Here in interior Alaska anyways it is not common for rainbow sparkles to appear.
However I decided to drive the long way to Anchorage in October 1987 passing thru Isabel Pass on the Richardson Hwy. along the nicknamed "Rainbow Mountain" in the eastern Alaska Range located roughly 155 miles south of Fairbanks and 25 miles north of Paxson, I seen a not too common phenomenon that happens along this mountain slope surface when a fresh blanket of snow covers it and the clear sunlight hits it just right as it displays sparkling colors....it looked like a bunch of multi colored gumdrops were poured all over that mountain slope on top of the snow and it was sure a sight to see.
The year before, a friend's wife from Delta Junction (who is legally blind) mentioned about this and told me the best possible time to witness it is late afternoon after a fresh blanket of snow and clear day during the winter months except November thru January.
It just so happened I waited out a winterfront before leaving for Anchorage so that the roads were clear enough to drive my 1970 Thunderbird the long way around and got lucky upon timing it perfectly to see this mountain slope sparkle.....it was the only one time I had seen this mountain like that.
September 2006 - Eastern Alaska Range looking south at Rainbow Mountain thru Isabel Pass :
Mile 209 Richardson Hwy. - a closer view :
Mile 205 Richardson Hwy. looking north :
A few times I seen sparkling color in the fresh snow around here but not too often really, mostly happens after a fresh snowfall and clear skies during March and April.
