Deb Rudis, wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, reports: "Hello from the Alaska panhandle. Our climate is influenced by the adjacent marine environment and steep mountains. This temperate rainforest has year-round moisture from rain and snow. Average precipitation is about 60 in of rain and 80 inches of snow with much more snow at higher elevations. This winter we’ve had lots of snow and a couple weeks of temperatures in single digits and low minuses. Spring weather usually starts in April and most snow at sea level has melted, but we still can ski in the mountains. I am betting spring will arrive in mid-April this year. Robin predictions
first seen 4-1-12
first heard 4-6-12."

When do YOU think I'll see my first robin?
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Here's a cool shot from January 27, 2012 from top of our downhill ski area - I call these trees the snow gnomes. Hard to believe that there are really trees beneath that much snow....