RE: U.P.---Apparently not this year! Just got email from girlfriend and it is 78 today and expect 80 tomorrow and they have been having mild weather all winter (but yes, my memory is of long winters!) Yes, it is very beautiful, I would suggest doing a fall trip, the colors are gorgeous and most of the pesky bugs are gone; from spring on it seems there is a bug for every letter of the alphabet and Alaska has nothing over on the mosquitos!