I've been back from Juneau, Alaska for a couple of weeks now, and am enjoying my family, winter activities, and Bay Area weather. I have so many wonderful memories of my month in Juneau with my mom, brother, sister, and Aunt Char, celebrating Christmas, New Years, and my Dad's life. We experienced freezing temperatures down to 3℉, a record-breaking snowfall, and drenching rain that melted a good deal of the snow in less than a week. Weather whiplash!
The Big Freeze
By the time I arrived in town, Juneau had already had a big snowfall, but the roads had been plowed so it was easy to get around. We took some family car rides, and ate at some wonderful restaurants. Some of my favorite sights include the ice fog rise from the water, the rosy afternoon light, and the early sunsets. Some of my favorite experiences included hanging out with my family, watching good movies and shows, and sleeping on flannel sheets!
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| Ice fog at Auke Bay harbor |
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| Rosy afternoon glow over Mendenhall Glacier |
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| Ice fog at Amalga Harbor |
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| Early sunset at Eagle River |
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| Cozy back seat driving |
The Big Snow
Two days after Christmas, an atmospheric river of snow rolled in and covered the Juneau area in fresh snow! The mounds and drifts of white snow were so beautiful. Snow removal equipment worked around the clock to keep the roads clear; Wally Olds plowed our driveway periodically; and we shoveled snow daily to keep the paths and berms clear. Inside, we worked on puzzles, read our novels, and enjoyed daily life.
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| Shoveling snow at dusk |
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| Snow everywhere! |
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| Snow-covered deciduous and evergreen trees |
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| Snow covered car is taller than Mom |
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| Ham sandwiches with Aunt Char and Mom |
The Big Thaw
About a week later, the temperature rose to 38 ℉, an atmospheric river of rain rolled through, and all that snow started to melt. The roads, streets, and driveways were soon bare, roofs dumped their snow load, and the mounds of snow started to melt. What a relief to put away our snow shovels.
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| Snow on the road melted |
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| Snow on the roof and driveway melted |
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| Time for a puzzle and good conversation |
What a great experience!
