Viking Lodge Cabin

March 6th, 2011 by Carl D
Viking Lodge Cabin, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska.
Winter in Alaska. The Viking Lodge Cabin, a public use cabin in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, makes a fantastic getaway for a winter trip. Please click on the image above to view a larger version of this photo.

Hey Folks

Here’s a shot of one of my favorite places in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve; Viking Lodge Cabin. The cabin is not far off the Nabesna Road, which is nice; accessible. Unlike most public use cabins in the park, this cabin requires reservations, though that also means when you arrive, you know ahead of time you don’t have to share the cabin with anyone else who might show up. There is no fee to use the cabin, which is nice. It’s quite a treat, being able to head out in the winter and have a cozy, comfortable cabin to relax in.

An old barrel stove sits in the middle of the cabin, and warms the cabin pretty quickly, even in the depths of winter. It makes the world of difference after a day out in the mountains, skiing or snowshoeing, to come back to a warm cabin, rather than a cold tent. Perhaps in the morning it makes even more difference, waking up and having a nice warm pair of boots sitting by the cabin, rather than crusty frozen boots outside the door.  Continue reading…

Alaska Wildlife – Cow moose Anchorage Alaska

February 27th, 2011 by Carl D
A cow moose stands outside the house in Anchorage, Winter, Alaska. (Alces alces)
A cow moose stands outside the house in Anchorage, Winter, Alaska (Alces alces). Please click on the image here to view a larger version of the photo.

Hey Folks,

A fun post.

After all the tromping around in the mountains and wilds of Alaska, carrying way too much weight and camera gear around the hills trying to photograph wildlife, I tried a new approach. Let the animals come to me! So here, taken from the window of the house, a cup of coffee in one hand and my camera in the other, is a cow moose. Anchorage, Alaska.

Now, I wonder if I can get this same technique to work on a pack of wolves!

Cheers

Carl

ANWR Trip – Canning River Video

February 12th, 2011 by Carl D

Hey folks,

Here’s a short video from our multi-day Canning River Rafting Trip, in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We spend anywhere from 10 days to 2 weeks floating the Canning River in the refuge, depending on the year, and a little video like this doesn’t even touch the surface of this float trip. But hopefully it catches at least a little of the feel of the trip.

Because of the nature of the logistics here, typically, the maximum number of people on this trip is 3, plus your guide. If you have more than 3 people, please call or email to discuss trip options.

Enjoy the video. I just recorded the music for it this afternoon; hope you like it.

Cheers

Carl

2011 Calendar online

February 10th, 2011 by Carl D
Campsite on the Goat Trail.
Bret snapping a photo of camp and the killer scenery on the Goat Trail, Skolai Pass - Wolverine, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska.

Hey Folks,

Just a quick note to say ‘At last’ .. the 2011 calendar is online. Take a quick look at the trips listed. Also, if you don’t see a trip you’re interested in, or the dates don’t quite match what you’re looking for, send me an email and we’ll see what we can do about scheduling that.

It’s set to be a great year …. the Gates of the Arctic trip to the Arrigetch Peaks should be a blast. 2 weeks exploring the Brooks Range, awesome. We have room for only one or 2 more people, so if this might be a trip for you, definitely drop us a note ASAP. This is an exploratory trip, so intermediate – advanced hikers only. All transport taken care of from Fairbanks to the backcountry and back! I’ve wanted to return to the Gates for 15 years now, and have long been wanting to explore the Arrigetch area. This one will be amazing.

More info on new trips and events coming soon. Stay tuned!

Cheers

Carl

Image of the Month, Feb 2011

February 2nd, 2011 by Carl D
Crystalline Hills, winter in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Kuskulana River, Alaska.

Hey Folks,

From a short trip to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park over the holidays.

Small piece of trivia – Minus 40deg F is the same temperature as minus 40 deg C.

Cold days indeed.

Stay warm folks,

Cheers

Carl

Image of the Month, Jan 2011

January 13th, 2011 by Carl D
Winter in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Mt. Blackburn, Alaska.

hey Folks,

Welcome to mount Blackburn, winter, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska.

Cheers

Carl

Have a great holiday, folks

December 22nd, 2010 by Carl D

Hey Folks,

Here’s hoping you’re somewhere special, with people you love and care about, and enjoying the moment. And if ya can’t be with the one you love, well, love the one ya with. And love ’em with everything you got. It’s a good time.

All my best to all you, and thanks so much for a great, great year. Here’s to many, many more of them.

Cheers

Carl

Hiker and Mt Blackburn, Wrangell-St. Elias, Alaska.

Images of the Year

December 18th, 2010 by Carl D

Hey Folks,

A short selection of images. 12 favorites from 2010.

Click on the thumbnails below for larger versions of each photo in the gallery. Continue reading…

Image of the Month: Arctic Coastal Plain

December 2nd, 2010 by Carl D
Cotton grass and a small kettle pond, ANWR, Alaska.
Coastal plain, near the Canning River, Section 1002, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, ANWR, Alaska. Please click on the thumbnail above to view a larger version of this photo.

Hey Folks,

December is, of course, the month of the 50th anniversary of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, so it’s probably fitting that the Image of the Month for Dec, 2010, is from the Refuge. A small kettle pond on the coastal plain east of the Canning River. What an amazing evening this was!

A nice hike across the tundra around midnight, enjoying that magical summer evening of the arctic. I spent some time photographing this small pond, then stayed around and played my flute for an hour or so. Memorable evening.

If you didn’t check out the video tribute here already, take a look. It’s a collection of 50 photos from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge put to some music I recorded (including my flute) to honor the 50 years since the establishment of the refuge.

I’ll be back there next summer, 2011.

Cheers

Carl

ANWR Photos – 50 photos for 50 years.

November 23rd, 2010 by Carl D

If you have a nice, large computer screen and broadband connection, what I REALLY recommend you do is go to my page on Vimeo and click the ‘HD’ button underneath the thumbnail. You can watch and listen to this video in full HD resolution, at 720 x 1280. It’ll take a moment to load, but is (hopefully) well worth the time.

Hey Folks,

50 photos for 50 years!

Dec 6, 2010, marks the 50th anniversary of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or ANWR. Over 19 million acres of wild lands, the refuge is a treasure, home to thousands of creatures and features; the caribou herds, the Brooks Mountains, the broad coastal plain, migratory birds and countless other gifts to this world. A beautiful landscape that warrants our respect, not our exploitation.

I hope you like this. These photos and this music is my simple tribute to this special place.  Happy Birthday ANWR – and cheers to many, many more.

For more ANWR photos, visit the ANWR Photo Gallery. If you’d be interested in joining us for an upcoming ANWR Rafting and hiking trip, visit this page.

Turn up your sound!

Cheers

Carl

Expeditions Alaska
Visit the wild