Snowy Mountain Views by Summit Lake

The play of light on water and mountains is a stunning feature of Alaska. I'd never noticed light as much as I do here. There is civil sunrise, when it is light enough to see, and then the sunrise itself, but because of mountains, the sun can rise in one place, I can see it has risen, and not rise for awhile where I am at. There is the unique lighting that one can tell "feels" like winter--not the brilliant, harsh light of a sun at its zenith, but instead a low, angling light.

Right now it is 8:15 a.m. and pitch black, though I have my sunlamp on over my desk for some very bright wake-me-up light. We have three more weeks to go till solstice. Counting down the days till the days get longer. I can't wait! We finally got snow which is exciting--it eases the darkness of this time of year--but rain is on the forecast for the next 5 days as temperatures climb to the upper 30's.

Here are some photos of Summit Lake on the way to Anchorage along the Seward Highway, just south of Summit Lake Lodge. It was one of those days when I kept snapping pictures as I ooohed and aaaahed at the views.