19 January 2014

It Ain't Easy

I know all you folks in the Lower 48 have had your fair share of winter weather, the last few years. But I thought you might enjoy this tale of what it takes to get to Juneau, if you start out in a car.

BAD ROAD TRIP . . . Legislators are used to crummy travel conditions on the annual trip to Juneau -- the session always starts in January, so what do they expect? But after their trek south this past week, Anchorage Reps. Andy Josephson and Geran Tarr may actually regret being elected.

... Traveling in separate vehicles, they both got to Tok Sunday night. On Monday morning, Andy found his car battery frozen inert by the minus-30 temperatures -- and no jumper cables. Geran had cables and jump-started Andy's car.

Later, 50 miles south of Haines Junction, in the Yukon Territory, Andy came upon Geran, her car dead at the side of the road. He shuffled things around in his already packed vehicle and Geran, her two cats and some necessary belongings squeezed in. They made it to the Haines-Juneau ferry on time.

According to Tarr, the Haines tow truck driver who eventually rescued her car reported "30 miles of whiteout ... and when they finally got to my car it was buried under several feet of snow."

Puts our regular morning commute to shame, doesn't it?

8 comments:

PioneerPreppy said...

Guess it would limit their going back to their districts every weekend too. Which might be a good thing.

Rev. Paul said...

Most of us fly to Juneau, when/if necessary. The article doesn't mention that it's a 5 1/2 hour drive to Tok on a good day, and then heading south to Haines is another 7 or 8 hours ... and that doesn't include the ferry from Haines to Juneau.

I can't think of a good reason to go that way. At least, not on a regular basis.

Cathy said...

-18 is enough to get me running for cover (s).
- 30 . . . . seriously . . . that's scary.
I suppose that no one travels without candles and blankets in there cars ?

Old NFO said...

There's commuting and then there's COMMUTING! :-) I'll pass...

Rev. Paul said...

Food, camping stoves & fire-starters, blankets, extra clothes ... you name it. Oh yes, shovel & firearms, too.

Rev. Paul said...

I think Anchorage-to-Haines stretches the definition quite a bit. :)

On a Wing and a Whim said...

I don't miss the winter.
I don't miss the winter.
I don't miss the winter...

...yet...

Rev. Paul said...

Give it time, Wing.

Give it time. :)