The world of ideas is infinite -- enjoy the journey!
I am often saying, with a smile, "We'll see how this writing thing goes." The week between Christmas and New Years is often slow, a very welcome slow. And so one imagines doing things not considered in normal days. Every year I imagine the summer will be different, more will get done, normal routines will continue, and especially it will not be so hectic!! Again, warm smile of realization. The most difficult is the loss of routine. Somewhere in April the season begins to take charge and by June you just hang on. Maybe it will be different this year. Best to sort of go with it, insist on a few fixed things, and enjoy the magic of summer in the land of the midnight sun! All to say, if I am able to maintain this routine in any suitable fashion it will be nigh unto a miracle.
But that is not the subject for these notes. Travel is. Today our younger son and I will go on a road trip beyond the Arctic Circle. I have made this trip three times, once going all the way to Prudhoe Bay during the peak of Fall. That was spectacular!
If you know much about Alaska you remember the oil pipeline built in the mid-70's, one of the greatest engineering feats in the world, traveling near 900 miles through extreme climates, over rivers, underground, and scaling three mountain ranges. The road to the Arctic Circle and beyond to the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay was established so the pipeline could be be built, and it included the first and only bridge over the Yukon River.
From our house the Arctic Circle is a little over 200 miles. From there we will likely go to Coldfoot, a truckstop with cafe near Wiseman
What is the Arctic Circle? Some may wonder if it is a physical marking of some kind. No, it is not visible and in fact they say it moves slightly each year. The Arctic Circle is the line above which Winter Solstice sees the sun fail to crest the horizon and Summer Solstice sees it fail to dip below the horizon. One day the sun never rises, one day the sun never sets: that tells us where the circle is. I'm glad we don't have to figure out where that happens. There's a sign, a small park, even a camping area.
Since we are only one week past the Winter Solstice, the days are still quite dark. We will be strategic about travel so we have optimal light for various locations. We'd like some light when we cross the bridge, for example. Atigun is far enough north the sun will not rise tomorrow, but it is scheduled to rise for the first time in one week on January 5th. The days get longer by a shocking 30 minutes each day, but it can't keep that pace. Some times of the year days gain or lose only one minute change and we are told the average is about 7 minutes.
Weather is supposed to be a manageable - 9 F, and the skies are supposed to be clear. For this we are glad. The moon will be a few days off full, but it sets for a few hours in the afternoon, giving us black skies for star gazing and potential Northern Lights.
That's all for now. We've done our due diligence and look forward to leaving at a very early hour. Maybe I'll share some pictures next week. Prayers appreciated!
[Below is a chart for sunrise/sunset at Atigun Pass for December 2023.]
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