Sucker Hole

Last Saturday I got outside about 6:00 a.m. Heavy rain started the previous afternoon and continued through the night, but had lightened about an hour before I went out. The air smelled freshly washed, and felt soft. The heavy overcast shifted quickly in upper altitude winds, causing “sucker holes.”

Sunshine over the Katzehin Delta. Sucker holes are often far more beautiful than the name implies. (Photo: Mark Zeiger)

Sucker hole is a local term for holes in the cloud cover. The indication is that they “sucker” people into thinking it’s a better day than it actually is, prompting them to get out on the water to fish, or to hike, or pursue other outdoor activities. The term has always puzzled me a bit; real Southeast Alaskans are usually already out in the weather, doing whatever they want to do. We can’t wait for sunshine!

The sucker hole that caught my attention was the clear weather over the Katzehin. Ironically, this short, glacier-fed river usually has a shroud of mist over it when the weather’s clear. Sunshine there with clouds everywhere else bucked the trend.

Later that day, June 12th, the cloud cover rose until we could see the top of the Mountain With No Name. It had fresh snow at the peak!

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