Barrow, AK- Sunset Tonight, Sunrise Jan. 23

“BARROW, AK-November 18, 2003 — The sun is setting on America's northernmost city and won't be seen again for two months.

After Tuesday, residents of this city of 4,400 people on the Arctic Sea, about 330 miles from the Arctic Circle, may see a snippet of sun above the horizon for a few more days, depending on their elevation and the distorting effects of the atmosphere. But after that, the sun will not be seen again until Jan. 23.

"The sun is greatly overrated," said Bob Bolger, who works with computers.

To give people a chance to soak up the last few rays Tuesday, Barrow was planning a "Goodbye to the Sun" two-mile run, bike, ski and walk.”

“I always so much more human when I am able to get some rays everyday.”

“Rockman,I was up there in July a couple of years ago and the sun never went down.That was really wierd.But no sun would be terrible..Barrow was an interesting place.”

“A friend of mine interviewed for a job up there a couple of years ago. THey called me for a reference and we talked about the sun/lack of sun issue a little. Apparantly it takes a very special kind of person to tolerate it. Don't think I could - my buddy ended up going to Fairbanks for two years instead.

He's back in GA now.”

“I spent a (very) little time there. I found Alaska to be a very small town, spread over a hue piece of country. Don't think I'm one of those who could handle it.”

“Believe me, the summer sun was wierd. It was bright daylight, like someone hid the sun behind something, but yet it was daylight outside. As a parent you learned to put dark shades up, or the little ones wouldn't go to sleep. The summer was beautiful with it's abundance of wildflowers. However, the winters were wicked. You had to plug in your vehicles otherwise they wouldn't start till the spring. Also, ladies could never wear a dress out, or nice shoes, wearing a snowsuit was a must, otherwise you would not only get frostbite, but your legs would be stuck to the car seat, like a kid sticking his tongue to a metal post.

During the winter, the stores had sidewalk frozen food sales. People just stored the food in the trunks of their cars. It was actually colder than a household freezer by at least 30 degrees.

Alaska was a very hard life. Nice place to visit in the summer, lowsy place for the winter. Guess that is why the alcholism rates are so high there.

Also, the kodiak bears are miserable, not like the little bears in the lower 48. You should pack a bear killing gun, otherwise you will be their dinner.

Have fun! But, I can't say I envy you.”

“I wouldn't be able to handle the lack of sun either. Heck, I go nuts with daylight savings time. 12 hrs or less of sun is a bad thing for my psyche.”

“I need in the winter to get outside and work in the garden, go for walks. Yes, in CA you can work in the garden pruning and weeding etc. It is chilly, but not unbearable.”

“are you working up there, or just conducting a scientific experiment?”

“Who, me? If me, I live in Walnut Creek, CA. not Alaska that's for dang sure! :)”

“I live in Citrus Heights, CA”

“You know, during the cold dark days of winter, the number of expectant mothers goes up. LOL”

“There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee.

-- Robert W. Service



Whadda they call that...

"Seasonal Affective Disorder"?”

“That sounds like an interesting place. I've never been up there. I heard you have to dress really warm and cuddle a lot.”