Winter Survival Guide by Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fairbanks, Alaska

October 6, 2012

The voice of Interior Alaska since 1903

newsminer.com

See what advice our readers have for surviving a Fairbanks winter

WINTER 2012-13

GUIDE Sam Harrel/News-Miner

Winter Survival Guide

20 years in Alaska comes with many wintry lessons arrived in Alaska in February 1991, leaving the early year warmth of Sacramento behind. The cold — probably a deep, bitter cold of a whopping 5 degrees above zero — greeted me at Anchorage International Airport. It was the first real winter of my adult life. And so began the many years of cold-weather lessons learned from frigid fingertips, numb toes and, later after moving to Fairbanks, vehicles that either wouldn’t start or that couldn’t grip the road. Take my five-speed, milk chocolate-colored, goldstriped, T-top 1985 Camaro Z28, which my new employer had shipped up to Anchorage for me. What a beautiful car. Especially with those wide tires that did so well on California’s freeways. It’s just that, well, I seem to recall my that my sweet, high-powered ride couldn’t make it up the ever-so-slight rise on Denali Street to my 12th Avenue condo in Anchorage. A tap on the gas pedal and my eight cylinders would spin the wheels aggressively on the winter-slickened road. Nowhere to go but sheepishly back down. Bummer. And not cool-

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

SURVIVAL TIPS Sheila Teal: Don’t panic and don’t listen to all of the horror stories. Dress in layers and slow down on the roads!

Tiffany Nicholas: Keep warm clothes, winter gear, blankets, and hand/feet warmers in the vehicle. Annie Gray: Turn on your headlights (yes, even during the day) Use your turn signals!! and start braking waaaayyy ahead of time. Julie Stricker photo

Snow blows across the Steese Highway just north of Fairbanks. With snow on the ground 6 to 8 months of the year and temperatures that frequently fall to 40-degrees below Fahrenheit and colder, a winter in Fairbanks can be daunting. But for many Fairbanksans, it’s their favorite season. looking, either. The car had to go. I’ve learned a lot over the years, much of it through my own mistakes and some of it from the mistakes and advice of others. I know a lot more about materials, about what my body can and can’t endure in the cold, about what to expect (and not to expect) from a vehicle. I know how to get a small child bundled up just right for school. And, of course, some mistakes I just keep on making. This year’s edition of the

Daily News-Miner’s Winter Survival Guide draws on the advice of Alaskans, especially those in the Interior. We asked readers for their advice for people about to experience their first Fairbanks winter. You’ll see their responses throughout the pages. There’s great advice inside. Heck, I’m sure there’s even some advice for me after 20 years in Alaska. —Rod Boyce Managing editor editor@newsminer.com Twitter: @FDNMeditor

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Donna Kelly Shepherd: I always keep a winter gear bag in my van in winter with extra essential items. Extra gloves, hats, blankets, flashlight, matches, etc. It’s better to be prepared and not need it, then to need it and not have it. Gayle Ernst: Leave now...Get out of Alaska while you can!! Just kidding! Headlights are a must 24/7 and don’t think you are invincible! Ronnie Rosenberg: Something on domestic animal care. Many animals suffer from frostbite and worse in our winters.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Winter Survival Guide

Got snow? Be careful not to invite injuries, accidents

SURVIVAL TIPS Charlotte Peterson: Take your vitamin D3 during the long dark months, get exercise, go out and find stuff to do. Winter tires are essential, and make sure to slow down.

By ROXIE RODGERS DINSTEL Cooperative Extension t happens every year here in Alaska. The snow falls and we are left with piles of the stuff to move. It is beautiful, but treacherous — in more ways than one. Sidewalks are unsafe if not cleared, but the shoveling can be a danger to you. Think in terms of unaccustomed physical labor and back problems. People don’t think that when you start shoveling snow, it is like picking up heavy weights in the cold, on a slippery surface, and dressed in heavy clothing. This is a prescription for injury. First, let’s look on the bright side. The good news is that snow shoveling for at least 15 minutes counts as moderate physical activity. According to the surgeon general, we all should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week. A 170-pound person shoveling for 30 minutes will burn about 250 calories. Not a bad investment on the calories-burned scale. The bad news is that researchers have reported an increase in the number of heart attacks among snow shovelers after heavy snowfalls. The rise may be due to the sudden demand that shoveling places on an individual’s heart. Since snow shoveling is a demanding task, it causes the heart to pump faster. In

