Predicting the Weather

I studied geology in college and grad school. Petrology and mineral physics to be more precise. But after I moved to Boston I have often thought that if I had grown up there I would have studied meteorology.

People from the east coast liked to tell me that California doesn’t have seasons, or at least not “four true season”. And before I lived on the east coast I would argue they were wrong. However, it’s not so much that they are wrong, it’s that I don’t care. Whatever seasons we have in California, they are what I know. And they are generally harsh enough, or not, for me.

But prediciting the weather is difficult, especially in places where weather moves through swiftly. Boston is one of those places. As are it seems like any mountain range I have ever spent time in. And the Brooks Range is a doozy, it will snow whenever it feels like it. Like today in Arctic Village.

I am scheduled to fly through Arctic Village on Saturday.

The weather for my upcoming 6 nights in the Alaskan bush is predicted to have some weather. I meant to write that, it is not a typo, or a mistake. And the highs are a little low for my taste. But I am ready. Mentally. And likely physically, and gear wise. I am ready to be snug in my tent, warm, and possibly clammy for the duration. I have gear packed in plastic bags inside stuff sacks inside my backpack. I have gear in lightweight dry bags. I will have a positive attitude and remember to enjoy the physicality, the scenery, and the hot chocolate.

Some trips I forget to prep for the very wet. Or more accurately, I don’t think of it. I like to say that you pack for the last trip you were on, not the one you are about to participate in. Since I live and backpack in California, those previous trips were often dry. Or, it might have rained for an hour, or a bit overnight. But end of the summer trip to Wyoming last year, is a huge reminder to batten down the hatches. Sometimes I don’t want to add the weight and become too optimistic as a result. But more than that for this trip, i want dry socks. So all the socks went into a dry bag. And having dry socks while backpacking in Alaska is a bit of a losing game, but if I play my cards right, I might be able to start every day wearing dry socks. And not the ones I save for only at night out of the wet, in the tent, and maybe, but probably not, in my sleeping bag.