Forest envy

At this time of year, there are two looming landmarks in Nome, Alaska: the finish line of the 1,150-mile Iditarod dog sled race -- which Robert Sorlie crossed Wednesday to win -- and the Nome National Forest.

Situated just south of the Arctic Circle, Nome is a land of permafrost and frozen tundra. Trees don’t grow there because the summer thaw barely scratches the surface for roots to take hold. So each year residents compensate by heading out on the frozen Bering Sea to build a makeshift forest out of Christmas trees that were airlifted in during the holidays.

Volunteers plant the trees in early February by cutting a hole in the sea ice, sticking a tree in the hole and pouring water on the base. Soon it’s frozen in place, and plywood animals -- puffin, bear, caribou and walrus -- are added to this forested plot. In past years palm trees and flamingos have even dotted the ice.

Each year a three-hole golf course is built among the trees, and golfers tee off with bright orange golf balls to compete in the Bering Sea Ice Classic. Most play through twice, with a warm-up break in a nearby saloon between rounds (who cares about keeping score?).

The greenery lasts until the spring thaw -- which can come as late as June -- and the ice breaks up and floats away. Seagoing passengers and crews have reported seeing lone trees inexplicably floating on ice drifts far from land.

-- Anne Millbrooke