Annie Gray: Oh yes, Charlotte! Invest in good winter tires! (I love my Blizzaks) and I know they are expensive, but they are worth it for your/ your children’s safety! Danielle Kinville: Leave early to get where you’re going so you can take it slow and steady! Brakes are not your friend on ice. Blair Kirby: Auto start! Allison LeBon: Get a winter front for the grill of your vehicle. It will keep you nice and warm during the cold winter days! They are available at Alaska Tent & Tarp. Jeny Hovis: Get a nice coat and boots. It’s easy to be scared by the prices, but they’re so important you really have to maybe chip away at the budget in other areas so you can have a good coat and boots.

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cold weather, blood vessels contract, which can cause a heart attack since the blood is trying to pump harder to get blood to the extremities. After only two minutes of shoveling, heart rates for sedentary men go to levels higher than those recommended for aerobic exercise. If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath or other symptoms of a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Far more common are shoveling-related injuries like pulled muscles and strained backs. These can be avoided by using the right equipment and proper snow shoveling methods. The weather can make shoveling more difficult. Cold air makes working and breathing hard. You are also at risk of hypothermia if you aren’t properly dressed for the weather. So do you throw in the

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Choose a plastic shovel rather than metal because it is lighter to lift. A nonstick surface can be produced at home. Simply coat the blade of the snow shovel with vegetable oil. This will also help to make shoveling less tiring.

Sharon Rutland: Get in where it’s warm and don’t come out til May!

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Winter Survival Guide

SNOW: Proper technique, tools a must Sweat can turn clammy on your skin and cause problems. Shovel as soon as the snow Your skin should remain warm (not hot) and dry. starts to accumulate. ShovelPick the right shovel for ing snow is much easier if you you. It should be constructed keep up with it. Rather than for snow removal, with a shoveling away at two feet of no-stick surface and of lightsnow, shovel snow when an weight construction. Choose inch or more hits the ground and shovel more often rather a plastic shovel rather than metal because it is lighter to than waiting until shoveling lift. A non-stick surface can is a big chore. be produced at home. Simply If you are inactive and coat the blade of the snow have a history of heart trouble, talk to your doctor before shovel with vegetable oil. This will also help to make shovelyou take on the task of shoving less tiring. eling snow. A smaller blade will Warm up just as you would for exercise. Loosen your mus- require you to lift less snow, putting less strain on your cles by marching in place or stretching before tackling the body. Consider buying a benthandle shovel that’s designed sidewalk. Warm muscles will work more efficiently and are to prevent too much stooping. Space your hands sevless likely to be injured. eral inches apart on the tool Drink plenty of water. grip to increase your leverDehydration is just as big an issue in cold winter months as age. Begin shoveling slowly to avoid placing a sudden it is in the summer. demand on your heart. Pace Avoid caffeine or nicotine yourself and take breaks as before beginning. These needed. are stimulants, which may Shovel the worst part first. increase your heart rate and Shovel the deepest spot at the cause your blood vessels to constrict, placing extra stress end of the driveway where the snow plow dumps the snow on the heart. Dress in several layers and first. This area will need to be done without a doubt. You remove layers as needed. Be may find it unnecessary to sure to remove clothing as shovel areas that are not as you heat up while shoveling. Continued from Page 3

