What Would You Do? No Sun in Idaho For Rest of the Year?

What would you do? What would you do if the sun went down in November, and you wouldn't see it again until near the end of January? Two months without seeing daylight could cause a lot of side effects and could take a toll on a person. It sounds absurd, but it's not unheard of in Idaho. While the Gem State has never gone truly dark for this amount of time, there have been winters that are overcast for months, and residents don't truly see the sun shining. One town is experiencing this right now, and would Idahoans be able to survive and handle this type of unique situation?

No Sun For Two Months in Idaho

Recently, the sun set in Barrow, Alaska, and will not be seen again until January 22. This is over two months without the sun, and one has to wonder what kind of toll it takes on residents of the town. It would take some adjusting for sleeping, working, and functioning daily. Not only is the sun gone, but the temperatures will remain below freezing, making going outside unlikely for many. You would want to stock up before the sun sets for months, and make sure you have everything you need to prepare for any circumstance, like the power going out, getting snowed in, or any other unforeseen circumstance. With children, this would be difficult, telling them to wake up and when to go to bed, as every hour of the day would look the same, and it would make it tough for motivation to get work done, or how to handle your day.

Living in Darkness in Idaho

Credit: Karsten Würth on Unsplash

Not seeing sunlight could have severe ramifications for some. It can lead to depression, it can lead to lashing out and moodiness, and it can lead to being lethargic. The isolation from others can take a toll, but thanks to technology, you can use FaceTime to stay connected with friends and family, even if you're stuck inside your home during the cold and dark months. While the darkness would make for great napping and movie watching, the few positives do not outweigh the negatives. Some would embrace the lifestyle, but for many, it would be tough and not something they could handle on a yearly basis. It takes a special type of person to live through two months of dark, cold days.

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Would you be able to handle living in Barrow, Alaska, and two months of no sun? If this took place in the Gem State, what would you do?

Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve

The International Dark-Sky Association designated the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve In December 2017. It's only the twelfth Dark Sky Reserve Worldwide." The Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve was awarded Gold Tier status, the highest ranking for night sky quality.

Gallery Credit: Kyle Matthews