Question for Orthodox who've lived in Alaska or any other far North place

[atlasshrugged]

I'm sure this is going to sound super silly but it is something that has me worried nontheless. It looks like we are finally going to move to Fairbanks this coming weekend. That means that I am only a few weeks away from actually making it to DL. So what I want to know is this. What in the world does one wear to church when the temperature is -27 (that's what it's been this past week in Fairbanks)? I can't see wearing a dress but how rude is it to show up in bunny boots and snow pants?

[DonVA]

But you have to be practical. It's COLD! Dress WARM! Don't they sell faux-fur gowns or something near there? ;)

[eoe]

You are supposed to move to Alaska when the weather is nice, that way you get in one good summer before becoming a sourdough.^_^


Good luck with the move! Let me know when you are ready for me to come and visit.;)

Remember.. you gotta have Hope: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope,_Alaska)


(if you were to get in your car in North America and go west. Hope would be where you ended up. "Most westward road on earth" is here...)

[atlasshrugged]

Actually this will be our second winter in Alaska. We spent our first winter down in Kenai. It did not get that cold down there. Most of the winter last year, I remember it hovering mostly right around 0 to 10. It only got down to -20 once and that was for only a few days. Anyway, it wasn't necessary to wrap up down there the way it will be up in Fairbanks. Right now we are in Willow and the temperature here has been in the teens for the past week. But like I said, it has already gotten as low as -27 up there. We're talking about a 37 degree difference there!

The difference between Kenai and Fairbanks is, I'm sure, much like the difference I felt moving from GA to Kenai last year.

[atlasshrugged]

eoe, that picture is beautiful by the way. I'm trying to remember. Is Hope on the Sterling Hwy between Soldotna and Homer? If so, I think I've been there. Or at least been through there.

[eoe]

I'm sure, much like the difference I felt moving from GA to Kenai last year.
Scary!:swoon:

[Ilian]

We spent our first winter down in Kenai

Did you visit Nikolaevsk?

I get the feeling most people up there dress practically for church.

[eoe]

Hope is located at 60.920280° North, -149.64028° West (Sec. 33, T010N, R002W, Seward Meridian)GR1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Geographic_references#1). Hope is located in the Seward Recording District.
Hope lies on the northern end of Kenai Peninsula (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenai_Peninsula), on the south shore of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cook_Inlet). The community lies on the 17-mile Hope Highway, northwest of the Seward Highway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seward_Highway), near the mouth of Resurrection Creek. Winter temperatures range from 14 to 27; summer temperatures vary from 45 to 65. Average annual precipitation is 20 inches.
According to the United States Census Bureau (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Census_Bureau), the CDP has a total area of 134.1 km² (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Km%C2%B2) (51.8 mi² (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_mile)). 133.9 km² (51.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.15%) is water.


Hope was our first stop on my last trip to Alaska. The pinks were running up resurrection creek. I wanted to grab someone and get baptized right there^_^.

It was a wonderful stop on our way to Soldotna and Nikiski.

[Ilian]

Here's a picture of Vladika Nikolai on his way to church.

http://dioceseofalaska.org/images/nunap_dec_05/Kusko%20Icontrips%20005.jpg

[atlasshrugged]

Hope was our first stop on my last trip to Alaska. The pinks were running up resurrection creek. I wanted to grab someone and get baptized right there^_^.

It was a wonderful stop on our way to Soldotna and Nikiski.

Aaah. I've been near there then but not actually to the town. I've been trying to talk DH into taking me to Seward for a while now. I'll have to get him to stop in Hope as well, if for no other reason than for me to get some cool pictures.

[atlasshrugged]

Did you visit Nikolaevsk?

I get the feeling most people up there dress practically for church.

No, I didn't. I just looked it up and it looks like another place I would like to see. The thing about Alaska is, it is soooooo big, you could live here your entire life and still only be able to see 1/10 of the state.

[atlasshrugged]

Here's a picture of Vladika Nikolai on his way to church.

http://dioceseofalaska.org/images/nunap_dec_05/Kusko%20Icontrips%20005.jpg

Thanks so much for this picture. This does indeed help out. As soon as I get up there, the first thing I'm going to do is go ahead and call the preist at St. Herman's.

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Was it bunny boots and snow pants in 19th Century Russia? No it was not!

[/Fr. Vasily]

Hello! You will be attending a church that was evangelized people that KNOW cold -- the Russians!

Dress warm! After all, vat vould church be vithout parka and furry snow cap?! :D

[Nebmaatisus]

A long overcoat will keep cold away surprisingly well. There are good-looking winter-boots available, too, and if you like, you can take another set of shoes to use in the church.

[ufonium2]

This reminds me of our first night in Alaska. We'd just gotten into town (this was Sitka, so the wet was more of an issue than the cold) and our host was telling us about this great steak house we had to try, the best in Alaska. When I told her we were tired and probably didn't have the energy to get dolled up for dinner, she looked at me like I was from Mars and said, "Honey, this is Alaska." :)

My experience with church up there, and again this was in Southeast, so it was more an issue of constant rain than of cold, was that people wore basically what they wear every day. Most Orthodox (everywhere) are more concerned with modesty than with dressing up, so that won't be an issue for you. Modesty kind of takes care of itself up there. :)

[atlasshrugged]

Thanks guys. I didn't really think it would be too much of an issue but wanted to ask to be sure anyway.

[zhilan]

When it cold weather....do as the Russians do! =)

[DonVA]

Oh, and make sure your muckalucks match your purse!

Ok. Hit me. ;)

Wear what you want, stay warm, and be blessed.