In article <47c32228$0$36403$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net>,
Patty Winter <patty1.TakeThisOut@wintertime.com> wrote:
>In article <47c30033$1@darkstar>, Eugene Miya <eugene.TakeThisOut@cse.ucsc.edu> wrote:
>>For some reason I've never seen auroras well in the lower 48.
>
>The only one I ever saw in the Bay Area was in the 1950s. There have
>been a few others supposedly visible here since then, but now one has
>to get away from the metro areas where there's so much light pollution.
The last time, several years back, at least 6-7 years, I was camping out
near the Carson Sink, and I heard that it was a dramatic red the next
when I was in Reno. Never saw it.
>>That is a very different experience.
>>
>>1) It's dark longer. 2hrs of day light.
>>2) It's considerably colder (last week the area around Fairbanks ranges
>>in lows from -40F to -60F.
>
>Thus making it a lot less pleasant to hang around outdoors! Although
>I suppose an indoor location with good windows would suffice part of
>the time. Not the same, though!
You have to have lights off and quad paned windows. Dual panes can
still fog.
My one very minor regret was not tossing a cup of hot water in the air
and having it freeze before it lands on the snow. You need to be well
clothed, but that's all doable. Especialy if done at the Hot Springs.
I just had I80 to myself (closed at Donner Pass). That was a more
hazardous experience.
>>3) Feb. is commonly cited as a good time to see aurora with color.
>>I had nice greens in December.
>
>Hmmm, interesting. I didn't realize that color intensity might not
>correlate with frequency.
Aurora Watchers Handbook.
>>4) Glare might be a problem but I would not worry about it, a good
>>aurora will cut through glare. The most impressive display I had during
>>the period I was in Fairbanks happened when I drove over to North Pole
>>to drop X-mas cards off for the special Santa cancellation that post
>>office has.
>
>That's a cute town. 
North Pole tends to make the news once a year.
It is open other times (like when I was there in August, saw the only
moose the entire trip last time coming back).
>>Coming back, the aurora stopped the traffic, people got out
>>of their cars (4 lanes).
>
>Wow, that must have been something if it even made the locals stop
>and take notice.
>
>What year was this, Eugene? I'm curious to know whether it was near
>the top of the solar cycle.
December.
I was amazed at the glare from the near by base/Fort.
This was a green light (with reddish Mercury lights).
>>5) If I were going again to just see the aurora, I'd made a reservation
>>to stay at Chena Hot Springs a night or two.
>
>That's out away from Fairbanks, right? I've heard of it.
It's about a 2 hour drive on a paved road. They have a web site.
I went just for a day soak.
>>Transiting to get to Fairbanks in winter is also problematic.
>
>Are flights often delayed because of weather problems?
I've never had problems there with weather (IFR or VFR).
Airliner, ski plane, or float plane.
>>Do spend a night and a full day in Anchorage.
>
>I should do that. I didn't get a look at the place last time I visited.
>Just stayed overnight and got on the train in the morning. I'll research
>the visitors' bureau site, but any suggestions from folks here about
>what to see and do in Anchorage would also be welcome.
Oh, you did the summer AKRR? I finally did that a few years back.
Did see one bear from the train. They hire HS students to be guides up
to the half way point. One Fairbanks kid knew Bud K. (he wondered how a
stranger would know his HS bio teacher, and I noted the net).
I need to do that 1 winter. The problem is the turn around is less than
a day, and I want more than that or less than a week staying with
friends.
I also drove down to Seward. You clearly have to be careful driving
around winter time. Not all Los Anchorage is pretty in winter.
--
>> Stay informed about: Advance planning for an aurora trip 
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style of scheduling.