Definition of irony

[starmac]

Well I lived in Orange for a couple of years, while I really enjoyed some things there (fishing and squirrel hunting), I would take the weather here anyday over it. 30 degrees there feels colder than 0 here anyday.

[swheeler]

Definition of irony

That's an easy one, made of iron!

[AlaskaScott]

I was in Fairbanks last week cleaning carpets. That gets interesting with three water lines running to the van outside in -20 and trying to keep them from freezing.

[wlc]

I was in Fairbanks last week cleaning carpets. That gets interesting with three water lines running to the van outside in -20 and trying to keep them from freezing.

I bet. You may run into that problem where your at the next couple of days. Already at -15 here at the house as I write this. Supposed to be between -20 and -30 tonight. Brrr.

Saw on the news this evening that McGrath was -51 this morning. There was 100* difference in the warmest and coldest temps in the state today.

[zardoz]

On the other side of the spectrum, I remember one summer working in a refinery. One engine room where the big motors and compressors were, was usually around 130 degrees or so in July. I worked in there for several hours (granted I was only 18 or 19 at the time). At lunch break, we came out of there into 100 degree heat. I said, "Ahh, cool air!"

[Blackwater]

Zardoz, a perfect example of what the word "perspective" means! What one is acclimated to determines what's REALLY "hot" and "cold." Personally, I have no aspirations of getting acclimated to anything but my good ol' heat and air .... except in summer at the river. I have those cooling towels and plenty of ice if I need it. And I DO use it, too! Neither not nor cold suits me quite like it once could!

[paul h]

On the other side of the spectrum, I remember one summer working in a refinery. One engine room where the big motors and compressors were, was usually around 130 degrees or so in July. I worked in there for several hours (granted I was only 18 or 19 at the time). At lunch break, we came out of there into 100 degree heat. I said, "Ahh, cool air!"

I've had the same experience on the slope with buildings that have 35,000 hp gas turbines compressing natural gas to 2000 psi. You get in the upper elevation of the building, about 60' up and the temp is 120-130F. The big difference was you'd step outside and it was -20.

[starmac]

BW I know you won't belive it, but like I said before the cold here is different by quite a bit. In other words you would be comfortable here a lot colder than you would in georgia as far as degrees go.

A kid, well young man that just came up from Florida and arrived day before yesterday with my son, remarked yesterday felt cold, while the day before wasn't bad at all. Well yesterday it got down to 30 below, while the day before, his first full day here it was only 10 below. lol

This morning was 48 below, pretty sure he thinks today is getting pretty cool. lol

[MaryB]

38 today, no wind... I had to clear another clog in my corn vac system(I heat with a pellet/corn stove) and with no coat it felt pretty decent in the sun.

[Blackwater]

I understand Starmac. Have experienced it a little. Here in the "swamps," the air's always heavy with humidity, which makes the summers hotter and the winters colder. Talked with a soldier once from MN who was stationed at a nearby base. He said his parents came down from MN and didn't bring their heavy jackets. Naturally, Murphy's Law caused a sudden and VERY hard cold snap. He said they froze the whole time they were here! And I think it only got down into the teens, IIRC. But all that cold water vapor acts like a heat sink, and just draws heat from any and everywhere it can, including human bodies. And it's GOOD at it, too! Have been in freezing weather where it's dry, and it was almost pleasant with only a moderate wt. short sleved shirt! What a difference humidity can make!

But get down to zero and below, and I've become a real wuss these days. My aspirations of seeing Alaska again are pretty well diminished now. But I'll never forget the smell of that awesome air y'all breathe! "Pristine wilderness" will NEVER truly have meaning for people unless and until they see at least a taste of Alaska! I was awed by it.

[starmac]

BW, do not give up on at least visiting.
I had always wanted to live up here, but kept putting it off (life and kids got in the way) well roll on a few years and I brought a load up in the spring, stayed 30 days and basically checked out a good part of the road system.
By this stage in life I was haveing trouble wit authritus in cold weather and getting to hate it, so had pretty much given up any thought of ever living up here, but since I really liked trucking on the Alcan, I started getting every load up I could, finally mentioned to my wife that I had not noticed authritus bothering me, but really had not paid any attention. The next trip it was somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 below and I stayed a few days, NO AUTHRITUS, so here I am. lol

Now the kids always knew I wanted to live up here, but stayed till they were grown, fast forward a few years and all of my kids wound up here and told me they wished we would have moved up when they were younguns. lol

[tygar]

BW I know you won't belive it, but like I said before the cold here is different by quite a bit. In other words you would be comfortable here a lot colder than you would in georgia as far as degrees go.

