Fog only has one benefit

Fog makes the difference in a temperature of 12° as opposed to 7°.  Girdwood is totally socked in this morning. I live literally one block from Max’s Mountain and it is in no way visible (below view). The above view is looking down Alyeska Highway from the T toward town.

It is still 12° outside, and with the fog my little weather station thinks its going to snow. Poor thing can’t see the web cam from the top of Mt. Alyeska shows clear sunny skies with a heavy wool blanket laying on the valley of Girdwood. Looking toward town, still no view.

The fog is icy this morning, like little stinging nettles on your face. The frost still building on the branches like spay on flocking. Last night I looked for the aurora, did it show up in Anchorage? Looks like it is overhead right now. 

Still haven’t seen my magpies this morning, however there are three ravens fighting over some french fries outside. Hmm, wonder where they got those. 

I am enjoying a hot bowl of cream of barley cereal. A couple of weeks ago at the Farmer’s Market in the Mall at Sears, I picked up a bag. It is grown in Alaska at Delta Junction by the Alaska Flour Company. Yea for determined farmers! Barley is so amazingly delicious, full of fiber and iron, and filling. Add some molasses, or local honey or birch syrup for extra goodness. I add pecans or walnuts depending on my taste that day. If you like add any type of cream: heavy, milk, soy, it all adds to the goodness of a well rounded breakfast. The Alaska flour company is attempting to add wheat to the harvest once they get the timing right with the weather. Don’t see why it couldn’t be done if Montana can do it. Some of the great benefits of producing grains in Alaska are the lack of predatory insects, and the reduced need to ship grains up here. I am all for that are you? If so, please head out to the Wednesday market and pick up your bag of barley flour or cream of barley cereal, its hearty and delicious.

An ice skating winter?

Day 8 of frost and today its thick. The ice fog last night really put a layer on everything. It makes me really happy when it clears out because we get this gorgeous alpenglow in the morning! Here you can see it on Penguin Peak and Raggedtop. Last night’s glow under the moon at dusk was really lovely in Anchorage as well.  

Our weather forecast is still lacking in snow. This got me wondering what the big picture is so I went to digging around on NOAA’s website. Here you can see as of November 26th, the jet stream is not in our favor. NOAA also creates a three month climate prediction seen here. I learned that we are and will be experiencing below average temperatures (no kidding!) Sadly their projection is average to below precipitation. I will choose to look at it this way, sounds like this winter will be great for ice skating! And speaking of, yesterday there were several folks enjoying Potter’s Marsh with their skates on! If you are venturing out to Alyeska Resort, they too are preparing the pond for skating this year. 

Here is Max’s with its sunny halo. Now, if the Aurora would just work with all these cloud free nights.....

Update at 3 p.m.

This afternoon in pursuit of the frost build up on trees near the Seward Highway, this scene presented itself as much more interesting. Looking down Toadstool Dr toward the Arm, these layers of clouds are super fine.

Turning toward the north to see if Penguin is visible, I get a mixed answer. Yes there is a kiss of sunlight on its shoulder, but look at the fog bank hugging it. Temperature here is 12°.