Too Hot.

It’s too hot.

This is a phrase not often muttered by Alaskans. In fact, it’s a sentiment so rarely used because historically, there have never been temperatures that warranted such a complaint, seeing as how we’re used to negative degree winters.

But recently, it seems as if I’m hearing more and more of these comments in regards to our abnormal toasty temperatures.

Back in the day, summers here typically involved mostly rainy days and a rare cliche summer’s day. I remember we used to have this family convertible, was it a 1969 Ford Galaxy? It became so dusty from lack of use that we ended up selling it because back then, there just weren’t enough days in the summer that provided the type of weather to take her top off.

(of the car)

(silly goose, get your mind out of the gutter)

But the past few years, and this year in particular, it seems as if we have flip flopped on the weather up north.

Honestly, I feel like I’m back in California.

There’s the warmer temperatures, the forecasts with sunny emojis and no sign of rain, tourist traffic crowding up our roads that were never intended to house an influx of visitors, and the Swan Lake Fire currently depositing smoke in our small city.

Sounds like California, right?

Except when it’s warmer up north, it’s hot.

It’s agreed upon by Alaskans and out of towners alike that the temperatures that read on our thermometers actually feel about ten degrees hotter. Due to factors like proximity to the sun (whose rays hit our entire bodies as opposed to just one spot), when it says 75 out, it really feels like 85.

Despite this rise in heat, Alaskans like myself still take advantage of the sunsational (pun intended) weather and use it to our advantage.

Take yesterday, the Fourth of July.

With temperatures in Homer clocking in at a whopping 77 degrees (which again, really feels like 87 degrees), my family and I decided to hit the water in shorts and enjoy the holiday fishing for dinner, whilst also escaping the crowds.

There’s nothing like fresh caught ‘but on the ‘cue to get you in the festive spirit.

We picked an excellent day to get out of Soldotna too, for weather on the water was slightly cooler and a stiff breeze kept us comfortable as we reeled in pink salmon, halibut, and our fair share of cod, sharks, and skates (which one does not keep).

We came upon a sighting of minke whales and orcas, a raft of otterly adorable otters, we got to use the boom stick (an underwater firearm), and it was a fabulous day to be out fishing.

Alaska may very well be turning into Southern California at the rate our temperatures are rising, but hot or not, you’ll still find us outside and sailing the seas.

We’re not known for letting a little drastic weather stop us from doing what we do best: enjoying the great outdoors, of which we still have an abundance of.