courtesy of the Alaska Dispatch
by Craig Medred
Soon comes the day when it will be safe to stumble out of the house like an average American. The new snow that rims the Chugach Mountains peaks these October days is viewed by some as “termination dust.” They sense the approaching winter with unease and dream as many an Alaskan miner did a hundred years ago of the warm comforts of Seattle or San Francisco or cities even farther south.
Those of us who’ve made a home here, those of us who cling to the land like country’s aboriginal, see the snow a little differently. It remains “termination dust,” but it has a different meaning.
Soon the bears will disappear from the scene for the winter.
Soon it will be fine to roam the neighborhood trails unprepared.
Soon we will feel comfortable bumbling out of the house at any hour without looking both ways for bruin.
Teklanika Nature Photography 