DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Travel to Alaska in winter takes planning. But would LOVE to do it again someday! Cold? Yes, but layers and 'Hot Hands' (particularly in your shoes!). The day we arrived at the border, it was minus 35, and the wind blowing. It literally hurt to breath while pumping gas. Yes, we drove it in the dead of winter, middle of January (I lost my marbles, please return if you should find any). We left Arkansas January 11, 2017, it was 72 degrees F. Next day we were in snow, in South Dakota.
We only encountered two issues while driving. 1) BLOWING SNOW, and 2) temps ABOVE freezing! In Alberta the sand they place on the snowy roads turns to MUD SPRAY! Coats your headlights, so you can't see anything after dark, so clean them at every fill-up!!! Wet Wipes are your friend.
Most of the time in Alaska while we were there, the temps were +20 to -20 range. - 20 is much more tolerable than -35...
The hotel rates are about 1/3 of the cost of summer travel, too. Don't go during the Chinese New Year, many visitors from China during that time, may have a little more trouble getting reservations for train travel. I had planned on riding the train both ways, to Fairbanks from Anchorage and back, but only got to ride it back.
The scenery is spectacular winter or summer, just a little(?) coating of white, maybe 20 or so inches... Roads are kept plowed, very well. We took the dog sled ride for 1 hour in Coldfoot. That was enough, unless you are used to the COLD. Chena Hot Springs is quite interesting, wish we had stayed there at least one night. As are the ice sculptures at North Pole, Alaska/Santa Claus House.
Hope you enjoy my photos of winter in Alaska, I had a blast!
Will post more in a few days.

Frozen fog Moon back lighting

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Hotel parking lot in Fairbanks

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At Chena Hot Springs

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Cabin at Chena Hot Springs

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Ice Sculpture building at Chena Hot Springs

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Dalton Highway/Brooks Range scene

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danniepolley

Really like #4 but way to cold for me.

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

I think it was about -20 F. while we were at Chena Hot Springs, and there was a little wind,too. Wish I had had foot warmers, in my shoes while there! The Ice Museum has some 'bedrooms' that can be rented for the night, NOT for ME. It is kept a cool 20 degrees F even in the summer. I like that shot, too.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I like #1 with the snow on the branches and the blue sky in the background through the branches. We all love summertime, but up here, despite the cold, winter is beautiful, especially after a snowfall, when everything is white and clean, and the sky is deep blue during the day.

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

I found I liked it in winter quite well. We have a little snow here in the winter (Arkansas), as much as 20 inches (rare). Once I decided to use hand and foot warmers, it was great!
I did a search in UHH, and found very few Alaska winter photos posted, so decided to post a few. It really is a great place to visit, summer or winter. Thanks for commenting.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

So here's one. Portage Lake in late afternoon. Portage is south of Anchorage about 45 miles. Looking straight ahead, the town of Whittier lies on the other side of those mountains.

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DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Good one! Passed by there in the early summer, 4 years ago. Totally different look to your photo! I like it.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Thanks, glad you liked it. That was taken in late winter on what turned out to be a spectacular day. It was taken with my then iPhone 6 Plus and did a pretty good job. I'd like to have been able to zoom out and reduce the amount of foreground shadow, but that's one of the shortcomings of a cell phone camera. But it turned out pretty good, I thought.

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

Beautiful series Doug, I never was up there in the deep of the winter, your pictures show me what I missed. Four of as drove in March 54 from Vancouver to Dawson City and we had still a lot of snow, I spent that summer gold mining on the Klondike.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice ones, but if I ever go up there it will be in the summer.

RCJets Loc: Virginia

I have been to Alaska - once. I was flying home from Viet Nam on a C-141 on December 23, 1967. We were supposed to land in Anchorage, but couldn't get in there due to ice fog. We ended up in Fairbanks. Temp was -20 degrees, and we were all in Summer uniforms. Brrrrr. It was cold! When we got off of the plane we were told not to touch anything metal with bare hands or we would stick to it.
Since our replacement crew was in Anchorage, we had to spend the night. I will say the flight out the next morning was beautiful, as it was perfectly clear and the flight over the snow covered mountains was worth dealing with the cold. Never again in the winter!

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Very glad you liked it. I did get to do a little 'tourist' gold mining, about 1 hour, at the Gold Bottom mine, up there. Got a little color!

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Thanks for your kind comment. It is great to go in the summer. But the winter is also great, much better than most would expect, and less expensive too!

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Minus 20 is cold for sure, particularly if you are not prepared for it. But it is just oh so pretty up there! As you saw. The day we flew from Anchorage to Fairbanks, it was cloudy. Did not get to see it from the air, or anything else.

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

Fairbanks and cabin scenes are lovely.