Fall is Here

Today is different. It's fall. The air is not just cool -- it's  crisp. We didn't have much of a summer up here in the 49th. And we are on track to go on record as the wettest summer. Ever. But fall is here and it's one of those magnificent days that makes you wonder how you could possibly conceive of living anywhere else.

Upper Chatanika River

I wrote the following post three years ago. Despite that it was borne out of heartbreak (which is now ancient history and those memories don't evoke anything) it remains one of my favorite pieces that I've written.

Click here to read, "It's Fall, in August?"

Visiting the 'banks

Mom spent a few days with me in the 'banks. We hit all the hotspots: took in a play, went to Chena Hot Springs where we soaked in the pools and sat at an ice bar in the Ice Museum. We traveled the Chena River on the Riverboat Discovery with a stop at a re-created Athabascan village. Saw the pipeline, and viewed fall color. Unfortunately mom didn't get to see any moose.

 

At the pipeline outside of town.

Leaves

This past weekend, Hollie and crew had a destination vacation in Fairbanks. Cousins Henlie and Savanna had fun playing in the leaves and in particular, throwing leaves on me.

Fall Frivolity

It was another beautiful fall day yesterday -- perfect for a bonfire at Blair and Mark's.

Summer Pictorial Review

My observation that Fairbanks summer weather wasn't "all that' has been substantiated. Today's News Miner reported that the average temperature in Fairbanks this summer was 59.5 degrees. We had 5 days of 80 degree weather -- far off the average of 11 days.

Yesterday was Labor Day; summer is officially over. Here's summer in pictures:

Start of summer -- Hiking Angel Rocks

6 Weeks 'till Winter

Local wisdom says that once Fireweed flowers go to cotton, winter is six weeks away.

Autumn has arrived in Fairbanks. We're still having nice days -- 70's, warm and sunny. But nights have a chill that requires an extra blanket. Windows can't be left open at night; and the quality of light has shifted as well. Softening it seems, in preparation for its hibernation.

Waiting for Jack

The fall color around town is spectacular right now. The weather has been what I think of as typical for California in October and November: bright, sunny days and chilly nights (36 degrees this am!) But here we are in the middle of September.

It's Fall. In August?

Seems that I made it to Fairbanks just in time for fall: crisp air laden with the scent of wood burning stoves, warm days but an extra blanket required at night, and leaves turning scarlet and gold. Surely one of my favorite times of year. But in August?