The Fairbanks North Star Borough has an air pollution problem. That sounds surprising for a small Alaska population center with vast wilderness all around it. But on some winter days, especially the really cold ones when an inversion forms, fine particulate matter gets trapped. Combustion goes up then, too, as people need more fuel to heat homes, buildings, and vehicles. “Ice fog” is what it’s called, and it’s hard on the health of people who live at the lower elevations and have to breathe the polluted air until the weather changes and it blows away. The problem only grew worse with the increase in fuel prices. As heating oil went up over $2 per gallon in about 2005, more people began using wood stoves for their heating needs. This exacerbated the problem, and figuring out solutions has been an ongoing and contentious discussion in our community.
Surf and Surf
Copper River red salmon are some of the tastiest fish we’ve ever had, and we haven’t grown tired of them despite how many we’ve eaten over the years. We still tend to fix them very simply.
Solo Run to Chitina
Truly stunning numbers of salmon had been racked up at the Miles Lake sonar on the Copper River, and my netting anxiety was growing as each day passed and we didn’t have a solid plan in place to get down there and catch fish.
Beringian Apocalypse
Our beautiful spring and early summer weather was idyllic. Rose and I had dinner on the deck every evening, and we were often outside reading until ten or eleven PM. But as things got dryer and temperatures pushed into the low 80s each day, we grew concerned. Then Zeus sent thunderbolts from the sky and set Beringia on fire.
Half-Tail and the Sweet Boys
The midnight wildlife was out in force last night. A light rain and cool weather was welcomed by all. Only one of the northern flying squirrels came in to the feeder — Half-Tail, the more beat-up-looking one. Even alone, though, she (and I’m guessing on sex here) did some acrobatics, climbing high up the side of the house and flying out to Bird Tree before returning and sitting on the bird feeder by the window.
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