Navigating North in November

 Twice a year I travel home to Fairbanks, usually for a month. Up until recently, hubby Don and I always went separately because of commitments in New York that kept one of us here while the other happily flew on their merry way north. This year we can finally travel together; our local commitment’s a thing of the past.

Originally we’d planned on a summer filled with mosquitoes and endless sun. When our NY friends found out we’re both going up together, they all expressed envy that we’d be spending summer in Alaska.

Yet when asked, we found ourselves replying,

 “No, we’ll go up in November.”

The looks that remark netted ranged from disbelieving to confused and back to disbelieving.

“But it’s cold up there in November!” they said. Then we got a few tentative queries of, “Isn’t it cold up there in November? With a lot of snow?”

“Yes. It’s cold in November. And there’s snow,” we replied serenely.

Still no true comprehension. “But you already live Upstate! Why not spend winter in warmth, maybe go to Florida? You may as well stay in New York,” they reasoned.

“Nope. We’re headed north.”

“Well, you’re both crazy.” The conversation usually ended there. Or something similar, depending on which family or friend we spoke to.

I can’t recall the last time I saw a true Fairbanks summer, where the days lengthen so deliciously and the sun’s up and beaming after midnight. It seems I always go up late in the fall or early in the year.

But I discovered something about myself when I was in Fairbanks this past February:

It’s more comfortable there at twenty below than in New York at twenty above.

Winter in Interior Alaska has winter in Upstate beat by a landslide, and all because of two factors:

Wind and humidity. As in - Fairbanks doesn’t have either during most of their winters. And Upstate does. And it makes all the difference in comfort.

When we lived full-time in Alaska it was easy to complain about the winter. Six months of snow will eventually get to anyone, including the avid outdoorsman who owns every winter toy on the market. Cabin fever is real and everyone gets stuck with it sooner or later. But at least for me, I found I missed Alaskan winters even though we ended up in ‘Four Seasons Central,’ otherwise known as the Northeast.

I longed for the Aurora. I missed the utter calm of snow that falls so very silently and clings endlessly to tree branches in a lacy white drape incomparable to anywhere else. Until I’d moved to New York I had forgotten what it’s like to have that bitterly frigid Upstate wind cut through layers of clothing and chill to the bone; damp and just nasty. Not the entire winter in Upstate, of course, but enough. And not even a clear night of dancing Northern Lights as recompense for that wet, windy freeze. It seemed three months of Upstate winter could trump six months of Interior winter, hands down . . . and not in a good way.

But see, family and friends here in New York wouldn’t understand it. Given a choice of region for those wintry months, they’d go to Hawaii, Mexico, Florida, Las Vegas; anywhere south or west that has no snow and winter temps higher than sixty degrees. What would be the point of going north? It’s just more snow.

I simply smile, and say, “Why, yes. Yes, it is.” And I pack accordingly.

This year we’ll head north, stay a month, probably over the holidays. Christmas morning in Fairbanks sounds pretty good to me. As for the rest of the winter, we might just hop in the motor home and drive to Florida. A few months on the beach could be completely doable. Ah, but that month right in the middle? It belongs to Alaska. I’m looking forward to it.

 Char Chaffin is a member of AKRWA and CNYRW, a die-hard displaced Alaskan, and has just published her third novel, Jesse’s Girl. She goes home to Fairbanks when she can, hangs out on a sixty-acre farm in Upstate New York when she can’t, and divides her time between writing her next novel and being an Acquisitions Editor for Soul Mate Publishing.

website: http://char.chaffin.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/char.chaffin

Twitter: http://twitter.com/char_chaffin

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5337737.Char_Chaffin

Book Trailer for Jesse’s Girl:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5UBBoAqbWE

REAL MEN of ALASKA Series

REAL MAN of ALASKA

 

Mr. July 2013

 

"JOHN"

 

As Alaskan Romance Writers

we are always on the lookout for
Hot Hunky Hero types ---

So please, Mr. Alaska Man - tell us about yourself.

1. Were you born in Alaska, and if not, then how did you end up here? What do you do for a living, and what do you do for fun. Age, height, favorite food, and any other statistics you are willing to share. Just remember though, we are a PG 13 site and blush easily.

I was not born in Alaska, I'm a born and bred New Yorker.
I came to Alaska on a travel assignment (I'm a Respiratory Therapist) and returned to stay a few years later. I'm 35 and 6'. I have a fairly strict diet, but when I go home to NY, I try and ingest all the pizza (the ONLY real pizza on the planet) and bagels (see comment about pizza) I can.  

2. What kind of woman appeals to you, and who do you let make the first move, you or her?
 

I love a woman who is independent; someone who isn't afraid to try new things. I look at life as an adventure, so a woman who can share that view is what I like. As for first moves... I will never knock a woman for making a first move. It shows that she is confident and knows what she wants and that usually pays off later ;)

3. Where is your favorite place to take a girl on a first date, and why?

For a first date, I like to stay away from movies and dinner. That is so impersonal. Its Alaska! How about some outdoor activities? Summer hikes or bike rides... Winter snowshoeing.. Then perhaps somewhere to warm up?

 

4. What is the wildest thing that's ever happened to you while with a female companion?
 

The wildest thing that has happened to me while with a female companion was taking a hike though some pretty deserted (by humans anyway) trails and hearing the animals and seeing the footprints (pretty fresh ones at that) and trekking on, watching each other's back.

5. Winter can be long, dark, and very cold here in Alaska. What are your favorite frosty pastime activities? And, what is the coldest temp you'e seen/been in?

I love to cross country ski. I haven't made my way up something high enough to slide down since I've been here. Nothing beats a fire and watching the snow fall. That always ends nicely.

6. And, if we ask about winter then we simply must inquire about the too short, wonderful summers.

I definitely feel the pressure to accomplish all I can during the summer weeks. Besides camping, I love hiking and mountain biking. I love the water so I hope to get some kayaking and stand up paddle boarding in.  I just competed in my first triathalon last month. 

7. Alaskan men take their vehicles very seriously. What is your favorite mode of transport and why?

I drive a truck, but nothing beats taking something on 2 wheels and going fast enough to be considered stupid.. I do enjoy the snow machine, but its 2 wheels for me!

8. What is your favorite Alaskan animal – to see along the highway or on your dinner plate?

I'm a vegetarian so I don't like to see animals on my plate. I am a dog lover so my favorite would have to be our very own Alaskan Malamute.

 

9. Have you ever wrestled a polar bear, mushed a dog team, panned for gold, eaten muktuk, done the polar bear plunge, climbed Denali, run the Mt. Marathon, or any of the other Found Only In Alaska activities?

Sadly, I have done none of those things, but there's still time so I better get on it!

10. In your opinion, what exactly is it that makes an Alaskan Male so wonderfully macho and appealing?

The Alaskan Male has to be a part of nature. He has to fend off deadly animals and be pretty handy with an axe to for all those winter fires. 

 
11. What’s the biggest fish you’ve ever landed?
 

I caught a 45lb halibut a few years back. That was when I still ate them though.

12. Other than making love under them, what is your favorite thing to do when the Northern Lights are out and putting on a show?

Umm... there's other things?

13. And last but certainly not least, what is the most romantic thing about Alaska, and why?

 

The most romantic thing about Alaska is the never ending opportunity to be out in nature with that special someone totally isolated. Its like having your own Eden... before the leaves ;)

Our thanks to JOHN - 'Mr. July 2013' for a great interview on what REAL ALASKA MEN are all about.

Check back on the AKRWA blog to see what 'Mr. August' says!

Thanks for stopping by - see you next time...