The tanker is slogging through sea ice behind a Coast Guard icebreaker, trying to bring not medicine but another commodity increasingly precious in remote parts of Alaska: fuel, 1.3 million gallons of emergency gasoline and diesel to heat snow-cloaked homes and power the growing number of trucks, sport utility vehicles and snow machines that have long since replaced dogsleds.
"Rain, heat, snow, I don't mind the cold, but I don't like the rain," he says.
The United States Postal Service, which promises to brave heat, snow and gloom of night to deliver the mail, can add a lawsuit to that list of obstacles to overcome.
The first settlers on Long Island in the 1600's had no central heating, snow blowers or even a single set of booster cables between them.
Interest in working for the Postal Service in a tightening economy appeared immune to threats of anthrax, not to mention rain, heat, snow and gloom of night.
The machine, which is pulled into position by a tractor-trailer cab, has a fire-heated cylinder that heats the snow as it is dumped into a bin.
"Low reflectivity heats the snow more than normal.
AS THE rainy season is nearly over in Ho Chi Minh City and the city heats up, snow is everywhere.
But gradually we got into the rhythm of a long tour – starting early, moving slowly and methodically rather than rushing and having to take breaks, and arriving at each hut early in the afternoon, to avoid the avalanche risk that increases as the afternoon sun heats the snow.
There are 3,800 square feet of decks and patios, all heated to melt snow, and five and a half bathrooms.
