Re SamOlson:
And your point is....?????
I grew up in NODAK - Stanton, to be specific - a bit upriver from Bismarck.
Maybe you have to spend time in Interior Alaska, and/or the Arctic to appreciate how good you guys have it in summer or winter... cold/warmth and bugs-wise. I do miss sharptails, pheasant, fire-flies, crickets, the scents of drying hay, skunk-in-a-distance, horse sweat, and even cow manure....
On the other hand, we have moose, bears, caribou, sheep, goats, and a few other limited species, all of which are in rather short supply in ND, which pretty much only has those dinky deer and a few pronghorns...
Forecast for tomorrow here is a high of 6 below, chill to -30 or so with the wind. I'm going hunting on either the ATV or snowmachine - I haven't yet decided....
Next week, I'll be in Kona. Don't bother trying to call.