Fall Observations from Chistochina

Observation by Wilson Justin

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. I still think about having a ice breaker at hand for water chores in our Guide camps in the mid 1970s. The springs were good but the creeks that ran by our camp always had some good stout shore ice which added to the water haul chores. The leaves are coming down fast but there again I remember when leaves began dropping in mid August and by September 1 it was bare branches. Started seeing those kinds of changes in the 1980s. All quiet bird wise but have a few Spruce hens in the comeback stage. They were gone for a good while. I miss the gophers we used to have down Trail Creek or 2 miles before our place on the Nabesna road. They began turning color a week before the first frost. I wonder now if they are still reliable indicators or like everything else lost in climate change.

Comments by LEO Network Editors:

As a lifetime resident of the Chistochina area and former hunting guide, Wilson Justin has is a keep observer of weather, wildlife and environmental conditions on the Chistochina River, the Wrangell Mountains and the region. This includes observation about seasonal timing, and how climate change has altered weather patterns, wildlife behavior and migration, environmental conditions and the timing of freeze up and break up on the river. See some of Wilson's other observations in related posts, and his full catalog of observations and environmental reflections on his profile page. M. Brubaker and I. Norton

Comments by Katie Spellman:

The timing and process of river freeze-up is changing in Alaska. The changes are poorly understood, making it hard to plan for our winter activities and community safety on the ice. Your photos of river freeze-up can help! Please contribute photos of a river near you. Repeated photos of the same location are especially needed. You may contribute photos several ways. Choose any way that works for you!

• Upload at fresheyesonice.org
• Download the GLOBE Observer App to your phone and take photos using the landcover tool.
• Post a photo with a date and detailed location notes at www.facebook.com/groups/FreshEyesOnIce
• Post to the LEO Network, of course!

The Fresh Eyes on Ice Project is a partnership between University of Alaska Fairbanks, Tanana Chiefs Conference, NASA GLOBE Observer, and the National Weather Service Alaska Pacific River Forecast Center. Funding for the project comes from NSF Navigating the New Arctic program and NASA Citizen Science for Earth Systems Program.