Is there an official "breakup" date, week or month? I understand there are many parties this time of year...how much does it vary from year to year? Wish I was there rather than in CA at the moment enduring the typical 88-92 degree weather! Bleah!
no "official" breakup. The main shorefast icepack in the sound broke up Memorial Day weekend. That's actually a bit later than usual according to locals. It is typically mid-May. Early May to early June is the usual variation. Last winter was not terrifically cold: -20 to -30 much of the time but it actually warmed up and rained at one point in January. The winter before that was very cold. -50 fairly often.
The ice in the pictures is flowing down from the estuaries and rivers. It's moving right along at 2.5 knots or so. Now that boating is somewhat feasible, all the locals are excited and heading out to hunt ugruk (bearded seals). Sheefishing is in full swing. Stuff costs $1.00/lb. to ship in from Anchorage so any locally available food is welcome. Personally, i'm not crazy about any of that stuff...although sheefish are tasty, just pretty bony.
They do have an "official" breakup of the Nenana River called the "Nenana Ice Classic" but that's near Fairbanks. It's like a lottery--there is a tripod with a sensor on it, and when it moves a certain amount, the holder of the ticket with that time on it wins.
Summer solstice parites are a tradition all over Alaska. Not sure when sunsets stopped here, but it was a few weeks ago.
Once the ice is gone from the lagoon, they have an annual snowmobile race over the water. Kindof a bummer if your engine stalls and sinks in the salt water....
interesting place. Eveybody should live someplace where they are in the racial minority at some point in their life. I've had to learn a few things to be effective at what I do. I've just completed my 15th month and am close to pulling the plug. Although this place will never be home, it certainly has been an interesting stint.
