Seward Alaska

Ron Niebrugge Alaska, Travel 8 Comments

Seward, Alaska

Seward, Alaska

Seward, just before sunset Sunday night.  A cruise ship just out of sight at the dock to the left was preparing to leave.  My plan was to wait here to capture the ship as it moved out the bay, but I had a little change of plans.

You see when I hit the ridge, I became a bit uncomfortable when I noticed a large amount of bear scat in the patch of berries on the ridge- it was obvious something much larger then me also enjoyed the area!  Having left my bear spray with Janine a quarter of a mile away back in camp didn’t help!

I eased up to the edge of the cliff and looked down below me – all clear.  As I often do, I quickly became engrossed in the process of taking photos and never saw a black bear slowly climbing the ridge just below me.  By the time I saw it, it was way too close!  Because the sun was directly behind me, and I was working quietly, the bear never saw me either – I did a quick “hey bear”, and it was clear it was just as shocked to see me I was him!  It quickly dropped down into the alders and out of sight.  It happened too fast – I didn’t get a photo, but it was just the reaction I was looking for.

After I waited a while longer for the ship to leave, the bear re-emerged on the next ridge over – the one you see in this photo.  Once out of the alders, the bear just stood there and stared at me!  It stood motionless for a long time, just staring – I figured it was  staring out of curiosity, but as time went on, I started becoming uncomfortable.  Eventually, it turned and began climbing the ridge – sharpe eyed viewers can probably see it in this wide angle image.  It was at this point that I decided a Seward photo without a cruise ship was good enough, and hiked back to camp.

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Mt Marathon Bowl

Ron Niebrugge Alaska, Photos, Travel 5 Comments

The Bowl, Mt Marathon, Seward, Alaska.

The Bowl, Mt Marathon, Seward, Alaska.

The trail locally know as the “Mt Marathon trail to the bowl” has really become popular in recent years and for good reason – it rocks!

The trail begins in Seward at 1st avenue and Monroe, just keep following Monroe up the mountain.  After leaving town, the first section winds through a stretch of beautiful tall tress that help make up the temperate rain forest.  Once you climb up out of the rain forest, you are rewarded with some wonderful views of the City of Seward and Resurrection Bay.  After a bit more climbing, you eventually reach a cool little alpine valley where a clear stream twists, turns and waterfalls through fields of wildflowers and colorful boulders – some of which you can see in yesterday’s Mt Marathon post.  Then, after climbing the final stretch which is made up mostly of a long snow field, you reach the Mt. Marathon bowl you see pictured here.  This was captured at sunrise Monday morning.

Fireweed amazes me!  That stuff can grow where few, if any other plants can survive.

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Mount Marathon

Ron Niebrugge Alaska, Chugach, Photos, Travel 9 Comments

Backside of the race portion of Mt. Maraton, Seward, Alaska.

Below the bowl on the backside of the race portion of Mt. Marathon, Seward, Alaska.

The plan was to continue posting photos on the blog from our recent trip to British Columbia, as I worked hard in the office.  Well, the weather turned so nice, we couldn’t stay inside!  So yesterday afternoon we grabbed the backpacks, tent and camera gear and headed for the hills!  This was captured just before sunset last night – unfortunately the sky didn’t light up, but it was a great place to hang out!

After photographing sunrise, we were still back home by 9:30, so we had a nice night in the field, and can still get some office work done!

Here are more Alaska photos.

Butchart Gardens

Ron Niebrugge Canada, Photos, Travel 22 Comments

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, Canada.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, Canada.

Well, saying how much I loved a flower garden isn’t going to do anything to improve the macho, tough guy image I have worked so hard to create (joking), but this place was gorgeous!  I think you could be blind folded, and  still could come away with beautiful images, because literally every inch of extensive grounds at Butchart Gardens is perfectly manicured with wonderful, colorful flowers.  Here are more Victoria photos.

The Sunken Garden, Butchart-Gardens, Victoria.

The Sunken Garden, Butchart Gardens, Victoria.

Whistler Sunset

Ron Niebrugge Canada, Photos, Travel 6 Comments

Sunset over Whistler, Canada.

Sunset over Whistler, British Columbia, Canada.

These beautiful clouds and thunderstorm pretty much appeared out of nowhere at the end of a hot day in Whistler.  This is at the base of Whistler Mountain – you can see some of the Bike Park.  The top of the mountain you see here is the 1/3 point on the ride to the top!  Blackcomb is equally as tall, and rises to the left of this view.

Usually the blog is pretty close to real time – but I have fallen behind a bit.  We actually returned to Alaska yesterday, but I will keep sharing more photos from this trip.

Having only one full day (two nights) in both Whistler and Victoria was not near enough time.  Unfortunately, it would have cost us a bunch more of our valuable  free miles to return after Tuesday – so we did our best to cram it all in.

I’m hoping these summer images will be a good compliment to our winter Whistler photos.

Peak to Peak Gondola

Ron Niebrugge Canada, Photos, Travel 8 Comments

The Peak to Peak (acutally called Peak 2 Peak) trams runs between the tops of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains.

The Peak to Peak (actually called Peak 2 Peak) trams runs between the tops of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains.

This was an amazing ride!  We had to do it, although Janine had to take a big step given her fear of heights!

So check out these stats – all world records by the way:

  • Largest unsupported free span in the world – 1.88 miles.
  • Highest lift in the world of its kind –  1,361 feet.
  • It is also the longest continuous lift in the world – total distance traveled is 2.73 miles.

And in case that wasn’t enough excitement, they even put a glass floor in a few of the cars!

Here are some more interesting facts.  The total ride lasts 11 minutes.  There are 28 cars, each can carry up to 28 passengers, that means the thing can move 4,100 passengers per hour.

Here are more Whistler, Canada pictures.