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'A Tease of Snow' in AK
A Tease of Snow Ignites the Fire!
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\r\nBy Kikkan Randall
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\r\nIt’s September in Alaska and I’ve just finished up a great week of roller skiing with sunny skies and dry roads. Snow skiing is still a distant thought, although the termination dust has been creeping down the mountains. On Saturday morning I wake up and prepare to meet my team for an over distance run. As I look outside to gauge how many layers to wear, I spot something funny. Big white flakes, the size of half-dollars, are tumbling out of the sky at a furious rate. It is an incredible sight and I have to rub my eyes to make sure I’m not dreaming; sure enough, it’s real snow. Alaskan’s are frequently spoiled with early snow, typically arriving around mid October. This September we got an unexpected jump-start.
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\r\nAt first sight I took the snow to be some freak flurries that would soon turn to rain. When the snow kept falling, and falling, however, we all began to wonder. Would this be the start of our winter season?
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\r\nOur over distance run had a noticeably high energy level. The snow falling from the sky seemed to make our hearts beat faster and the time flew by. It is early afternoon when we finish the run. There are now a couple inches accumulating on the ground as the snow continues to fall.
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\r\nI change into dry clothes, put my car into four-wheel drive and plow across town through the slush to get to the high school city championships cross-country running meet. I pull into the parking lot at Kincaid Park to see the stadium completely white. As I get out of my car my natural instinct takes me around to my rocket box and I open it expecting to grab my skis out. I look down and see my roller skis instead, which quickly brings me back to reality.
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\r\nFully clad in snow pants, parka and winter boots, I run out onto the trails to cheer on the runners. It looks like a high school ski meet, except the athletes are running… in skimpy shorts and singlets! There is a buzz among the spectators about the snow. No one can believe it!!
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My friend and I posing in front of the scoreboard, notice the 30°F!!
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\r\nThe rest of the afternoon and evening, the snow keeps falling. More than six inches are holding on the ground. The trees are caught off guard just as much as we are and are bending and snapping to the pressure of the heavy snow. The power goes out for more than 12 hours in several parts of the city. The roads are a mess and the sky is dark. Yet I am in total bliss. Although I know this snow probably won’t last, it has nonetheless sparked the fire inside me. There is something magical about snow falling from the sky and the promise of skiing to come.
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\r\nThe next day the snow has stopped and with the temperature above freezing everything is quickly turning to slop. The magic is over for now but my fire has been ignited. I can’t wait for the snow to fall again so that I can stride and glide to my heart’s content.
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\r\nJust a tease, but now I’m ready. Bring on winter!!
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Written By: KRandallDate Posted: 10/6/2004Number of Views: 262
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