Alaskology : 49 and counting ...

Alaskology

About the blog: Alaska is a wonderful and fascinating place. Whether its backcountry hiking, coastline kayaking or dining on a downtown deck, there truly is something for everyone. This blog picks up where the annual Daily News Visitors' Guide leaves off. The guide is published in late April, but that's just when summer fun starts heating up. Throughout the year, we hope to give readers a look at Alaska through local eyes. The blog also serves as a calendar of what's going on, a place to look for some outstanding vacation deals and other cool stuff. We invite your comments and your questions. E-mail me at alaskology@adn.com.
About me: I live in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, and I served as the special sections editor at the Anchorage Daily News for nine years. My wife and I have been Alaska residents since 2000 and never plan to leave.

49 and counting ...

Posted by Alaskology

Posted: April 16, 2009 - 4:34 pm

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Gina and I conquered the huge chunks of ice on the beach at Kincaid Park.

Winter is dead.

This isn’t shocking news, but as the thermometer creeps toward 50 degrees today (it’s 49 as of this writing at 4:12 p.m.), the reality is setting in. Gina is mourning winter’s death already. In fact, she’s been moping around for several days.

I haven’t been on the cross-country trails lately, but there can’t be much left. In fact, yesterday, the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage posted this note on its Web site: “”This morning Tom was out for the last groom of the year. He groomed the Besh, Burn, Spencer, Bubble, Gasline. Enjoy. See you all next season.”

That was the situation at Hillside Park, the place we ski most often. At other places around town, the grooming has already stopped. On today’s bike commute, it was obvious city workers have been out clearing the snow and ice off the paved trails around town – giving up on winter and welcoming the biking season.

The mud and ice chunks along the beach at Kincaid Park give it an otherworldly look.

While in other parts of the country, April showers bring May flowers (and that sort of stuff). In Alaska, April brings a wide variety of stuff, not all of it good:

Breakup: It’s spring, but with a special Alaska twist – mud, dust, potholes, months of garbage coming uncovered as the snow melts.

More snow: At some point we’ll get a huge dump of snow. Last year, there was a huge snowstorm that brought about 20 inches snow in late April. So while it feels springlike, we shouldn’t get fooled.

Biking and waiting: Sure, it’s easier to ride as the bike paths and streets get clear of snow but we can’t get the mountain bikes on the trails for another month or so.

But there is always another adventure to try. Take a look at these pictures from our trip to the beach at Kincaid Park recently. The giant ice chunks made for some excellent adventure climbing.

Check back soon, who knows what we’ll be up to then.

-- Steve

The changing seasons make for some fun adventures around Anchorage.