Winter Trip to Anchorage & Fairbanks, Alaska ❄️🏔️

Winter Trip to Anchorage & Fairbanks, Alaska ❄️🏔️ In Alaska, I experienced a true winter dream—from glacier hiking in Anchorage to fairytale nights in a Fairbanks snow cabin, every step was a surprise, every glance a breathtaking view. 📍 Anchorage | Matanuska Glacier Hike Stepping onto the Matanuska Glacier felt like entering a blue-and-white myth. The ice stretched beneath our feet, with deep azure shining through its cracks—like walking into the real-life version of Frozen. The hike wasn’t as cold as expected, but the wind was strong—face masks and ear protection are a must! We followed our guide across the ice field, listening as she explained how glaciers flow and breathe—turns out, they’re living landscapes too. 🧊👣 📍 Fairbanks | Snow Cabin & Reindeer Walk We stayed in a snow cabin outside Fairbanks as evening fell. Outside the window lay an endless expanse of snow and pine forest. As darkness settled, the cabin glowed with warm light while snowflakes drifted down silently—it was a visible fairytale. 🌲❄️✨ The next morning, we visited local reindeer friends! Gentle and calm, they ambled through the snow like moving snowballs. Walking with reindeer was incredibly soothing, as if time itself had slowed down. 🦌💖 📍 North Pole | Ice Fishing & -60℉ Challenge We drove to North Pole for ice fishing! A local uncle drilled holes in the ice hut, and we bundled up on little stools to wait. To our surprise, we actually caught rainbow trout! 🐟❄️ The uncle grilled it right there, with just salt and lemon—the salmon sizzled over the fire, its aroma filling the hut. It was soul-wrenchingly delicious! We all fought over it—there simply wasn’t enough to go around lol. 🔥🍋 Even crazier, the outdoor temperature showed -60℉ (not sure if that was just the thermometer’s lower limit 😅). Phones died within three seconds of being taken out, but inside the ice hut, it was warm and cozy—a true "ice and fire" experience. 🚗 Transportation Drama | American V8 to the Rescue The most dramatic moment was at the airport—our rental car gave out in the extreme cold! 📉🚗 In a pinch, we ended up renting a U-Haul truck! The American V8 engine held steady in the snow. Though chasing the aurora in a moving truck was kinda funny, it was a lifesaver in that moment. 🛻❄️💪 🌌 Aurora Night | Over the Hills to the Green Light At midnight, we drove the U-Haul up to Cleary Summit. It was pitch black except for the snow’s glow. After nearly an hour of waiting, a faint green emerged on the horizon—then the green light began to dance, growing stronger and swirling across the sky like silk. In that moment, everyone fell silent, with only the sound of camera shutters and our visible breaths. Though our hands went numb from the cold, it was absolutely worth it. 🌠📸 ✨ Travel Tips: ▪️ Electronics drain fast in extreme cold—bring power banks and thermal sleeves. ▪️ For ice fishing, go in the morning when fish are more active. ▪️ If renting a car, opt for 4WD with snow tires—regular cars really can’t handle extreme conditions. ▪️ Use the Aurora Forecast App for predictions, but be mentally prepared—seeing the aurora is like love: it takes luck and patience. 💚 Winter in Alaska is the ultimate coexistence of cold and warmth. Here, you can touch the pulse of glaciers and embrace the romance of the northern lights—a winter fairytale for the brave. 🏮❄️ #AlaskaWinterTravel#AnchorageTravel#FairbanksTravel#IceFishing#Reindeer#AuroraChasing#WinterAdventure#SnowyEscape