Chugach

I haven’t had internet, heard the radio or seen a TV in over a week – I have to get caught up on recent events, hopefully I didn’t miss much!

We have had crazy weather on this trip.  As you can see here, a full on snow storm!  This was the end of April, but we had plenty of cold and snow in May too.  But, we have a great group and have seen lots of awesome stuff including one of the biggest glacier calving I have ever seen at Surprise Glacier.

After crossing Prince William Sound last week, we have now spent the last few days in Cordova.  Today we are flying over the delta which should be an interesting view of the massive shorebird migration.

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Monday morning will be the beginning of 5 fun weeks of travel for me!  It will start co-guiding a trip across Prince William Sound for a week, and then 4 days in Cordova for the amazing shorebird migration you see pictured above.  Not only will we be seeing shorebirds on the delta, but there are many other things planned including a flight to Kayak Island, a place I have always wanted to see.

I’m excited for a few reasons – first, I’ll be working with 3 good friends and fellow staff members from last winters trip to Antarctica.  It is an unexpected treat to be hired to work with these great guys  again so soon.

Second, the shorebird migration is really an amazing thing to see.  At times there are literally tens of thousands of birds at one time passing through the area in thick flocks.

Third – it is going to be a treat to spend a week in Prince William Sound aboard a beautiful boat like the M/V Discovery.  I love the Sound – and as many times as I have been there, I have never seen it in May – it should look very different with all the snow still on the ground.

So after Friday, it might be a couple of weeks until I have the time and internet connection to post again – hopefully I’ll have some interesting bird images to share then!

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A frozen waterfall, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

Excited to be taking off this afternoon – after 2.5 days of flying and driving we should be in Southern California, first Anza-Borrgeo, then over to the coast.  I have been in Alaska for 7 months straight – the longest stretch in over 10 years!  Over the next 10 months, we have a lot of travel planned.  As much as I have enjoyed my time in my home state, I also enjoy traveling and I’m getting excited to be hitting the road!

What I’m really excited about is where I’m going after we spend a couple of weeks in California – Antarctica!  It is going to be strange to go from our short days, to the long, Alaska summer like days down South.  I am really looking forward to seeing this amazing continent, should be a trip of a lifetime!

As you might guess, posting might be a bit spotty over the next week.

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Some more Alaska Winter.

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Here is another one from my hike last weekend.

Standing dead trees usually only remain standing for a couple of years in these parts thanks to our wet, extreme weather.  The wet rots the wood, and the wind and heavy snow takes care of the rest.

So for these dead trees to be still standing after 50 years is remarkable.  The reason they are still standing is interesting.  This area subsided during the huge Alaska earthquake of 1964 and that allowed this area to be flooded by the nearby ocean.  When the trees sucked up the salt water it killed the tree, but also preserved it.  After time, the weather turns the trees white which is why they are often called ghost trees.  These trees are extra white in this photo thanks to the snow and frost.  There are numerous examples of these trees along the coast throughout South-central Alaska.

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This was from a hike in Portage Valley this past Saturday.  It was a bit cold for this time of year, at least in this area – the temperature varied from 10 to 15 below Fahrenheit.  These trees were nicely back lit by nice golden light as the sun just peaked over the mountains on the horizon to the South – right about at high noon!  A good portion of the Portage Valley doesn’t even see sun this time of year.

This reminds me of a post I did a few years ago that might be of value:  8 winter photography tips.

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This was last night (Sunday) from my front porch!  This is looking across the bay at Mt. Alice through a 70-200 telephoto.  There is no question I have more photos of this mountain then any other subject!

I had hoped to photograph this scene on Saturday night since the last sunlight of the day would have been illuminating the mountain as the moon peaked over the ridge.  But, unfortunately about the only clouds we have seen in sometime moved in during that one hour – go figure.

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Some fresh snow on trees last Thursday in Portage Valley, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

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Last night!  Funny, I spent two nights up North in Denali this week for the Aurora Borealis and didn’t see anything.  But, twice this week I had great aurora down here in Seward which is far less likely!  I’m not complaining, it is a wonderful show anywhere you see it!  Actually it is much nicer to have them down here where you don’t have to deal with the cold. 

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Northern lights over the Chugach National Forest just a short time ago.  It is 4:30 a.m. – time for bed!

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We ended the month of September with 26.43 inches of rain – almost an inch a day!  At you  can see by this photo from Saturday, our rain did finally end – but I don’t think snow is what most people were hoping when they wished the rain would end. 

To be accurate, this is from a higher elevation, it didn’t actually snow in Seward – and it is beautifully sunny today!

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With a couple more big storms with wind in the near forecast, I figured I better get out yesterday despite the rain as it might be my only chance for fall colors here on the Kenai Peninsula.

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Savannah Sparrow on wild iris, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

Found this image yesterday as I edited my summer images.  This was actually a test exposure from a video assignment back in July.  The client wanted song birds on wildflowers “like the photos on my website”.  Problem is, that is no easy task and can take a lot of time and luck.  Fortunately, I can usually count on this little meadow not too far from home and it came through on this day!

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A pair of swans, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

This was from last night not far from my home.

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Camping in the Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

In the morning I head out on my three day photo tour into Kenai Fjords National Park.  I’m really excited – some bubble feeding humpbacks moved back into the bay, and I have heard from numerous people over the last couple of days who say they have been putting on some show!  Hopefully Tuesday I will have something to share from it.

I have a couple of overnight backpacking trips planned this summer into the nearby mountains.  Unfortunately a very snowy winter,  and cold, wet summer has left these locations running very late for snow melt and wildflowers.  Hopefully they will be ready next week and the weather will cooperate.

In the mean time, here is one from a photo shoot earlier this week.

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Riding on a dog sled, Punch Bowl Glacier, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

Dog sledding in the summer – crazy!  This was earlier this month near Girdwood.  I think you can see another team off in the distance.

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Twenty Mile Glacier, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

Here is a photo from earlier this month captured from a helicopter with the doors off – my favorite way to photograph!

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Fascinating ice shapes, Spencer Glacier, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

After my bear photo tour, I had a really fun day on a private tour in which we went dog sledding, helicopter flying with the doors off, and even landing and walking around on Spencer Glacier!  We found these fascinating ice shapes and other icicles in one of the numerous holes on the surface of the glacier.

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Portage Lake, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

I was hoping for a dramatic sunset last night – sunset by the way is after 11:30 at night!  Unfortunately clouds moved in right after this and the light never materialized.  Still, a beautiful place!

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Icicles formed overnight on an alder, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

We have been really busy since getting back home – so much to get caught up on!

In addition, I have been out the last few days on a video assignment.  Over the last year I have been shooting footage that will be eventually used as part of a new visitor center film.  The most recent request was for me to capture footage that conveyed the transition from winter to spring – not as easy as it sounds.   This image is a single frame of a time-lapse showing these icicles melting in the morning sun.

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Lost Lake Trail, Chugach National Forest, Seward, Alaska.

This is a recent photo of the Lost Lake Trail is cutting through a section of forest that we have always referred to as the enchanted forest thanks in part to the cool witches hair hanging from the trees.

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Chugach National Forest, near Seward, Alaska.

Another recent image from our beautiful snowy winter!

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Lost Lake Cabin, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

This public use cabin looks funny in the summer because it is perched so high in the air.  Now, it is easy to see why!

This cabin was renovated last summer – looks great.  We have stayed here in the past during the winter – the view from here looking down on Resurrection Bay and Seward is spectacular!

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