Snow more than just a passing nuisance in Alaska

Feb. 11, 2007

By SHARON G. McBRIDE

Frontiersman

MAT-SU - Do you think you've had enough snow? Here's how the inches have been stacking up this winter all over the state, as recorded by the National Weather Service.

Juneau has had 117 inches of snow so far this winter, while the residents of Valdez have had to shovel more than 250 inches of the white stuff. Bethel has had 38 inches so far, while the hunters of Kodiak have been looking for bears in a little more than 80 inches of snow.

Our sisters and brothers in Fairbanks have only had to plow and shovel about 23 inches of white powder since the start of winter. Barrow has charted a little more than 35 inches, while Saint Paul has been blanketed with more than 69 inches. Annette Island, in Southeast, just topped 38 inches, while McGrath has recorded 53 inches.

To city residents, snow is a nuisance that needs to be shoveled and plowed. But to Native Alaskans, snow can mean survival, and they have more than one word to describe it. Here are a few terms found in Inuit snow terminology used to describe the difference in snow characteristics, such as texture, hardness and crystal structure.

Anniu (an-nee-you) is the word for fresh falling snow. Sicok (see-kok) is the term used for blowing snow. Sitlig (sit-lik) means hard-packed snow, while auksalak (auk-sak) means melting snow. Qali (kal-ee) is the snow that collects on trees. Aniuvak (an-nee-you-vak) is the word for snowpack, or a snowbank. Pukak (pew-kak) is the word to describe the lowest layer of snow or &#8220sugar snow.”

Mat-Su residents have seen plenty of different kinds of snow this year and more, but for more Inuit snow terminology, interested persons can log onto www.oswego.edu or type &#8220snow terminology” into a search engine.

Besides skiing, snowboarding, snowmachining, plowing, sled-dog racing or even shoveling, there are other things you can do with snow - like making snow ice cream.

Winter is far from over, so the next time the heavens open up and dump out the white stuff, take a large bowl outside and let it fill up with clean snow. Keep this recipe from &#8220The Pioneer Lady's Country Kitchen” on hand:

Mix one cup of heavy cream with one quart (four cups) of clean snow, add sugar and vanilla extract to taste. Start out by whipping the cream and then fold in sugar and vanilla extract. While the snow is still frozen, fold it into the cream mixture, and adjust the sugar and vanilla to taste.

Eat immediately or pack the bowl in a snowbank (well covered to protect the ice cream) and let it chill until the ice cream has hardened. Serves six.

Then enjoy the ice cream and be thankful you don't live in Valdez.

Contact Sharon G. McBride at 352-2250 or sharon.mcbride@

frontiersman.com.