Winter in Pictures

Winter is finally here, and it’s wonderful. Sure, it’s cold and icy, but it’s beautiful. Walking around Nome and flying around the region, everything I see is just gorgeous — from the fresh snow to the intriguing sea ice.

Still, it’s hard to relay the landscape in words. I struggle to describe the experience to my family and friends back home. And while it’s not any easier to distill the beauty of the frozen Bering Sea in my amateur photos, I’d still like to share a few pictures from my first winter in Alaska.


Christmas came upon us so quickly that it was hard to celebrate the holiday. But wading through the willows to find the KNOM station “tree” was the first time I felt proper wintry.

Behind the cemetery, Laura Collins and Mitch search for the perfect Christmas willow. Climbing into the brush and sawing down the chosen branch was very satisfying. Photo: Laura Kraegel, KNOM.

Since then, the season has set in slowly but surely, and Nome looks so lovely blanketed in the snow.

While four-wheelers have hardly gone out of style, many people are motoring about on snowmachines now, and it’s awesome.

A snowmachine and sled spotted outside the Music Mart. Photo: Laura Kraegel, KNOM.

I was particularly jazzed when I got to take one out myself. (Shout-out to Mitch for helping when I got it stuck. And special shout-out to that kind, random passerby for helping when neither Mitch nor I could pull it clear of the sloshy snowbank.)

Taking the snowmachine for spin on the gorgeous stretch of tundra north of the hospital. (Thanks, Kelly!) Photo: Laura Kraegel, KNOM.

Even more than the snow, though, I’m very excited about the sea ice. It’s incredible to see the ocean freeze so far — and a little unnerving to see it sit silent without the sound of the waves.

And as the sea ice came in, so did the seals. My first sightings were down at the small boat harbor.

While New Year’s Eve didn’t include any seal sightings, there was an impressive fireworks show at the harbor. It was well worth the wait after a bright Fourth of July.

At midnight, Emily takes in the fireworks. Photo: Laura Kraegel, KNOM.

Fireworks of a different sort were on display when Sam Schmidt took us out shooting. It was hard to remove my gloves and reload before my hands went numb, but I felt very accomplished when I shattered a glass bottle with a shotgun.

My first live race update was less impressive and more fumbled, but I’m so excited to get better as race season gets underway. Following the close finish of the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race was addictive, and I can’t wait for the Yukon Quest.

On the Studio A window, a map of the K300 course. (Congrats to Pete Kaiser on his repeat victory!) Photo: Laura Kraegel, KNOM.

So far, though, I think my favorite parts of winter have been the consistently spectacular sunrises.

The sunrise, seen just outside the KNOM station … Photo: Laura Kraegel, KNOM.

No matter where I am or what day it is, seeing the sun rise in the late, late morning never fails to make me stop and appreciate just how lucky I am to see all of this.

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