Backpacking Wrangell-St. Elias’ coastline

November 9th, 2011 by Carl D
Backpacking on the coast, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska.
Setting out for a month long backpack along the coastline of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Please click on the image above to view a larger version of this photo.

Hey Folks,

Wow; what a cool trip this last one was. A month along the coastline and borders of the Malaspina Glacier in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park’s southeastern reaches, near our famous Lost Coast.

This photo is my first night on the beach, right after the air taxi departed, I shouldered the heavy pack, posed for an image, and set off down the beach to find a campsite. Dark comes quickly this time of year in Alaska.

I caught up with friends Erin and Hig from Ground Truth Trekking, and their 2 kids Katmai and Lituya, the following afternoon. I spent most of the rest of my trip with them, and then the last 10 days or so in the Icy Bay area, trying to get a nice sunset photo of Mt. St. Elias from that area. Seemed like things were still getting going when before I knew it, the month was over and I had to fly back to the city. Time flies, eh? Continue reading…

Image of the Month: Mount Sanford Photo

November 1st, 2011 by Carl D
Mount Sanford at sunrise, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska.

Hey Folks,

A quick post for while I’m away. I’m still off on the Malaspina Glacier expedition with Erin and Hig I mentioned earlier. I should be back soon, with tons of new images and stories from the trip. In the meantime, here’s the Image of the Month for November, 2011.

Mount Sanford on a gorgeous fall morning, taken back in September on our Fall Photo Tour. I hope you enjoy this photo.

Cheers

Carl

Back in a month

October 13th, 2011 by Carl D
Backpacking in Chitistone Canyon, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska.

Hey Folks,

So now the “season” has officially ended, I want to thank everyone that came out this year for such a fun summer/fall. It’s always a treat to see familiar faces, those who’ve returned yet again for another Expeditions Alaska trip, thank you. And for all those who took their first trip with us this year, thanks so much, and I sincerely hope you had a great time here. Thank you.

So now, it’s time for me to take off and explore some more. I’m taking 4 weeks to join up with Erin and Hig, of Ground Truth Trekking, for part of their ‘Life On Ice’ adventure, down around the Malaspina Glacier and the Lost Coast of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, a little travelled part of the world for sure. I’m super excited about this trip,  for a number of reasons, one is simply to spend a month in the backcountry. I’m also stoked to join up with Erin and Hig, great people with a wealth of experience and wisdom to learn from. That’ll be a great experience. Continue reading…

Grizzly bear photo tour

October 7th, 2011 by Carl D
Brown bear standing, Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska.

Hey Folks,

Just back from a fantastic 2 weeks in Katmai National Park on our Grizzly Bears in the Fall Photo Tour. What a great way to wind up the season!

This year we had a challenging but rewarding trip; there were definitely fewer bears than in some recent years (still more than 45 bears along the river), but some great weather, light and conditions helped us to all make some nice images.

This photo I have to say a big thank you to one of the folks on week #2, Chris, a Brit now living in San Diego. I was loaded down with my 500mm and D300s on my tripod, and my D700 and 70-300m over my shoulder. We had moved off the river a little to give a passing bear some room, when this scene appeared behind us. Trying to stumble thru 4′ tall grass, hummocks and tussocks and wet marsh without busting my tail was a bit of a mission, and Chris kindly offered to hold my 500mm for me, so I could step over the ground easier and snag a shot before it was too late. Thanks Chris, I appreciate it. Continue reading…

Image of the Month, Oct 2011 – Aurora borealis

October 3rd, 2011 by Carl D
Northern lights over Matanuska Glacier, Alaska.
Northern lights, or Aurora borealis, and the Chugach Mountains, near the Matanuska Glacier Glenn Highway, Alaska. Please click on the image above to view a larger version of this photo.

Hey Folks,

From a fall Photo Tour early September, we actually headed back out the night the trip ended, because we heard there was a big aurora borealis show forecast. Not far from the Matanuska Glacier we caught up with the northern lights. Always a treat to see.

Cheers

Carl

Grizzly Bear Photo Tour

September 14th, 2011 by Carl D
4 grizzly bear cubs, Katmai National Park, Alaska.

Hey Folks,

Heading off for 2 weeks in Katmai National Park for the grizzly bear fall photo tour. Hopefully we’ll run into these 4 youngsters again, though it’d be most surprising if all 4 cubs made it through last winter; I sure hope so, but the ways of the wild aren’t always aligned with our hopes. Their mom turned herself inside out last fall feeding these hungry bear cubs, so we’ll see how things went for them.

See you folks back in October.

Cheers

Carl

Image of the Month, Sept 2011- Caliban, Arrigetch peaks.

September 2nd, 2011 by Carl D
Caliban, in the Arrigetch Peaks, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska.

Hey Folks,

Image of the month for September, 2011; Caliban, or Calaban, in the Arrigetch Peaks, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. A gorgeous fall morning and a near perfect reflection. We had a great trip up north to the Gates of the Arctic National Park; the Arrigetch Peaks were every bit as impressive as I’d heard they are.

We’ll definitely back for a hike and photo tour to this area soon!

Cheers

Carl

Hiking on the Russell Glacier

August 18th, 2011 by Carl D
Hiker on Russell Glacier, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska.

Hey Folks,

Here’s a quick snapshot from the recent trip we did to Skolai Pass; Justin hiking on the Russell Glacier on a gorgeous afternoon in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. This was actually the first time I’ve ventured out on to this particular glacier; good times indeed.

An hour or so later, we saw a wolf heading up the valley. That’s a great day!

Cheers

Carl

Waterfall, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska.

August 10th, 2011 by Carl D
Waterfall, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska.

Hey Folks,

Here’s another waterfall photo from a trip I took to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve early this summer. This is a waterfall I’ve flown over many times, along the Nizina River, but never had the opportunity to shoot it. This summer we took a trip to the Nizina Glacier and hiked around the area a bit, shooting a few waterfalls, flowers, the glacier and surrounding landscape. Overall, a productive and fun trip and a fantastic place to visit.

Cheers

Carl

Image of the Month: August 2011

July 31st, 2011 by Carl D
Waterfall and sunset, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska.

Hey Folks

Roane Waterfall in the Skolai Pass/Chitistone Pass area, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park; an awesome foreground subject for a sunset photo (it also makes a great foreground at sunrise).

We just had 2 fantastic trips to the Skolai – Wolverine area, and got some great photos, etc. Highlight for me was seeing my first wolf in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park; something I’ve been hoping for now for years. Seeing it in a place such as this only made the experience that much greater for me. We watched him for 5 minutes or more.

A great summer so far; here’s to good weather for the rest of it.

Cheers

Carl

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