Some recent AK photo's

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Candle

I've only driven up there once and that was last September. I'd like to do it again next year around the same time.

I honestly don't remember what the price of gas was...

Were you able to stop at the arctic visitor's center across the highway from the Coldfoot Cafe? If not, you may want to time your next trip to do so. It's worth seeing, at least once. I believe they close the doors on September 1st. Last week of August is usually a good time to catch it, and the fall colors.

BTW, do you have your weather station up and running yet?

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by kazoopilot

Wow, trees are already completely bare up there. When do you guys get fall color? September?

Yes, late August, early September.

[flyingwriter]

Originally Posted by Moose Whisperer

Yes, late August, early September.

August?!?! Wow. That's the middle of summer here, and I live in the Northern U.S. We usually see the first hints of fall color in early September, with peak coming around mid October. The trees aren't bare until November. I couldn't imagine fall color in August.

When is your spring? June?

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by kazoopilot

When is your spring? June?

Depends on where you are talking about. Remember, Alaska is a big place. For comparison, if you put the northern part of the Alaska where you are in Michigan, where I'm at here in Anchorage is down in Texas, and the southern parts of our state around Juneau and Ketchikan are down in Florida. So yea, up in the northern parts of the state, Spring is in June, Summer in July, and Fall in August. The rest is Winter! Down where I am at is slightly more moderate, Spring is May/June, Summer is July/August, and Fall is September. By this time last year we already had snow in Anchorage, though this year is turning out to be warmer. We're still in the high 30's / low 40's! Just waiting for the snow any day now!

[ASpilot2be]

Originally Posted by Candle

nice shot of that magpie akvarmit. They're funny little birds.

Can anyone guess where this first pic is from? Warptman and Moose Whisperer should know.

The last two are from Deadhorse.

Nice photos! I miss working with those planes.

Originally Posted by Moose Whisperer

I always chuckle that those two planes have tail numbers ending in BP and CP!

It is odd considering CP operates them.

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by ASpilot2be

It is odd considering CP operates them.

Maybe cause BP is the big kid on the block and demands respect? Anyway, I always try to avoid Shared Services at all costs and ride AS. Particularly the southbound crew change flight out of Deadhorse. Its like riding on a school bus that serves alcohol!

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by Nephler

So the water level has gone down over the years I guess.

The key to understanding Bethel's waterfront is realizing that even though it is many miles up the river from the Bering Sea they do have a 3-4 foot tide!

But that tide doesn't affect flooding as such. Bethel floods in the spring when the frozen river ice starts to break up. Break up progresses over many days starting 300 miles up stream from Bethel and progresses to the ocean. In any given area the ice begins to break up into first large and then smaller and smaller pieces, and it invariably jams up against the larger pieces that invariably jam up against the solid ice farther down the river.

The ice jams back up huge amounts of water. Father up the river (away from the delta area near the ocean) the river is confined between mountains and the depth of flood waters from a jam can be 30 or more feet above "normal" levels.

Bethel is located in the delta, so it isn't likely to see water that gets as deep as up river, but it certainly is enough to flood all of the lower areas that are not on higher ground.

Regardless of the spring floods though, the tidal action in sloughs such as Brown Slough is dramatic. When the tide is in it is essentially a small "bay". They have a harbor for small boats, plus many boats are just tied off along the beach. When the tide is out there isn't enough water at the mouth of the slough to get a boat out into the main river, and most of the boats are, as shown in Warpt's pictures, high and dry along the bank anyway!

The tidal action on the Kuskokwim River extends all the way up to Kalskag, where they have 4-6 inches. 35 miles farther is Aniak, and there is no tide at all.

[warptman]

I think Kalskag is a bit out of reach for tides. I'm thinking more like right below Akiak is where the tides stop.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by warptman

I think Kalskag is a bit out of reach for tides. I'm thinking more like right below Akiak is where the tides stop.

Nope. They can see a tide at Kalskag. Not that a few inches of tide is of any concern though... :-)

Odd thing here in Barrow is that we don't have a tide either. However, oceans are big and we do get wind pushed surges that amount to a few inches. The big difference is that if there are large waves they wash much farther up the beach than small waves.

[ASpilot2be]

Originally Posted by Moose Whisperer

Maybe cause BP is the big kid on the block and demands respect? Anyway, I always try to avoid Shared Services at all costs and ride AS. Particularly the southbound crew change flight out of Deadhorse. Its like riding on a school bus that serves alcohol!

Hahaha. I hate dealing with them and their luggage on the Southbound flights.