The Tao
April 12th, 2021 by Carl D
“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 DHey 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.
Continue reading…Favorite Photos from 2018
December 29th, 2018 by Carl DHey 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.
Continue reading…New Trips to Lake Clark National Park
January 31st, 2018 by Carl DHey 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.
Favorite Photos from 2017
December 21st, 2017 by Carl DHey 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.
Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Passes the US Senate
December 1st, 2017 by Carl DHey 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.
“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.
Continue reading…Rafting in ANWR – Marsh Fork River
November 7th, 2017 by Carl D
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.
Tyndall Glacier, Icy Bay Wrangell St. Elias
October 23rd, 2017 by Carl D
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 (2015). 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.
Kageet Point, where we used to camp is gone. Well, the landing strip there is gone. So there’s no more camping there for now. Instead, on this trip, we camped a little north of there on another small point, about one-third of the way up the bay toward Tyndall Glacier, north from Kageet Point. Spectacular views of Mount St. Elias and the kayaking there was just sublime.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Kageet Point down the road and whether it becomes a place we can return to via bush plane or not.
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.
On this trip we spent the day right up around the toe of the Tyndall Glacier. We were able to paddle amongst the lots of brash ice and thousands of small floating icebergs. And then we did two awesome hikes, from either side of the bay. This really is one of my favorite spots in the park.
As always, I would suggest you take a look at our sea kayaking guide if you’re interested in this great sport. It’s a lot of fun. Nice way to see some incredible places.
Travel safe.
Cheers
Carl
Protect the Arctic
April 16th, 2017 by Carl D
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
Alaska Hiking – Week Long Backing Trips
April 14th, 2017 by Carl D
Hey Folks,
But what’s a weeklong hike?
Hiking and backpacking trips in Alaska are a little bit different to hiking elsewhere. Alaska itself is a little bit different.
It’s bigger. Wilder. Harder.
. More correctly, I’d suggest that hiking in Alaska is substantially harder than what you’re used to.
That is the ultimate caveat to this question. What are the best weeklong hikes in Alaska?
Well, best for who? My buddy Todd did a weeklong hike last year in the Alaska Range and he covered 185 miles. So a weeklong hike for a ridiculously fit, ultra light speed freak is probably not going to be the best weeklong hike for you. Or for me.
We’ll look at 5 days hiking time. There’s every possibility you’re going to need at least a day travel either side of the hike getting to and from your AK destination to your trail head. And if your hiking trip involves a bush flight, or two, that could easily be more.
So here are a few of the best hikes or hiking areas for a week long hiking trip in Alaska.
Continue reading…