deep. If the goal is to get your vehicle out of the driveway, do that first before shoveling extra space around the cars. Protect your back from injury by lifting correctly. Stand with your feet about hip width for balance and keep the shovel close to your body. Bend from the knees (not the back) and tighten your stomach muscles as you lift the snow. Push the snow when possible — don’t lift it. Don’t throw it over your shoulder or to the side since this twisting motion can stress your back. If you need to move the snow to one side, reposition your feet to face the direction the snow will be going. For very light snow removal, a broom can work. Most importantly — listen to your body. Stop if you feel pain! Keep your heart and your back healthy as you tackle shoveling this winter. Roxie Rodgers Dinstel is a professor of extension on the Tanana District Extension faculty. Questions or column requests can be e-mailed to her at rrdinstel@alaska.edu or by calling 907-474-2426. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, working in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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SURVIVAL TIPS Vicki Rayburn: Go out to activities: music, theatre, sports, etc. take up a hobby. Like your home. Get it comfortable. You will be spending a lot of time there. Valerie Davis: Studded tires. Christina Uticone: Oh, and if you have a good camera, study up on how to shoot the aurora, & buy a tripod! Lara Poirrier: Slow down on the roads. Besides the ice, you have these large things called moose that can kill you if you hit them. Angela Sorlie Benjamin: Do not let the cold/ dark intimidate you and keep you inside. If you are worried the dark months will depress you, buy a bright halogen lamp for your living room. We had one the first time we lived here, and it was like our own mini sun! Also, stock up in good lip balm and lotion. Otherwise you will dry right up!

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Winter Survival Guide

FAIRBANKS WEATHER FACTS SNOWFALL

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SURVIVAL TIPS

TEMPERATURE

• Average date of first measurable snowfall: Oct. 1 • Average date of last measurable snowfall: April 22 • Average date of establishment of winter snowpack (1 inch or more): Oct. 18 • Average date of loss of winter snowpack (1 inch or more): April 22

Average temperatures by month (last 30 years) Month September October November December January February March April May

High 54.6 31.9 10.9 4.8 1.1 10.0 25.4 44.5 61.0

Low 35.1 16.5 -5.7 -12.9 -16.9 -12.7 -2.5 20.6 37.8

Mean 44.9 24.2 2.6 -4.1 -7.9 -1.3 11.4 32.5 49.4

• Average snowfall: 65.0 inches

• Average date of first low temperature of -20 or below: Nov. 19

Average snowfall by month (last 30 years) September ..................... 1.8 inches October ......................... 10.8 inches November ..................... 13.2 inches December ..................... 12.1 inches January ......................... 10.3 inches February .......................... 8.1 inches March ............................. 4.9 inches April ................................ 2.9 inches May ................................ 0.9 inches

•Average date of last low temperature of -20 or below: March 14

• Average number of days with measurable snowfall in Fairbanks: 56.9

• Average number of days with a low temperature of -40 or lower: 11 • Average number of days with low temperature of -20 or lower: 47 (Information as of 2010 is based on National Weather Service records dating back to 1930, with some earlier records included as noted.)

Athena Garris: All-weather or studded snow tires!!! Watch out for moose! Delaney Dixon MacMillan: Driving a 4wheel drive vehicle does not mean you are good to go. Start out slow and give yourself extra time to slow down.

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Anthony DeAngelis: For a first winter list of things, I’d say packing adequate gear in your vehicle is a must. It’s all fun and games until you put your vehicle into a snow bank at -30 and all you have is a hoody and a pair of jeans to keep you warm until help arrives. Also, fourwheel-drive, whilst incredibly useful for getting traction on slick surfaces, does not, contrary to popular belief, do a thing to help you stop. Give yourself a good buffer between you and the vehicle ahead of you so you have an ‘escape route’ if the guy ahead of you jams his brakes. It’s far cheaper to call a tow truck to pull you out of the soft stuff than it is to call the first responders to extricate someone’s exhaust pipe out of your forehead.

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Winter Survival Guide

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Winter Survival Guide

Saving energy is as easy as turning off the lights By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN Creators.com

temperature in a room.” Buffalow said, “Insulated curtains also help because hen you were a they act as an additional layer teenager, your of insulation.” parents probably Paul Frantz, chief marnot only told you keting officer of the energy to “turn down that music” supplier Energy Plus, advises but to also turn off the lights that you “take control of when you left a room. You home temperatures.” may or may not have listened “In winter set your therthen, but now as an adult, mostat to 68 degrees or less you really should pay attenduring the daytime and 55 tion to what experts have to degrees before going to sleep say about conserving energy. — or when you’re away dur“It’s amazing what a difing the day,” he says. “During ference simple behaviors can the summer set thermostats have on your comfort — and to 78 degrees or more.” energy bills — in your home,” Frantz also suggests using says Barbara Buffaloe, susappliances efficiently. Set your tainability manager for the refrigerator temperature at city of Columbia, Mo. “Just 38 to 42 F, while your freezer something as simple as open- should be set between zero ing and shutting curtains or and 5 F. blinds can really affect the “Use the power-save switch