A kid, well young man that just came up from Florida and arrived day before yesterday with my son, remarked yesterday felt cold, while the day before wasn't bad at all. Well yesterday it got down to 30 below, while the day before, his first full day here it was only 10 below. lol

This morning was 48 below, pretty sure he thinks today is getting pretty cool. lol

I don't care about the difference in how it feels, when your nose hair freezes & it hurts to take a breath it's too dam cold!

Son in Anch emaild & said it was -59 up your way & he was worried he would have to go up there for his work.

Was thinking about going up for Iditarod, but AK in Feb, ehhhh, nope!

Wait until Jun/Jul for kings.

[starmac]

Nah, it didn't get cold here, now over in North Pole it was 61 below this morning, dat be cold. lol

We were a mere 49 below, tell your son to come on up. lol
When it is this cold, not a lot gets done outside, most of us stay inside as much as we can. lol
Heck my pickup tried to object this morning. lol

[Blackwater]

Points well taken, Starmac. A number of friends have taken cruises up there, and a friend and his then girlfriend flew up and rented a car and struck out to see the country. I've had nothing but wide eyed glowing reports from all of them. Sure makes it hard on a decrepit old man to resist a trip! But I've got too much holding me down her right now and for the forseeable future. If I got there, you'd be one of the folks I'd really like to look up. I was just wowed by what I saw of it in Anchorage, for the brief time I was there. Spent it all up on the roof, just looking around, smelling that air, and just drinking up the scenery. We flew pretty low over the land for a good ways on approach, and all I could think in my window seat looking down at it all was, "Wow! I could live in that!!!" And I think I could have back then, and loved it tremendously. I've become a homebody these days, and pretty much enjoy it, and have given up my once long-term wanderlust. Alaska is very hard NOT to fall in love with! I envy you guys!

[tygar]

Nah, it didn't get cold here, now over in North Pole it was 61 below this morning, dat be cold. lol

We were a mere 49 below, tell your son to come on up. lol
When it is this cold, not a lot gets done outside, most of us stay inside as much as we can. lol
Heck my pickup tried to object this morning. lol

Ya, NP area was were he was talking about. I sure didn't like going anywhere when it was that cold. Had to do FB, NP, & north etc. in winter, just hated it.

But...Bethel, -20+ & that winding blowing the snow sideways, was about the worst. That really sucked.

I only had a 2 car garage in Wasilla & the wifes Alaska Cadillac (Subaru) & my 57 Tbird took that up, so 2 trucks & Blazer were outside. The gas vehicles were usually OK but that dam diesel truck had to be plugged in whenever it got in the teens.

Did you tell these guys about having to keep your vehicles running while you went in the store or where ever?

A lot of the guys who just can't wait to "move" to AK sure get a rude awakening & a lot change there minds, after their first "hard" winter.

I remember back in the early 90s when we had the whole month of Nov + a couple days, & it was from 0 to -25 & it about caused people to go nuts. And that's nothing compared to what you guys & the rest of the north put up with!

Still, it's the best place I've ever lived.

[tygar]

Wife just said it's -39 in Wasilla. Ain't "missin" that!

U guys must be really getting hammered.

[starmac]

Crazy weather, we are back up to 10 below this morning, but it is suppose to cool off again.

[shooterg]

Guess the "global warming" ain't got there yet...

[paul h]

Points well taken, Starmac. A number of friends have taken cruises up there, and a friend and his then girlfriend flew up and rented a car and struck out to see the country. I've had nothing but wide eyed glowing reports from all of them. Sure makes it hard on a decrepit old man to resist a trip! But I've got too much holding me down her right now and for the forseeable future. If I got there, you'd be one of the folks I'd really like to look up. I was just wowed by what I saw of it in Anchorage, for the brief time I was there. Spent it all up on the roof, just looking around, smelling that air, and just drinking up the scenery. We flew pretty low over the land for a good ways on approach, and all I could think in my window seat looking down at it all was, "Wow! I could live in that!!!" And I think I could have back then, and loved it tremendously. I've become a homebody these days, and pretty much enjoy it, and have given up my once long-term wanderlust. Alaska is very hard NOT to fall in love with! I envy you guys!

Sounds like the description of my first time visiting Alaska, on my honeymoon. Completely fell in love with it and we moved up 3 years later.

I can be content being a homebody in Anchorage just sitting back enjoying the views from the deck.

[shoot-n-lead]

The book Alaska Wolfman is about a guy that got off a boat in 1920 iirc, and walked 375 miles to Fairbanks, then halfway back to where he thought he liked the country better in the dead of winter.
To my way of thinking, with the clothes, boots and gear available back then, you had to be one tough cookie to just survive period. later own the govt, contracted this guy to follow and document the caribou migration for a full year, the man traveled light, not even carrying a bedroll.

starmac...I agree with your thoughts on this.

And, I think everyone should read the book, " Alaska's Wolfman"...to give them a better understanding of the type folks it took to settle Alaska...it really made me think a little differently about it.