Temperatures were often 30 or 40 degrees
below freezing. A record -79 was set this year.
"We wore three pairs
of socks at times, with rubber galoshes instead of shoes, because the leather
would freeze. We had adequate clothing-- lined parkas, pants, mittens and
heavy underwear, but it was still might cold. But I was a young man who
felt he had a job to do, and I did it."
-Alexander Powel, Crane Operator, 97th Engineers
(We Alaskans Aug 9, '92
pg. D-5)