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Here in the Interior of Alaska, we are gearing up for the 2012 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race and the World Ice Art Competition - read more about these top Alaska attractions below.
Photo: Starting line at previous Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race in Fairbanks, Alaska. Click photo for larger image.

February News

The Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race gets started on February 4th and Ice Alaska will open its doors on February 28th to the 2012 World Ice Art Championships. In addition to the wintertime activities listed above, we have listed a popular music venue taking place in Fairbanks this month: The Fairbanks Winter Folk Fest.
*Information courtesy Fairbanks Daily News Miner.

Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race - Feb 4
The Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race will originate in Fairbanks, Alaska this year on the frozen Chena River and finish in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. Each year the race start alternates between Whitehorse and Fairbanks.

This year's race will begin at 11:00am on Saturday, February 4th on the frozen Chena River in downtown Fairbanks near the Cushman Street Bridge and the Yukon Quest Log Cabin. The mushers and their dogs will travel 1,000 plus miles over mountains, across rivers and through long stretches of rough terrain before reaching the finish line in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

For more information about the race, visit the Yukon Quest Web site. You can also listen to live updates along the trail streamed to you each day via KUAC in Fairbanks.
Photo Above: Former Yukon Quest race start in Fairbanks. Click photo for larger image.

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Fairbanks Winter Folk Fest - Feb 11
It's that time of year again when Alaskans are looking for an excuse to get out of the house (or cabin) and escape the long winter months. The Fairbanks Folk Festival is just the venue to take away those winter blues and fill your day with some great music from a pool of talented musicians from around the state. The festival will take place on Saturday, February 11th at Pioneer Park in the Pioneer Park Theatre. Musicians will be jamming from 1:00pm to 11:00pm on two different stages throughout the day, so come on down and enjoy the music and bring the whole family. The best part of all - it's FREE. To preview a lineup of musicians scheduled to play throughout the day, visit the Fairbanks Folk Fest Web site.

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2012 World Ice Art Championships - Feb 28 to Mar 25
Sponsored by Ice Alaska, this world-renowned event will bring over 70 ice carvers from around the globe. Opening day is February 28th. The Ice Park will remain open daily from 10:00am to 10:00pm through March 25th. The Ice Park is located at its new location on Phillips Field Road (just a mile further down the road than the previous location) in Fairbanks.
Photo Above: Entrance to the ice park and World Ice Art Championships - photo taken at previous event. Click photo for larger image.

Single-Block Competition - Feb 28-Mar 1
Single-Block Awards Ceremony - Mar 2
Multi-Block Competition - Mar 4 - Mar 9
Multi-Block Awards Ceremony - March 10
Single-block ice sculptures are carved from a large block of ice by a team of two persons, while the multi-block ice sculptures are made up of ten blocks of ice, carved by a team of up to ten persons. This year there will be approximately 55 single and multi-block ice sculptures, scattered across several acres of tree-lined paths.
Photo Above: Ice mermaid reaching for pearl in clamshell. Photo taken at previous World Ice Art Championships. Click photo for larger image.

Kids Ice Park
The Kid's Ice Park is a great place to twirl in an ice bucket, slide down a carved ice Mammoth or crawl through an ice maze, so be sure to bring the whole family. And for you adults that are still young-at-heart, the Kid's Ice Park is a great place to play.
Photo Above: Entrance to Kid's Ice Park. Photo taken at previous Kid's Ice Park entrance. Click photo for larger image.

For more information and photos, check out photos we captured at the 2010 World Ice Art Championships or visit Ice Alaska.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012
Happy New Year from all of us here at the North Pole! We want to wish everyone a healthy and happy new year filled with laughter, love, and the company of family and good friends!

North Pole Christmas in Ice Photos
North Pole Christmas in Ice will close on January 8, 2012. Enjoy the last days of the ice park and this photo taken at a previous Christmas in Ice event.
Photo: Ice cabin sculpture at the North Pole Christmas in Ice park.

Baby, It's Cold Outside
It's January and it's COLD OUTSIDE! During January and February our temperatures can become extremely cold here in Interior Alaska. In North Pole our temps have been hovering between -30 to -35 degrees below zero as we enter the the new year, but we are hopeful the brisk temperatures won't last long so we can leave our dens and get outside again.

There's nothing like a brisk walk to awaken your soul and remind you you're alive. Just make sure you are dressed appropriately when walking at these cold temperatures. It's best to don several layers of clothes, including long underwear, a pair of warm or insulated pants, a turtle neck and wool sweater, a scarf to cover your face and neck, two pairs of socks, a warm hat, a reliable pair of winter boots, double or triple layer mittens, snow pants, and a good winter coat or an old-fashioned parka that encloses your entire face; one that only exposes your eyes to peer through the layers of warm fur.

With just one step out your door, you will instantly feel the slap of cold Arctic air hit your face and any exposed skin. And when you draw your first breath, your lungs will feel constricted and tight. Immediately you become aware of your surroundings and the realization that it's downright cold - the kind of cold that causes frostbite and will burn your skin if it's not properly protected. It's hard not to think about how fragile life becomes in these conditions.

Keeping the cold temperatures in mind, everything is prone to breakage. We've had luggage handles and stroller clips break, extension cords have snapped, and most types of plastics are vulnerable to breakage. Car accessories are no exception - axle boots crack on a regular basis while plastic window handles and trim becomes brittle. The ground becomes extremely dry and brittle as well, and the hard pack snow creates a strange creaking sound, akin to an old door, with each step you take.

Even at these extreme temperatures, Alaska's infamous Ravens don't settle down, in fact they can be found spot checking open pickup beds in grocery store parking lots, looking for tonight's tasty meal. If your surroundings take you outside the city limits, you'll hear a different sound coming from the Ravens. Long before they fly overhead, the cold Arctic air echoes their flight path and broadcasts their comings and goings with the distinct swishing and flapping sound of their wings.

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Positive Aspects of Subzero Temps
There's also the positive aspects of our subzero temperatures: The outdoors becomes a natural icebox ready to chill or freeze tonight's leftovers, beverages or that extra turkey that just won't fit in your refrigerator!

One solution for storing additional groceries might be found in that broken down car that has been parked for several years, waiting to be fixed. Frozen cars dot the landscape of many Alaskan homes and it's a well known fact amongst the most hardy Alaskans, that a frozen car can double as a freezer during the long winter months. It's also a practical and full-proof deterrent against bears, moose, loose dogs and other roaming creatures looking for a wintertime snack!

Indeed, it gets very cold in Alaska, but the beauty of the cold is the quiet stillness. Hoar frost and snow blankets the entire outdoors, and time seems to stand still when everything is frozen in its place!

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What's Happening in February
The Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race starting line will originate in Fairbanks this year and finish in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. Each year the race start alternates between Whitehorse and Fairbanks.

This year's race will start at 11:00am on Saturday, February 4th in downtown Fairbanks on the frozen Chena River. The mushers and their dogs will travel 1,000 scenic, but grueling miles, to reach Whitehorse. For more information, visit the Yukon Quest Web site.

That's All For Now
We may add additional information and events as they occur so be sure to check back occasionally. Click to go back to the About North Pole page or you can visit our About Fairbanks page.

Attractions, Events and Activities in Interior Alaska
North Pole and Fairbanks may be far removed from the Lower 48, but there are numerous attractions, activities and cultural events happening throughout the summer and winter months. For more information contact the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau and visit the Travel Alaska Web site for a complete listing of information and attractions statewide.