Slana

In Chistochina, Alaska, two swans were observed arriving unusually early, flying close to a house, highlighting a pattern of early swan arrivals in the region.

"The river was iced over for less then 6 weeks! As opposed to 5 months of ice 2 to 3 feet thick before climate change."

It is clear blue skies, 12 below and number 54 days without wind. I have never seen a January without wind so it’s a whole new phenomenon.

The fall wind or the hunting wind would have a warmth to it. The first winter wind was impossible to miss. Made you run for the campfire. Now you have such a mad mixture of wind you don’t even know what to call it. It’s 360 degrees and no sensible outcome.

A very small cub was photographed in Chistochina this week, raising questions about why it has not grown larger for this late in the year.

"Now I have seen the current muddy at break up but usually after prolonged warming and winds. This one is about a month ahead of the game."

"Been a cool dry fall. The snow line hit twice in late August and once in September at the 4000 foot level. We saw 22 degrees several times in September and twice in August so general frost is in town. But no ice on shore lines so the rivers and lakes are staying warm even as the chill sets in"

Early budding willows (genus Salix) were observed on the Chistochina Trail during temperatures of 18 above Fahrenheit. The average temperature on March 23, 2021 was 10 degrees Fahrenheit, the coldest temperature on the day in the past twenty years.

"The Chistochina River froze over and went to overflow by the second of February which means we went through the New Year and January with the river running open. First time that I know of."

The winds have been unusual this fall. Usually a north wind is "part and parcel of the turn of the season" but so far the wind has been "sporadic without a sense of direction."

"In a summer of continuous rainfall I would presume glorious growth and tons of picking...but this did not happen. The blueberries never took off, neither did the soap berries known to us as bear berries."

Mosquito populations may be down, but the gnats, no-see-ums, white sox and several other unidentified bugs were relentless.

Willows are budding early, following temperature swings of 40 to approximately -32 degrees Fahrenheit between February and March.

Late budding alder tree.

The sun when direct was intense, definitely not April and not May...more like the month of June.

The spruce along the highway between mile 157 and 162 show signs of stress, the tips of the branches are orangish and the deep green of the trees are fading.

The leaves, in general, don't look too healthy. They seem to lack vitality and are shriveled in many places.

Decades have passed and ponds are drying up.

Bumblebees (bombus polaris), moths, butterflies, mosquitoes (Culicidae) and gnats (Nematocera) are still here.