Mt Sanford, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska.
Hey Folks,
So summer’s almost here. I’m looking forward to some great trips this summer, and hopefully some good weather. The weather in Anchorage and across the state has been awesome this last month or so – sunny skies, warm days and clear nights. The trees are greening up fast, and the snow’s gone in the lower altitudes. It’s simply gorgeous here right now.
This photo is of Mt. Sanford, on the north side of Wrangell-St. Elias, from Gulkana, looking across the Copper River basin to the 16 237′ tall Mt. Sanford, as it catches the last rays of the day.
Caribou herd migrate across the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, ANWR, Alaska.
Hey Folks,
I hope this finds you all well and gearing up for a great summer. It seems like winter solstice has only just been and gone, and its already march. Spring’s right around the corner, and then summer will be underway! I’m enjoying the winter, but am ready for summer – warmer weather, sunshine, longer days, and flowers and green vegetation is always welcome! And, best of all, more backpacking!
One of the questions I receive most, especially this time of year, is how best to prepare for the coming backpacking season. The short answer is, it doesn’t matter – just do something – the fitter you are, the safer your trip is! However, I think a few specific things can help:
a) make it regular. Whatever your exercise regime, try hard to make it happen every day – not every second day, or 3 days a week Continue reading…
Winter hiking, Wrangell St. Elias National Park, Alaska.
hey Folks,
Just a quite note to say Happy New Year to all, and all the best to everyone for a great 2009. This photo was from my winter solstice hike in Wrangell St. Elias National Park. A great view of Mt. Blackburn across the Root and Kennecott Glaciers. Check out the calendar for the trips we’ve scheduled for 09, and drop us aline if you have any questions or want to see something not listed.
So, I’m back to the ‘photos from the past’ section. I’ll post a few more from my recent stay in the park, but wanted to post this, a favorite of mine, from Denali National Park a few years. This was probably one of the greatest days I ever had photographing. I hiked my tail off all morning after this bull moose – I was just finishing breakfast on what was to the be the last day of a 2 day stay in Denali Park, and I really wanted to get something worthwhile. The weather was pretty gnarly, but it was my last day, and I hadn’t much to show for 12 days of staying hunkered down in my little 1 person tent in wind, rain, sleet, snow and cold.
An oldie but a goodie. A favorite photo of mine from a decade or so ago in Denali National Park.
Hey Folks,
So here’s the reason why the bus that I thought would take me to the park entrance (see this post). I got on the bus and heard the driver talking about ‘wonder if the wolves would still be there’.
Immediately perked up. The “wolves”???
I leaned forward, and eavesdropped my a** off.
Turns out a pack of wolves had killed a caribou bull not far off the road, and the whole pack had been feeding all morning whilst I was walking around the backcountry chasing some stupid moose.
I finally start to get this story, thru the bits and pieces I could overhear, as the bus pulls into Eielson visitor Center for a scheduled stop. Now, I know the bus drivers have a schedule to keep, but if there’s a wolf pack feeding on a caribou carcass down the road, IMO schedules ought be abandoned.
Apparently the bus driver didn’t think my opinion counted for much, and we had to sit in the Visitors Center for 45 minutes, in order that we departed at the ‘correct’ time. Then we had to stop again at the Toklat rest stop for another 20 minutes, and 15 more at Polychrome.
So, sure enough, by the time we arrived, the wolves had vacated the carcass, and a grizzly bear sow and her 2 cubs were now in charge.
In what was possibly the luckiest moment of my life (after meeting Eric Clapton, years earlier, of course), I convinced the bus driver to let me off the bus so I could stay and photograph. Normally bus drivers in Denali Park won’t let anyone off the bus within a half mile of a wildlife sighting, and a mile of a bear sighting. A bear on a kill, no chance, right?
Ask, and thou shall (sometimes ) receive. I think it was my trusting good looks, delectable personality, delightful’ smile and downright charmin’ aussie accent that won her over. So I get to spend nearly 3 hours watching and shooting these bears on the carcass. I only left because I had to catch the last bus out of the park and then drive to Anchorage, pack and leave on a trip the next morning.
Well, that and it was dark and snowing.
It was an awesome opportunity, and a thrilling experience to see the bears here.
The wolves were howling from across the river, in the brush, but the bears paid them little heed. It was interesting to me how different it was, for me, to watch the bears feed on a caribou carcass than it was for me to watch bears feed on salmon carcasses, at places like Katmai National Park.
The process of life is really the same whether the ‘prey’ is a fish or a mammal, right?
