Fairbanks at 35 below zero

In memory of the noble dragonflies who unconsciously released me from the mosquitos

 Dr. Odonota, Pen

There was another "rainbow animal dream", this time a rabbit-which-may-also-be-cat-creature

 Dream Rabbit, oil pastel and pen


This weekend we experienced a sudden cold snap: the overcast skies evaporated into perfectly clear weather, but with the loss of cloud cover the temperatures plummeted to -35 in the valleys, and about ten degrees warmer in the hills. Perfect time for a sunrise hike on Ester Dome! At 11 am!

It was soothing to finally see direct sunlight again. We found some zebra trees...

When I was away from Fairbanks, I remembered how clean and open the spruce lowlands can be in winter (they are such a tangled, impenetrable mess in summer). 

 Luna Fidelis, watercolor and ink

We lost some elevation and dipped down below the sun line!

The perfect bowed birch

 I also wanted to climb up the ridge above my cabin to catch the last glimpse of the sun and to see the moonrise.

Aspens enflamed!

… And then the sun set ten minutes later… that's all for today!