Nearing the tail end of what is shaping up to be the coldest summer in Alaska on record, women there looked no worse for wear during visits to such whistle-stop towns as Skagway and Whittier. Rampant commercialism has yet to infiltrate this state of nearly 627,000, even though Alaska is two-and-a-half times larger than Texas. Just getting to Juneau requires a boat or a plane — it is the only state capital without any road access. Despite the thermometer rarely hitting 65 degrees and the abundant rainfall — Ketchican is said to get some 340 days of rain each year — women weather the elements in bright-colored anoraks, wool jackets and down vests, many of which had ever-important hoods. A more adventurous Juneau dresser did them one better, trying to sport a glimpse of summer in faded thigh-baring cutoffs, worn with a hoodie, black vest, unlaced boots and a magenta fisherman’s watch cap.
As one Alaskan said, “It ain’t bad weather, it’s just bad clothes. You have to dress for it.”