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SURVIVAL TIPS

if your fridge has one, and make sure the door seals tightly,” he says. “You can check this by making sure that a dollar bill closed in between the door gaskets is difficult to pull out. If it slides easily between the gaskets, replace them.” The upcoming fall and winter holidays will have you spending more time in the kitchen. Frantz says to avoid “peeking” inside the oven more than necessary. “Check the seal on the oven door and use a microwave oven for cooking or reheating small items,” he says. When meals are finished, use your dishwasher wisely. “Wash only full loads in your dishwasher, using short cycles

Glenn J Gambrell: Adequate gear in the car, no matter how short the trip. Force your teens to wear the correct clothes, even if it is not “cool.” Babies get frostbite real quick. Need to run the car for a few (meaning less than 5) minutes before taking off. Happy lights help. Find time to go out in the sun during December-January Jennifer Ippolito: Buy good winter gear (not necessarily fashionable), plug in your car, check your heating oil level often, slow down on the roads (even if it appears dry!)...meet up w/ people in person often (don’t hide on Facebook ;). Enjoy the novelty of living here..people wait a lifetime & wipe a savings account just to visit! Brian Pearce: Keep busy, drink plenty of water and don’t put your tongue on a steel pole.

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Winter Survival Guide

ENERGY: Gram was right: put on a sweater some cellphone chargers pull electricity when no phone is for all but the dirtiest dishes,” plugged in. he says. “This saves water “The energy used by these and the energy used to pump electronics when not in use and heat it. Air-drying, if you is called ‘vampire load,’ and have the time, can also reduce it’s a waste of energy that energy use.” can add up over the course Buffaloe says some appliof a year,” she says. Instead, ances even use energy when Buffaloe suggests plugging in they are off. Small electronics small electronics and chargers with LED lights and/or clocks to a power strip that allows on them are constantly pullyou the ease of turning off ing electricity. multiple ‘vampire loads’ with “The little red light on the click of one switch. the DVD player and televiBuffaloe says to remember sion doesn’t have to be on to control “the power you when you’re not watching have on your own comfort.” television,” she says. “Even “Your grandmother was on Continued from Page 8

to something when she said, ‘You’re cold? Put on a sweater.’ Every blanket or layer of clothes adds an additional layer of insulation to your body — making you more comfortable in your own home or on the go. “You know that adding more insulation to your attic is good for your home energy bills,” Buffaloe concludes. “Put that into practice with adding an additional layer onto your own body and you won’t have to turn up the thermostat as high — and thus heat more space than you’re even occupying.”

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

SURVIVAL TIPS Phillip Henize: Don’t cry, tears will freeze! Deanna ‘Oliver’ Short: Remember the person in front of you, you know, the one going slower than you, is taking percautions for road conditions and so should you!!....pass them and do something stupid could cost you your life!..... remember it’s all about layers, if it’s cute it’s not warm!.....and watch out for moose!

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Saturday, October 6, 2012

Winter Survival Guide

SURVIVAL TIPS Nita Desmond: Remember that 4WD helps you go, it does not help you stop. Also, be sure to keep extra hats, gloves, boots, shovel, blankets, etc in your vehicle because they could save your life if you go into the ditch at -40. Finally, winter in Fairbanks is what you make of it. If you spend all of your time indoors and complaining about the cold, then it’s not going to be enjoyable. But if you get out and take up some of the local winter activities (skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, hockey, fine arts, etc.), then it never seems so bad. Nancy DeWitt: Don’t waste your money on cheap boots. Invest in the best.

