Weekly Wonder: Juneau’s ‘seasons’
Dozens of creatures are sensing a change of the season. In early October, the rain briefly stopped and the clouds lifted, revealing the tops of mountains that were engulfed in grey for days on end.
Their rocky grey summits were covered in snow, making the Mendenhall Towers, Stroller-White and other tall peaks look like a scene straight from a postcard. This rapid change from summer to fall occurred rapidly.
“We have two seasons in Alaska,” he said. “It’s either pothole season or construction season.”
Another tidbit I picked up from a fellow guide last year was that the snow on the tops of the mountains is called termination dust. It must have something to do with the glacier’s terminus.
Eager to understand how the two were related, I asked Gastineau’s resident glaciologist for more details.
Author’s summary: Juneau’s seasons change rapidly.