New Year's Hike to Wickersham Dome

Mike and I have a New Year's Day tradition that we began two years ago. Regardless of weather, we have spent New Year's Day snowshoeing up to Wickersham Dome in the White Mountains! However, when we awoke this morning and saw that the temperature was 44 below zero, we seriously questioned whether we should risk getting out in such cold temperatures. Immediately, I fired up my laptop to check the NWS's forecast for the day. I was determined that we should not give up so quickly. When I pulled up the NWS's website, the forecast stated: Partly Cloudy. Okay, so far, so good. I read on: Highs around 35 below zero in the valleys. Okay, we weren't going to be in the valley, we were heading up into the White Mountains. So, I continued: Highs 15 below in the hills. SOLD! We were heading to Wickershamm Dome!

As we gathered our cold weather gear, we also put together emergency supplies, just in case we were to get lost after dark. Not that we planned on being out in the Alaskan wilderness after dark in sub-zero weather, but one can never tell. So, we pulled out all the essentials: matches, head lamps, emergency blanket, extra water, extra socks, and chocolate covered pretzels. Once the backpack was packed with the essentials, we loaded the car and headed out.

As Mike and I backed out of the garage, we watched the thermometer drop from 47 inside the garage to 22 below (that is as low as the thermometer goes on my car (it could be 50 below, but it would still only register 22 below)) in a matter of five minutes. I started getting a little nervous that it would not warm up. I mean, how many times have the NWS's meteorologists actually gotten the forecast right in the last, say, three years we've been here. If the meteorologists in Fairbanks were a football team, they would probably be like the Indianapolis Colts, 2 - 14, a pathetic record.

Anyway, I was a wee bit concerned about the temperatures. I was also concerned by the ice fog that was so thick we could hardly see beyond 1/2 mile. This sure wasn't looking good. Finally, as we passed Hilltop Truck Stop, the last gas station heading out of Fairbanks on the way to the Arctic Circle and the best place to get pie between Fairbanks and the Arctic Circle (oh, wait, it's the only place to get pie between Fairbanks and the Arctic Circle), the ice fog abated and the skies cleared. The car slowly climbed up the winding road into the mountains and the temperature jumped to 20 below zero! When we pulled into the parking lot at the trail head, the thermometer registered 18 below zero. Mike and I were in business!

After parking the car, I headed to the little girl's outhouse and Mike prepared a gourmet lunch. Returning to the car, Mike had two steaming cups of noodles ready to eat, along with a piece of butter cream and pecan fudge. Yumm! We devoured our lunches, as we were eager to get out on the trail (that and we were running out of daylight). After putting on all of our gear, we were ready to head up to Wickersham Dome.

With snowshoes on and poles in hand, Mike and I headed up the trail. There were no signs of other snowshoers, just cross country ski tracks that were probably at least a week or two old. As we climbed, the terrain was absolutely gorgeous. The snow blanketed every branch and limb of every tree. As the sun's rays fell softly across the ground, a pale pink glistened on the snow. It was the prettiest alpenglow I've seen in a very long time.

Mike and I only hiked about half-way up to Wickersham Dome. Daylight was quickly coming to an end and we decided it would be best to turn around and head back to the car. Timing couldn't have been better. Just after we made the decision to head back, both of my snowshoes broke. My left foot went completely through the bottom of the snowshoe and my right one was hanging on by a thread.

Hobbling back down the hill, it was tough going. Every step I took, my feet would go right through the snow. Many times, I found myself thigh deep in snow. Of course, you know me. I was not about to let it get the best of me. I whimpered and begged Mike to help me. He was able to pull me out each and every time and we got back to the car without any major trouble. We were able to watch the sun set at precisely 2:58 p.m.

At the present, you will find Mike asleep on the couch with Zoee snuggled next to him. The NY Giants and the Dallas Cowboys are playing the background (Go Giants!). And, I'm sitting on my chair weaving another story about our Alaskan adventures.