Proper insulation pays dividends By SARA MENDELL Creators.com s first-time homeowners, my husband and I had a lot to learn. Our first lesson came in the form of a gas bill. It was $800 for the month of January. “How is that possible?” we asked. We had been very conservative with how much heat we used, even sleeping with extra blankets. So we took further action, determined to drive our gas bill lower. We only kept the heat on in our kids’ rooms and proceeded to walk through the house bundled up for the month of February. Then the bill came for February: $750. What?! How could that be? We had done everything we could to use as

It is more economical to set all of your thermostats to remain at the same temperature throughout the day and night. little gas as possible. We then contacted a heating and air conditioning company, which sent people to take a look. And so our first lesson in house owning began. First, it is more economical to set all of your thermostats to remain at the same temperature throughout the day and night. It is much more expensive to turn them off and then on again. OK, so they set our entire house to 68 degrees. Second, and this is the

most important part, our attic was not insulated properly. So how should we go about doing this? There are three main types of insulation: batts, blown and sprayed. Batts are large pieces of insulation that hold together because they’re made of long, interweaving fibers with adhesive binders. The two kinds of batts you’re most likely to encounter are fiberPlease see INSULATE, Page 12

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Winter Survival Guide

INSULATE: Earn back initial investment the gaps and giving you a good, complete layer of insulation. glass and cotton. In terms The third major type of of their insulating quality, insulation is spray foam. they’re pretty much equivalent. The problem with batts This is the most expensive of the three. According to is that they don’t cover the our contractor, it is the best entire space and are known at keeping the heat inside to leave gaps or spaces. The second type of insula- when it is cold outside and the hot air outside when the tion is blown. There are two weather is warmer. This type types of blown insulation, of insulation comes in spray fiberglass and cellulose. Celcans and is composed of lulose comes from recycled newspapers. Fiberglass comes resin and certain chemicals. When sprayed, the chemicals from sand. Whether you use cellulose or fiberglass, blown and resin create a foam that expands and solidifies in insulation is great at filling Continued from Page 11

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place. Now it was time to do some price investigating. We had three different contractors come over and give us price quotes. Naturally, we went with what seemed to be the least expensive while the most capable. We used the spray foam because in the end, we would save money, even though there was a significant cost upfront. On a Friday morning, three men from Poland came over and went to work. They took up the old wood planks that were in the attic and began filling the spaces. After about five hours, they were finished. My husband and I went up to the attic and saw the brand-new spray foam covering the floor of the attic. It looked and felt much better. So time went on, and we anxiously waited for our next gas bill. Finally, the envelope arrived. I quickly opened it. A huge smile formed on my face as I saw the total: $200 for the month. Wow, what a huge savings. And the following month, as spring came, it was $150. At this pace, we’ll earn back our investment in insulation in no time.

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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Christina Moore: Add some kitty litter, a tampon, a screwdriver, water and an air compressor to your emergency road-side kit. Cat litter for traction if you get stuck. A tampon makes a great temporary tire plug for large hole in your tire: Take it out of the casing, use the screwdriver to plug the hole just like you would with a small tire plug (use the screwdriver in the middle of the plug and push in, leaving some on the outer side of the tire). Pour water on it to make it expand, and air up your tire! (I’ve done this before. It works surprisingly well) Megan Horton: You cannot fudge on tires here. Good winter tires are a must. Try to get out and stay busy. Lack of sunlight is a very real issue after a while to some. Remote start is a must-have if you have little ones; your fancy heated seats won’t help their poor bums in frozen car seats! Keep plenty of warm extras and a few random other emergency supplies in the car just in case. Fred Klingener: Don’t wear pierced earrings. Don’t count on propane as backup heat. The first night at -50F, light a candle, step outside and watch.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Winter Survival Guide

SURVIVAL TIPS Amber Holliday-Stinnett: Don’t leave anything in the car. Invest in booties for your pets. Have a backup plan in case your car is frozen. Keep backup supplies and water on hand at home. Plan for a backup heat source. Anna Maria K. Salinas: Don’t let the whole day go by without seeing the sun, really. Even if it’s for a few minutes, let that big orb hit your retinas for a minute. It’ll help you mentally more than you think ;] Steve McGrogan: FYSA has a couple of sessions of youth soccer that go through the winter to keep kids busy! helps them fight the winter blues and gets them out of the house. Insole King: As tempting as it might be, DO NOT EAT YELLOW SNOW

