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Caption: _______ WHAT * COLD looks like
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Caption: We rig up our sleds in the morning light of late December in interior Alaska.
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Caption: 1:45pm and the sun is at its post-solstice zenith as we ski 10 miles in -15°F
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Caption: night descends
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Caption: ...and with it the cold. Our little key chain thermometers stop at -20 but atop the last dome we climb and cross in the dark we guesstimate around -40°F with windchill.
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Caption: in the morning it's warmed to -15° --which is still cold enough to greatly enjoy a soak in one of the 3 tubs of the hot springs that has drawn us here.
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Caption: the water's almost too hot...
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Caption: the cabin has entertainment too...
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Caption: we crank the crank-radio in the cabin and enjoy 85° courtesy of the birch roaring in the wood stove (audio!)
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Caption: The next day the temperature begins to drop even further...
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Caption: we have fun with it...
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Caption: -32°
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Caption: back and forth between the hot springs and cabin
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Caption: and that night we celebrate the New Year a bit early
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Caption: ...and mentally prepare for the ski out the following morning (audio!)
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Caption: The first 2 miles out of the cabin are uphill. It gets the blood flowing and keeps the cold at bay.
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Caption: as with any backcountry travel, layer management is important!
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Caption: (audio!)
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Caption: we descend through an old burn
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Caption: a mile from the parking lot i take a selfie - before the warmth of the car will heat our bodies and relax our minds...before we'll forget or noses were ever frostnipped !
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Caption: Last light of the day slowly fades as we use a fuel burning heater to warm the car engine under a tarp before attempting to start it. Then off we go.
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Caption: Find more adventures from the arctic and the mountains on my instagram: @wilderphoto
www.nathanielwilder.com