December 21, 2025. Yule. I find myself in Anchorage, Alaska for a spell. I’ve never been to Alaska and by coming in the winter, I’ve been able to avoid the crowds. Chatanika, one of the song-cities on my list is a seven hour drive north of Anchorage, and 45 minutes north of Fairbanks. So close. Just a seven hour drive on a two lane highway through the wilderness and into -30F temperatures. Though if I can get to -40, I don’t need to worry about C or F because they are the same.
I sneered when my family strongly suggested I bring some ice cleats with me. I know what winter is. I landed in Anchorage right behind an ice storm. These are not optional, old man.
I’ve enjoyed the wide variety of seafood in here. But I am choosing to call out the corned beef hash at Kriner’s Diner. Superb. And the Ube Hefeweizen at 49th State Brewery. Not superb, but points for creativity. The Seward’s Folly Russian Imperial Stout was delicious but, at 11.2% ABV, not to be trifled with. And not as visually interesting as purple beer.
To satisfy my geek quota, I toured the NWS station and saw a weather balloon released.
The root cause of the ice, the need for cleats, and the trepidation about a seven hour drive. It is cold here!
The Journey 