When it comes to winters in Alaska, I have a steep learning curve ahead of me. As a new staff member at Camp Denali and North Face Lodge this summer, I have experienced the glory of summer, but have yet to experience winter. All I knew of winters in Alaska is that they could be long, cold, and dark. So when I was lucky enough to join the hearty year round staff of six at Camp Denali this fall, I knew I’d have to learn quickly and prepare for the big change.
 
The last couple months, I have been moving my car and personal items up from the "Lower 48," and preparing for the challenges and rewards of winter. Equipping myself with warm clothes, blankets, a winter ready car, and a lot of hobbies to keep me occupied. I do have one thing on my side: I already know the cold and dark. I have experienced similar (although not as harsh) winters in both Montana and Minnesota, so it shouldn't be a complete shock to the system.

While the initial thought of winter can be intimidating, dig a little deeper and you will discover the beauty of winter: the sunsets, the aurora, the snow, the adventures, and the silence. After the busy summer and fall I think I am now ready for the quiet of winter.
 
Recently, the daylight has been dwindling rapidly and the temperatures have been dropping. Last night I walked home from work in a chilly and dark -8 Degrees F, the waxing moon was lighting up the snow on the ground, making it a magical moonlit winter walk. Painter Rockwell Kent has said of winter in Alaska, it a time when “Nothing really happens-but in the quietness the soul expands.” I can't imagine a better place to seek the silence and solitude of winter than at the doorstep of Denali.