Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Yesterday was clear, sunny, and cold, so I went out to Hatcher’s Pass to take some photos of the winter. Hatcher’s Pass is a borough recreation area about 15 miles to the north of Wasilla. The road winds some 8 miles to a high basin where an old gold mine is. It’s now a state historic site. The road winds further to the west where it tops out at the pass itself, at some 4000+ feet elevation, then winds down to the valley below, continuing west to the community of Willow along the Parks Hwy near mile 67. Hatcher’s Pass is a very popular recreation area. The road comes from Palmer and the Wasilla Fishhook Road joins it, coming out of Wasilla itself. The road crosses over the Little Susitna River before winding up toward the pass area. We’ve had a lot of snow this month and the trees there were still coated with snow and there is still some water showing in the “Little Su” as we call it here. Due to the wide, deep snow berms on the side of the bridge I was unable to get a vantage point to eliminate the tops of the brush you see at the bottoms of the images. The second and third shots were taken from the same location, one in portrait mode and one in landscape mode. Which of the two do you prefer? Another note: Behind me is a very high ridge and the sun was low enough in the sky that the bridge area was completely in the shadows, unfortunately. At this time of the year it wouldn’t have mattered if it were earlier in the day because the sun still doesn’t come high enough to clear the ridge there. Just a bit of trivia. Taken with my iPhone 13 Pro Max.

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UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

A beautiful tour of an ideal winter's day, Greg! Thanks for sharing.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Thank you, Mike. It’s a favorite place to go. In the winter it’s this, in the summer it’s wildflowers. This morning it’s -9˚F! 🥶

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

I give you the Quaker blessing, Greg, better thee than me (LOL).

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Beautiful set Greg

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Alaska is gorgeous in winter, and you have done an excellent job of presenting some of that beauty! Anyone thinking Alaska in winter is not worth visiting... is missing an outstanding opportunity to witness beauty dressed in white!

johnny1950 Loc: Palm Coast, Florida

Greg
Excellent job of capturing a frigid winter day Brrrr. I like the landscape one the best. Both are excellent but that seems to standout to me. Would love to visit beautiful area but too cold for me to live there. Have a fantastric Thanksgiving.
Johnny

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I’ll take the cold before all that snow we got.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Thank you very much.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Thank you very much, Doug. And I agree.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Thank you Johnny. I’d love some of your sunshine and warmth, too.

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Having driven from central Arkansas to Anchorage in the middle of January, I can say it was not near as bad a drive as I was apprehensive about. Drove straight north to Manitoba, then Alcan highway. Mostly a 'breeze'! Only real issues were 1. Blowing snow in North Dakota/Manitoba (20 minutes worth).
2. Icy interstate in South Dakota
3. Temps ABOVE freezing in Alberta area! (Mud on windshield, and headlights)!

Preparation for a ALCAN drive:
A. Not much of an issue, but fill up the gas tank when it nears 1/2 full. (You can carry a 5 gallon can full, if you wish).
B. Engine block heater!
C. Arctic level antifreeze in radiator, & washer fluids.
D. Mountain/Snow tires
E. Walkie Talkie, And let someone know where you will be staying each day.
F. Wet wipes to clean headlights!!!

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Good plan. In the winter I always have a pair of gloves, a roll of paper towel or a large microfiber cloth and a spray bottle of Windex. I don’t know if they sell any antifreeze up here other than what’s rated at -20F or colder. We don’t have an engine block heater but we keep our car parked in our garage.

Interesting how the worst driving conditions you went through weren’t in Alaska. We just have crummy roads. Our Subaru Forester is equipped with all weather/season/Mud & Snow (M+S) rated tires and it does just fine. No need for studded tires. If conditions are that bad we just don’t go out.

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

While we were there, we always plugged in the block heater... Maybe due to them being outdoors night and day, didn't take as long to 'warm up the heater'. The tires weren't studded, but had what appeared to be a special tread pattern. There were 2 sections of road that were "washboards"(!!!), for about 1 block each. But otherwise OK. Interesting to me, the 'Haul Road' was not bad either... But then the chug holes were 'paved over' with snow/ice. The 1st night we were in Anchorage, it snowed about 20 inches. Interesting to me how many locals had snowplows attached to their trucks, for clearing all the parking lots.
Here, the main roads get cleared, maybe a few parking lots. But then it rarely snows that much. But upon rare occasions...
A photo of my front yard, several years ago.

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johnny1950 Loc: Palm Coast, Florida

'Doug
Beautiful shot. Poor birds in all that snow.
Johnny