Tips for capturing a great aurora borealis photograph etting a good aurora photo can be a challenge. It takes patience and skill. Where to turn for advice if you’re new at aurora photography or want to improve at what you’re doing? Here are some tips, which we published here in late 2010. The advice is as good today as it was then. • Check the aurora forecast at UAF’s Geophysical Institute’s website at www.gi.alaska. edu/AuroraForecast. Photo-worthy aurora is probably a level 3 (moderate) or higher. • Single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras are the best way to get a good shot. They have the features that allow for better aurora photos. • ISO levels, shutter speed and lens width work off each other to produce a good photograph. ISO is the measurement of sensitivity to light. With higher ISO levels, a person can take photographs in darker areas. More sensitivity to light reduces the need for a long exposure. Long exposures capture more movement. Lens width will determine the span of the photograph’s coverage. • Don’t have a DSLR camera? You can try it with a point-and-shoot camera. You just have to try a bunch of different settings to see what works.

John Hagen/News-Miner file photo

With the Mushers Hall in the foreground, the aurora lights up the sky over Fairbanks. • Trying different exposure lengths gives different results. If the exposure is left on for 10 minutes, the picture’s whole sky might be covered by the aurora, but you won’t get the good definition of a shorter exposure. Starting at about one minute, long exposures can capture the movement of the stars across the sky. • Bundle up. Clear nights tend to be the coldest, and photography can be an inactive venture.

Winter Survival Guide

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Pets need extra care in winter

SURVIVAL TIPS Natalie Ott Schuldt: My top advice: studded tires, washable wool long underwear, wool boot liners, start enjoying outdoor sports (no matter the temperature outside), and take up a fun and productive indoor hobby. For parents of young children- fun places to go and run around: Morris Thompson, UAF museum, Wood Center at UAF, Bounce and Play. Fred Meyer’s free babysitting playplace is a lifesaver for a frazzled parent in dead of winter. Heather Curran Zimmerman: Remember to plug your car in when it’s -10 or colder or you won’t be going anywhere!

See us at the Go Winter Show Oct 13 & 14, Carlson Center Space #110

Alaska Quality Insulators, Inc. Local owned since 1977

www.alaskaqualityinsulators.com

488-3832 email: aqiadmin@alaska.net Now available thru Alaska Quality Insulators

Andrea Perry: Take vitamin D starting in November and continuing at least until February.

By REBA LEAN rlean@newsminer.com

Annie Duffy: Download one of the aurora forecast apps for your phone, iPad, etc., and make sure you see it for yourself as soon as possible.

Angela Sorlie Benjamin: Always wear appropriate shoes/boots when you are in the car. Even if you are just going to be at the corner for the school bus stop. I once got stuck in the snow in our driveway after my son got on the bus, and I had to walk to the house in slippers. Learned lesson: you never know. Jacki Makinen: I love seeing the comments about if it’s cheap or looks cool, it won’t keep you warm. Winter gear is not about making a fashion statement, it is about making a life statement! If you can’t find anything fashionable that you would wear, visit the Fur Factory. If you won’t wear fur, move. Wes Tritt: Dress in layers.

Help avoid a fire ... let’s clean your chimney.

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• Originally published October 2010 ogs, cats and other pets face a difficult season. People who might be worried about whether or not their car will last through the cold or if their pipes will freeze should also consider their pets that normally spend time outdoors. Dr. Val Stuve at Aurora Animal Clinic can think of many issues pet owners face with winter approaching. Cats that normally spend a lot of time outdoors in the summer eating mice and voles should get checked for worms, and the same goes for dogs. Stuve said that there are new topical medicines that make it easy to remove parasites. Antifreeze for cars is a major attractant for animals; its sweet taste is hard to ignore but is extremely dangerous to consume. Pets can end up with kidney blockage, which is difficult to both diagnose and treat. Owners should be aware, especially if they’re located farther away from town, that winter is trapping season. Animals that get caught in traps can have severe loss of circulation to their extremities, creating a huge risk of frostbite. Sometimes amputation is the only option. Outdoor dogs need adequate housing and extra nutrition. Stuve recommends that when checking a dog’s weight by feeling its ribs, check without gloves on. “You should be able to barely feel the ribs,” he said. If fingers can fit between the ribs, the dog is most likely malnourished. While outdoor pets are the major concern for pet owners, Please see PETS, Page 14

Winter Survival Guide

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Rixa Evershed: A good attitude and a warm coat!

