Brown bears fighting – Hallo Bay

September 3rd, 2021 by Carl D
Brown bear males fighting Hallo bay, Katmai National Park.
Brown bear males fighting Hallo bay, Katmai National Park.

Hey Folks

From our Alaska Brown Bears and Coastal Wildlife Photo Tour in July this summer. We were super blessed with some amazing weather for the duration of the trip, and some really, really great bear photography experiences.

From our time in Kukak Bay photographing various different brown bears on a whale carcass to great experiences with a couple of different sows and spring cubs (both triplets and quadruplets), the highlight was definitely this evening with excellent moments watching brown bears chasing salmon, bears fighting and some simply gorgeous light. Good times.

Hallo Bay – Home of the Great Bear

Hallo Bay can be such a golden place. Spectacular location, amazing bears, it can provide super nice light and some truly special moments for photographers and nature lovers.

We had ventured out to the water towards the late evening, after some nice hours on the grass flats with a sow and her 4 cubs. The tide was going out, fish running in, and right after we made our way to the beach, the bears started coming out.

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The Tao

April 12th, 2021 by Carl D
Backpackers looking over alpine tarn near Iceberg Lake, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, 7 Pass Route
The eternal moment

“When her work is done, she forgets it.

That is why it lasts forever.”

Lao-tzu, “Tao Te Ching”

Favorite Images from 2019

January 6th, 2020 by Carl D

Hey Folks

Wrapped up another year, and to start off the new year, here’s a look back at some of our favorite images from 2019. And we look forward to making a whole lot more, along with a veritable bevvy of more fun photo tours this year.

Enjoy,

and if you’d like to join a bear tour, let me know. We’d love to have you join us.

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Favorite Photos from 2018

December 29th, 2018 by Carl D

Hey Folks

And so slides by yet another year. They seem to disappear more quickly than ever these days.

I thought I’d toss up a few images from the year of Alaska Wildlife Photo Tours. Mostly bears and northern lights as I was pretty busy with those trips this year.

Looking forward to next year. We have a great bunch of trips we’ll be running.

Without further ado, I’ll throw some pictures up for you. Enjoy.

Note: if you want to take a look at our bear photo tours, here’s a nice comparison page we put together.

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New Trips to Lake Clark National Park

January 31st, 2018 by Carl D

Hey Folks,

2 new trips on the website for 2018, and more to come.

The first one is one Rhane guided in 2017 for us as an exploratory trip, in Lake Clark National Park. We’re offering custom trips to Lake Clark National Park this year, either basecamp trips where we camp, hike and packraft for a week, or a 4-6 day backpack trip through the heart of the Alaska Range in this classic Alaska walk.

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Favorite Photos from 2017

December 21st, 2017 by Carl D

Hey Folks

Another year winds down. And so it’s time to put together a short post of our Photo tour photos from the year.

They’re not really “Favorites” any more than a selection of images from the year. Some of my favorites have already been posted here and here.

And so … here they are

Click on any of the images to see a larger version.

If you want to browse over our bear photo tours and bear camps, see the similarities and differences all in one place, take a look here.

Northern lights

We’ll start with a northern lights image. This one was taken on an absolutely incredible night last March. Absolutely incredible.

Cold. The wind was howling, and we were up on a high ridge. Tripods hit the ground. But it was SO worth it. Just awesome.

Northern lights corona, aurora borealis, Alaska.
Northern lights corona, aurora borealis, Alaska.
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Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Passes the US Senate

December 1st, 2017 by Carl D

Hey Folks

Tonight we have some rather ugly news. Sadly, I present to you that portion of the US Tax Bill passed by the US Senate tonight that seriously threatens a place very dear to me. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or ANWR, as it’s casually called.

Click to read it and weep.

These words in the Tax Bill voted on by the US Senate tonight threaten the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
These words in the Tax Bill voted on by the US Senate tonight threaten the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

“The Secretary shall issue any rights-of-mayor easements across the Coastal Plain for the exploration, development, production or transportation necessary to carry out this section”.

Sad times.

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Rafting in ANWR – Marsh Fork River

November 7th, 2017 by Carl D
Jule expertly guiding a boat full of rafters and gear down the Marsh Fork River, on our way to the Canning River, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, ANWR, Alaska.
Jule expertly guiding a boat full of rafters and gear down the Marsh Fork River, on our way to the Canning River, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, ANWR, Alaska.

Hey Folks,

Wow, November is here already. Here’s an image from our Canning River Rafting trip in the ANWR this past summer. This year we took group of 6 people out in the refuge for 12 days, with 2 rafts, tons of food and we all had a blast. Fun trip, a great mix of people, and nice weather.

And because I didn’t get a chance to keep up with the blog too much this past summer (it’s many, many long stories), I’ll add a couple images from this trip for you here as well. Be sure to click the images to see a larger view.

The Marsh Fork is such a beautiful section of river, that gorgeous turquoise water is SO inviting.

Rafting the Marsh Fork River, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, ANWR, Alaska.
Rafting the Marsh Fork River, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, ANWR, Alaska.
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Tyndall Glacier, Icy Bay

October 23rd, 2017 by Carl D
Guide Rhane Pfeiffer Kayaking near Tyndall Glacier, Tan Fjord, Icy Bay, Alaska.
Guide Rhane Pfeiffer Kayaking near Tyndall Glacier, Tan Fjord, Icy Bay, Alaska.

Hey Folks,

Welcome back to the blog. It’s been a long, busy and somewhat crazy season. More on all that later.

Here’s a photo of the Tyndall Glacier from our first trip, way back in June, when Rhane and I guided a Sea Kayaking trip in Icy Bay, before a week hiking and packrafting on the Lost Coast. Good times.

The trip was a blast. Saw a wolverine right by camp, had a nice batch of weather, great camping, great food, and some awesome, awesome kayaking.

The Tyndall Glacier was in the news a good bit recently. A landslide right by the toe of the glacier (out of frame on the left of your view) dumped many, many tons of debris into the Taan Fjord and on top of the glacier. A Tsunami several hundred feet high resulted, scouring the fjord and completely redrawing the landscape. It was amazing to get back to the area and view some of the carnage. I’ll write a review of that for you later. Incredible what power that wave wrought.

The glaciers of this area are a dynamic process. Climate change is a big impact on the region. Glaciers are always retreating and advancing and back and forth, but not quite so much as they seem to be at the moment.

Look for more coming blog posts here over the next few months. The season has wound down a bit, and I’ve time to catch my breath and update the blog. until then, enjoy the view.

Travel safe.

Cheers

Carl

Protect the Arctic

April 16th, 2017 by Carl D
Rafting down Canning River, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge rating trips, ANWR, Alaska.
Jule guides a rafting down the Canning River last summer.

Hey folks,

A nice short video of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from We Are The Arctic a grassroots coalition whose mission is to raise awareness for and protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Excellent cinematography that highlights the beauty and the wildness of this special place.

It’s always a treat to return to the refuge. Our 2017 trips to ANWR are full but we’re open to helping you plan a custom trip or scheduling a rafting trip for 2018.

Cheers
Carl

Expeditions Alaska
Visit the wild