Visiting Alaska in the winter? Hope you like peas. They're served abundantly and often. Most veggies must be imported but peas are grown in Alaska. King crab, salmon and venison are common entrees. Most other food arrives by ship and overland. Milk in cans; ditto for fruit, juices and most vegetables. For those with hearty appetites, chow down a stick-to-you-ribs breakfast of hash brown potatoes, poached eggs, cheese, corned beef hash, English muffins and coffee. Local diners serve huge portions. You're likely to break bread with a miner, tour guide or fisherman. Most originally from the "lower 48." So, bon appetit but be prepared to ante up. Food is expensive.

Camera batteries and cold don't mix. I'm not referring to the keep-Energizers-in-the-fridge-to-prolong-life practice many embrace. I'm talking nostril-hair frozen type of cold. Go ice fishing and your catch of the day flash freezes the second you reel it in. Winter cold saps the life from camera batteries. Best policy is to carry 2 (one next to a warm body part-you pick the part, the other in the camera) and alternate them. Press shutter release and change lens settings gently. Sub-zero temperatures can cause film and camera parts to be brittle. Going from extreme cold to warm (inside) can temporarily cloud lens.