Midnight Sun... (Fairbanks, Valdez: school, camping, bus)

[cjg5]

Just wondering how you deal with this issue in the northern areas. I was just looking at Fairbanks sunrise/set data and it looks as though in summer there is less than two hours between sunset and sunrise, with full twilight during the time between.

Here in Seattle in the late spring and summer, even around the summer solstice twilight is done and over with a good hour or more to go before midnight. I personally like the long days, but only at first. They kind of get to me after a while and then I want our long nights back. I don't exactly mind a late evening sunshine or twilight, but that early morning sun is what I really hate. Wakes me up and all before I'm ready and then I can't get back to sleep, even with the blinds down it still comes in. Sometimes I put sheets over my windows to keep it out lol.

So how do you deal with it up there? Pretty much the same way of putting sheets over the bedroom windows or something else (but then just knowing that it's there is kind of a whole mental thing keeping you up too. At least for me). I'm sure you probably just get used to the midnight sun after a while though. Any thoughts on the subject from people who experience it every year please chime in.

(Also, what do you prefer best? The times around the summer solstice with lots of sun, or the times around the winter solstice with very little sun? Or perhaps the times between, around the equinoxes, when the times of daylight and nighttime are fairly balanced? Inquiring minds want to know!).

[cjg5]

Just had another thought. Midnight sun would kind of put a damper on viewing the summer meteor shows. Love viewing meteor shows! Love star gazing in general. It would kind of suck to go camping with midnight sun, can't look up at the stars! Though I'm sure in winter seeing the northern lights in the night sky all the time is just as much a treat!

[stiffnecked]

I'd rather have the sunlight then the moonlight. Sheets over the windows or when I worked graveyard shift then I'd put aluminum fool over the bedroom window. I never complain about the long days. It's kinda like winning the lottery and then complaining it was TOO much money.

[tigre79]

Get good curtains. I loved it this summer because I was working crazy hours and 3am doesn't seem quite as early when it's light out. Yeah, you can't see the stars for a while (I remember being able to see them again in mid August, I think), but it's just one more thing that you can't take for granted up here. The first night I could see them, I drove out to the Valdez Glacier so I was away from any lights and just stared up at them for an hour or so.

[akpls]

We have never done anything special. Everyone is usually so tired from everything we have going on during the summer that it's not a problem to fall asleep......light outside or not.

[gobrien]

My parents put tinfoil over my windows but you just get used to it. We don't do anything special for it now. Having it light all night is exhilirating and surreal, and kids don't have to go to school so it doesn't matter so much if they stay up late. I experienced darkness in the summer at night in the lower 48, that was kind of nice too. Crickets chirping and lightening bugs blinking and an air of mystery.....

As to what I prefer, that really depends. I don't really have a preference but I don't like it being so dark when the kids wait for the bus in the winter, things like that.