SURVIVAL TIPS

PETS: Care Continued from Page 14

Magali Philip: Do not buy the 25-below rated boots. They are actually not even good at zero. Get the 40 below and you will start to get cold at 20 below! Stay away from cheap winter clothes brand but buy trusted brand. Buy local! Magali Philip: Sleeping bag or heavy blanket, headlamps, gloves and hand/foot warmer in your car! All the time!

Julie Robinson Beede: Stay at home moms with young children (5 and under) can join www. meetup.com/modmamas for regular playdates to get out of the house. Laura Minerva-Fields: Keep an emergency kit in your car with bunny boots, winter gear, jumper cables, a candle and lighter (to keep your hands warm) flares and a blanket!

Tracy Brand: Auto start and a garage Magali Philip: Lithium batteries for all your headlamps and other battery-operated things that Greg Musgrave: My advice is to move to Hawaii you take outside! ;) ...... Raymond C. Whitlow: Winter in Hawaii Alaska Phoenix: Have a candle and matches in the car. It can raise the temperature enough for you to stay alive while you are waiting for someone.

MT. AURORA/SKILAND 2012-13

SUPER SAVINGS! CELEBRATING 50 YEARS!

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Susy Loschiavo: Get out now while you still can!!!

TIRE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

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indoor pets need a little extra consideration in the winter months, as well. Fall is the best time to help the animals prepare for the real onslaught of cold. At Blue Ribbon Grooming in Fairbanks, Beverly May has winter preparation for pets down to a science. Nails tend to grow longer during the winter months, when the rocks and dirt that normally keep the length down have disappeared underneath snow. May advises pet owners to keep their pets’ regular appointments with groomers. Giving an indoor or outdoor pet an extra thought this season could make it much more comfortable or even save its life. Many coldweather informational brochures are available at local veterinary offices.

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Paid Advertising Content

NOKIAN TIRES AVAILABLE IN FAIRBANKS AT METROPOLITAN GARAGE 455-7450 Located on the banks of the Nokia River, Nokian Tyres has been producing tires for a Nordic climate since 1904. In 1936 they produced the world’s first snow tire, the Hakkapeliitta, and made coldweather climate history. Since then, Nokian has remained the worldwide leader in winter driving safety. Nokian’s philosophy: Tires are the only things connecting you to the ground. And, as Interior Alaska knows, this close to the Arctic Circle there often is no ground. Tires are the only thing connecting you to ice and snow.

their studded line of tread, Nokian responded by developing a lightweight carbide-titanium stud that lasts and grips, as well as satisfies DOT demands.

HIGHER MPG

But when winter finally settles in, it is time to get real and carry some bite. Tire studs are serious Finnish business. When legislation instituted harsher restrictions on road wear in Europe, Nokian refused to hang up its cleats. Instead of abandoning

Nokian has done one thing for over 70 years: Manufacture tires for people who live near the Arctic Circle. They have never branched out to find other markets. They are at home, much like Interior Alaska, in

FRICTION TIRES Getting good at the connection between vehicles, ice and snow has been Nokian’s sole focus for over 70 years. Their line of tread includes “Friction” tires as well as studded tires. Friction tires (known as studless tires in the U.S.) were developed for the shoulder seasons of spring and fall when weather is often unpredictable.

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The tire industry has developed a term known as “rolling resistance.” Low rolling resistance translates to broad fuel savings over the life of a vehicle. In plain English, "rolling resistance" refers to the amount of energy it takes to smash a round piece of rubber flat for an instant, as a tire grips the road. This momentary deformation of the tire, and the amount of energy it requires, can be regulated with smart structural and material choices in tire design. The downside of creating a tire with low rolling resistance is that it focuses on getting rid of the connection between the tire and the road. Through creative chemistry, metallurgy and design, Nokian has developed the leading ice and snow tires with the most economic rolling resistance in the industry.

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