sourdough An Alaskan old timer. permafrost Soil which is permanently frozen.
breakup The end of an Alaskan winter, when the ice that has frozen the major rivers thaws.
termination Dust The first snow of the season, on surrounding mountain tops, marking the eventual end of summer.click here for example
bush The parts of Alaska accessible only by boat or bush plane.
bush pilots Pilots of the small planes who provide transportation to bush communities and isolated destinations. Many who do not have any access other than these small bush planes.
Eskimo ice cream Traditionally made of whipped berries, seal oil, and snow.
ice fog A thick winter fog made of suspended ice particles that leaves the trees coated with ice crystals.
mukluks Eskimo moccasins.
quiviut The warm underwool of the muskox used for knitting.
An Alaskan's definition of Outside...
Usage:
Alaskan #1: "Hey, I haven't seen you in a long time! Where have you been?"
Alaskan #2: "I've been Outside for about a year. Just got back Tuesday."
So as you can see, it's unimportant where you've been. You are either in Alaska or you are not.
In Alaska we use the phrase termination dust when we see the first snow on top of the mountains that surround us. Termination dust means the snow is about to
terminate our summer.
Wide angle photo Zoomed in look of the same peaks
When it snows, at our house, we tell our 3 year old nephew “We better get
our (snow) shovels and clean off the driveway”, and he got out his little shovel to help.
Early October, back in 2006, I drove that nephew down to Soldotna, Alaska for
the weekend and on the drive back to Anchorage, I pointed out the termination dust,
on the surrounding mountains. He said, “Oh no, Uncle Jerry, we had better get our
shovels, and clean off those mountains!”
The way the mind of a 3-year-old works is always entertaining. Return to where you were on the Lingo list
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