illinois and buying beer in Maryland). We caught up with mentors, former coworkers and friends we haven't seen since our wedding - a lifetime ago in May, 2011.

My sister got a sweet Flyers hat for Christmas

 There's nothing quite like Christmas at home. Although there was no snow, and certainly no mountains, it was great to be Levittown. When we got back up to Anchorage, we quickly caught up on the snow we've missed. Stay tuned for an update on our snowy winter.