It's Not Cold Enough

While most of the nation struggles under a blanket of too cold temperatures, we are experiencing a period of warm winter temperatures. January is typically our coldest month, but instead of normal (for Alaska!) winter temperatures we have had above freezing temperatures and rain. The ski resorts had to close, the parks have shut down access to snow machine trails, and any outdoor skating events have been canceled or moved indoors. The moose have returned to chow down on all the newly exposed shrubbery. Grass is becoming exposed. This type of weather in the dead of winter is not good. We'd welcome it in late March, but not earlier. We have two major sled dog events--The Fur Rondy World Championship Sled Dog Race and the Iditarod Race--yet to happen. The dogs need snow and cold temperatures.