Wednesday, January 12, 2011

200 Mile Visibility

This was one of those crystal clear days where you can see for forever. The mountains are the Alaska Range. The prominent peaks near the center of the photo are about 90 miles away and the equally high peaks to their left are about 150 miles away. Mt. McKinley would be way to the right and the sky was still dark in that direction. Later in the day, there was a bright reflection off both peaks of Mt. McKinley which is over 200 miles from Fairbanks. There isn't a good view of the mountain from the building where my office is located but you can just see the north and south peaks.

Whenever the weather in the lower 48 (states) is bad, it's usually pretty nice around here. Wonderfully clear and cold. I had mentioned in an earlier post that we would get these incredibly clear days and was asked to post a picture.
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12 comments:

  1. redlegsridesJanuary 13, 2011 at 7:08 AM

    Nice pic Richard....someday I shall ride in Alaska.

    dom


    Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner

    Redleg's Rides

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  2. TrobairitzJanuary 13, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    Lovely picture Richard. There sure is some beautiful scenery up there. One day we'll get to see experience it in person.

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  3. UnknownJanuary 13, 2011 at 11:31 AM

    RichardM:

    I have actually seen some Alaskan mountains on our last trip. Our plane took the circle route north from Vancouver and flew right over Nome. The white below was like a white blanket. I really did try to look for you . . . Next time I'll give you a bit of warning and ask you to wear your RED hat. The one with the RED LED's

    bob
    Wet Coast Scootin

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  4. SonjaMJanuary 13, 2011 at 1:30 PM

    Lovely pic. I have been in Alaska in summer 2004 (I guess it was the summer of the great fires) and I almost had NO view at all. Hence, I might just tag along one fine day when Dom comes up to visit ;-)

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  5. BeemerGirlJanuary 13, 2011 at 6:19 PM

    Gorgeous photo. Thanks for posting and explanation. The distances to be seen are incredible.

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  6. ConchscooterJanuary 13, 2011 at 6:21 PM

    Fine from a distance. Its the cold part of the equation that bothers me.

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  7. MikeJanuary 13, 2011 at 7:52 PM

    Nice image but I feel the same as Conchscooter... the cold might be bothersome long-term but I imagine one would get use to it.

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  8. BluekatJanuary 13, 2011 at 9:12 PM

    Beautiful scene.
    Me three on the cold. I'll enjoy the scenery from the window of a toasty cabin with a nice, hot fire in the fireplace.

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  9. Jack RiepeJanuary 15, 2011 at 5:47 PM

    Dear Richard M.:

    I use to love the deep, penetrating cold of the north country... But I have lost my taste for it. Still, the super clean, biting aroma of super fresh air is wonderful. It must be great to live on the frontier.

    Fondest regards,
    Jack • reep • Toad
    Twisted Roads

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  10. irondadJanuary 18, 2011 at 11:35 AM

    In case you're missing the rain and clouds I have a large fan outside pointed your direction.

    You should be able to see them when the get within two hundred miles of you!

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  11. RichardMJanuary 18, 2011 at 11:59 AM

    Thank you for the comments on the photo. The picture was taken using a phone (non-HDR mode). Today, we have ice-fog, no visibility and it looks like the absolutely worst smog ever due to a temperature inversion and cold weather (-30°F or -34°C). I should post a picture of the horrible visibility days.

    Bob:
    I haven't been around Nome for around 8 years or so. And don't think I have a red hat...

    Sonja:
    There have been a number of summers with lots of forest fires. I think that was the same year that the Long Way 'Round crew was up here.

    You get sort of used to the cold weather after a while and find yourself shedding a lot of it once it warms up again to positive (F) temperatures.

    Irondad:
    You may have missed the target a bit. I was on a call with folks up north and they were getting rain temperatures above freezing. This was only a couple of days from temperatures way below freezing. About an 80°F change in 24 hours. Weird weather...

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  12. AllainaJanuary 21, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    Hiya! I will be traveling out your way some time in the next few months for work. Not on the moto but I'm glad to have the chance to go anyway! Thanks for the beautiful photo!

    cheers,
    Allaina

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