Wrong! Not if you’re at all human, in my opinion. For whatever reason, it sure feels different to me (and probably for the caribou, too 🙂 ).
So, I got to Anchorage late that night, but got packed and left on time in the morning. And you know where I was leaving for? Brooks Lake, to photograph grizzly bears! I do love me some bears!
So with the previously posted moose photos, and then this experience, I would definitely rate this as one of my all-time favorite photography days.
Someone told me summer’s been and gone already for 2008 here in Alaska. I missed it, somehow, apparently. What a crazy year it was, weather-wise. Thunderstorms and lightning in the arctic, rain and clouds, snow and clouds, sunshine, wind, cool weather, hot weather, a mixed bag for sure. What was super, super appreciated, was the great spirits everyone brought along on the trips this summer – I couldn’t be more appreciative, and the groups couldn’t have better. Thanks.
I’ll try to have a slideshow up the website with a little review of the summer trips, but I’m heading back over to Wrangell-St. Elias to photograph the remaining fall colors, and then come back to Anchorage early October to get website updates, etc, done. So look for a slideshow on the home page in October. Until then, thanks SO much to everyone who came out this year, for all the good times, the great company, and some killer hiking trips. Thank you.
This photo is me, staring in awe at Mt St. Elias, from Icy Bay, in mid-June. What a mountain!
I finally get a chance to catch up quickly here – it’s been one trip after another, and though the weather’s not been the best, the trips have all been a ton of fun. I’m heading out in a few days for another basecamp/photo trip, which should be great, and then the season is over – it’s gone WAY too quickly!
One of the highlights this year was our Bremner Mines to Tebay Lakes trip – the first ever commercial trip here, and one of the first groups of people to complete the route. We had an awesome group of experienced hikers, adventurous all, and we had a blast. The route was challenging at times, but enough long mellow stretches of easy hiking that we all enjoyed it. Continue reading…
We just got through a great trip up on the Sanford Plateau, on the north side of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The hiking was great, the views sublime, and the group awesome. This image is from our campsite on the 2nd night, where we spent 2 full days enjoying the high alpine tundra and incredible views of the massive mountains nearby – Mt Sanford (over 16 000′), Mt Wrangell (over 14 000′) and Mt Drum (over 12 000′). This image is of early morning at Mt Drum.
The weather wasn’t too bad – a mix of rain, clouds, wind, and calm sunny weather as well – a welcome respite. Much better than the weather on the previous trip to Skolai Pass, where rain, sleet and even a little snow bound us up tight for much of the trip. I’m excited to start doing more treks on the north side of the park and exploring this area further – we’ll definitely be back on the Sanford Plateau in 2009, and hopefully be able to do a few other trips in the area as well.
I’m off tomorrow for the 2 week trek from Bremner Mines to Tebay Lakes, which I’m very excited about, and hopefully we’ll get some good weather. We’ve a great group of hikers again, and this promises to be loads of fun. I need to get to bed and get some rest, because tomorrow evening, we’ll be in the backcountry. I’ll try to put a trip report together when I get back on the 20th. Stay tuned!
I just got back from a sea kayak trip to Icy Bay, down on the southern edges of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. This will definitely be a trip for next year. It was my first time in this amazing place, and it really is cool. There’s SO much to see and explore in the area. It’ll be a sea kayaking/hiking trip, a little of everything. the scenery is awesome, and the geology of the place is fascinating. 100 years ago it was a wall of glacial ice, now 3 glaciers have receded, and the valleys left in their wake filled with water, creating 4 deep cold fjords. The Taan fjord is the most navigable for paddling, the Tsaa fjord is almost covered with icebergs. Here’s a shot from a camp site along the shores of the Taan fjord, Icy Bay, looking out over the bay towards Mt. St. Elias, as it catches the last rays of the sun for the day. Pretty sweet view, eh? Continue reading…
Just a quick post before I disappear for a couple of weeks. The blog will slow down even more the next few months, as I’m too busy hiking and photographing to get much posting done, but I’ll try to update it from time to time.
Anyway, here’s a photo I took a few days ago, when I was lucky enough to find a few Great Horned Owl fledglings, just learning to fly, and not far from their nest. The light wasn’t so great, but these little guys were SO cute! I’ll probably not run into them again as they’ve gained their wings and are heading off on their own before too long. I’m about to head off for a trip for 2 weeks, then heading up to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for 2 weeks, which I can’t WAIT to do, so in the meantime, have fun, stay safe, and enjoy the mountains.
