Small town festival celebrates the spirit of winter in Alaska
The Winterfest activities in Haines this past weekend were a blast. My favorite activities were the children’s sled-pull, snowshoe, and 2×4 races. Other activities included a race over the mountains from the Chilkat Valley to the Chilkoot Valley.
The frying pan toss and the fowl curling (curling but using a chicken or turkey instead of a curling stone) were canceled due to the warm weather, which might have damaged the skating rink where those events were to be held.
Another enjoyable Winterfest activity was driving out to the Tlingit village of Klukwan to listen to stories about living in the Chilkat Valley during the winter. The Klukwan residents, particularly the elders, are wonderful, engaging storytellers.
After the elders spoke, they asked the attendees for their stories of winter life in the Chilkat Valley. I tried my darndest to think of something, but nothing came to mind. It wasn’t until we were back on the road to Haines that I thought of a story I could have told.
If I had thought of it in time, I would have told the story of when I was in Haines, and it snowed 54 inches over 36 hours. My friend Phyllis’ young nephew, Gable, stopped by to see his aunt. I commented, “Guess you won’t be having school tomorrow.” He looked at me like I had a third eye and said, “Of course we will!” He couldn’t believe that two or three inches routinely close schools in Missouri.
Winter life in Haines is very different from the lower 48. Haines residents take it all in stride and make the most of it
LINKS
- PHOTO GALLERY: Haines, Alaska
- BLOG POST: Aurora borealis over Haines spectacular and otherworldly