Snow...

[HighlandLady]

Can it be???????? A sign of Spring???

[Xa'at]

Yes! I went out for a walk today, and it was amazing. Like someone had flipped a switch and suddenly... it's spring. There are ferns growing, buds on trees, robins and sparrows. Bear sightings, noseeums, sea lions, the color green. Hell, it even smells like spring.
Aaaaah...

[Rance]

Robins? You got Robins? In Sweden there were Robin sized birds that even sounded like Robins. But they were totally different colors than our Robins. No Robin red breast but they do have yellow. And they were pulling out worms from lawns just like Robins. I love Robins.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by Rance

Robins? You got Robins?

Yup, saw them for the first time of the season today. I love the way they hop around.

[HighlandLady]

Can you hear a whimper????? A foot of snow over the night and through the day. Tell Spring she is slightly overdue will you??

[Classic Satch]

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

The part about 4-wheel drive is true! Once they go from the gas pedal to the brake pedal, 4-wheel skids are the same for all cars... and not the same at higher speeds.

But actually there are things about driving on snow and ice in Alaska which are significantly different than elsewhere. It isn't seen in Anchorage as much as it is farther north, but it might be some times. Snow in Fairbanks, for example, squeaks when you walk on it. It is NOT usually slippery or wet. Hence when you need traction to stop in Fairbanks, instead of avoiding the snow, the best place for your vehicle's tires would be in the snow berm, not the cleared areas between. Those tracks (or "ruts" in the snow) between the snow ridges, that in a warmer climate would have more traction than in snow... are slick with ice.

Fairbanks, like Anchorage, is co-located with two large military installation that bring new people each year, hence there are always many drivers learning to cope come October and November. But in August or September, when nobody has seen snow and ice for a few months, it's easy to spot the experienced winter drivers! As people slow down to make a turn, watch the brake lights as the driver co-ordinates braking and steering. In August if the brake lights go off just prior to the front wheels being angled to cause the vehicle to turn, the driver is clearly an old hand a driving on snow and ice. People who learned how to do that last winter will be back to their old habits by August, and come the first snow they'll have to learn it again. Old timers drive that way year round.

Very, very interesting. We're bringing one AWD vehicle with us and will buy another when we get there. Given that we now have a 1 year old little girl, we're driving slow and safe regardless. However, it's always the other idiots that you have to watch out for.

[rotorhead]

ah yes...signs of spring...red-breasted robins, buds popping out all over, giant melting piles of frozen, condensed road-grit, bleached-white moldey lumps of early-winter dog cr@p emerging from it's long winters nap...

ick, grab the shovel

[warptman]

When I drove down to the states a few years back in April, a few robins smacked my windshield. They make a big splat when they do that, worse than them small song birds.