Alaska Adventure
Month one (July, 2016) of my Alaska Adventure took me from Greeley, Colorado to Fairbanks, Alaska. Although the map shows a drive of 4,359 miles, it was actually more than this, because of side-trips and whatnot. The first part of the trip was dedicated to putting miles down, so only brief stops were permitted in Glacier National Park, Montana, as well as parts of southern Canada to the east of the Canadian Rockies. But when I made it to Yukon Territory, I slowed down and was able to enjoy myself more. I made it as far north as the Arctic Circle (shown on the map as Eagle Plains, YT), and spent time in and around Dawson, before taking the Top of the World Highway into Alaska. While in Alaska, I visited Wrangell-St. Elias National Park - the biggest National Park in the US Parks System - and Valdez, before heading north to Fairbanks, en route to Denali National Park.
During my summer, 2016 visit to Glacier National Park, in northern Montana, the wildflowers were in full bloom. I'm not sure of the names of the mountains in the background of this photo, but they can be seen in the Many Glacier area of the National Park. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30, 60x40, 72x48.
Every time I visit Glacier National Park, in northern Montana, I make it a priority to get to the Wild Goose Island viewpoint at sunrise and / or sunset. And when the mountains light up, it is worth it, every time. Available in the following sizes (Panorama C): 30x10, 36x12, 48x16, 60x20, 72x24, 90x30, 90x30 Triptych (3 x 30x30), 108x36, 108x36 Triptych (3 x 36x36), 120x40, 120x40 Triptych (3 x 40x40).
I spent the summer of 2016 on an Alaskan camping trip. On the drive to Alaska from Colorado, fields of canola began to appear in Montana. They continued along the side of the road for several hundred miles into Canada, but it wasn't until just outside of Dawson Creek, on the western (British Columbian) side of the BC / Alberta border, that a fully-blooming field came into view at the same time as a pleasing sky. I love the simplicity of this shot, as well as the contrast between the yellow foreground and the mostly blue sky. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30, 60x40, 72x48.
Although the southern portion of the Canadian Rockies – the Banff and Jasper area, specifically – receive the lion's share of the attention these mountains get, the northern part of this majestic range is also quite spectacular, and much less crowded. I took this shot looking south on the northernmost end of the Canadian Rockies, just north of Muncho Lake, in northern British Columbia, and didn't feel at all uncomfortable setting up a tripod on the largest highway for hundreds of miles because of the solitude afforded by the region. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30, 60x40, 72x48.
I suppose it makes sense for flowers to grow as far north as Canada and Alaska, but I'd never really given it much thought until my trip to this area in the summer of 2016. The city of Dawson is a cute, little gold-rush town that thrives, today, as a tourist spot along the famous Alcan Highway, taking travelers through Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon Territory en route to Alaska. The city has a lot of historical buildings, including the commissioner's home, which hasn't been inhabited for close to a century, but is beautifully maintained as a historical site. The garden in front is kept as it was during the city's heyday, and one of the flowers that seems to grow best in the region is this species of poppy, which filled a large portion of the gardens in the region. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24.
Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the second largest National Park in the country, occupying over 20,000 square miles. The Park is accessed by one of two dirt roads, which allow access to lakes, camp sites, streams, and day-hikes. I took this photo from the northern road into the park, looking south towards the Wrangell Mountains. The Wrangell Mountains, although quite close to the Gulf of Alaska, are some of the highest in North America. Available in the following sizes (Panorama B): 30x12, 40x16, 50x20, 60x24, 75x30, 75x30 Triptych (3 x 25x30), 90x36, 90x36 Triptych (3 x 30x36), 105x42, 105x42 Triptych (3 x 35x42), 120x48, 120x48 Triptych (3 x 40x48), 135x54 Triptych (3 x 45x54), 150x60 Triptych (3 x 50x60).
The early part of my summer, 2016 trip to Alaska was somewhat disappointing from the perspective of a wildlife photographer. In the month leading up to my taking this bald eagle shot, I'd seen zero moose, one bear, one caribou, and legions of little critters – gophers, chipmunks, etc. So when a full-grown bald eagle landed in a tree that I happened to be driving by at the exact right instant, I didn't waste a second in getting my camera gear out and snapping a few shots. I got several photos that I think are worth posting here, but this one struck me as at least a bit unique, since he was screeching as I took the photo. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 8x12, 12x18, 16x24, 20x30, 24x36.
Month two (August, 2016) of my Alaska Adventure began in Fairbanks, and immediately went south towards Denali National Park, perhaps the destination I was most excited for at the outset of this three-month trip. The second-largest mudslide in the Park's history, which shut down the only road into the park, didn't dampen the fun I had. Denali itself proved as beautiful as I'd expected, and abundant wildlife was the icing on the cake. The rest of the month was spent largely on the Kenai Peninsula, which surprised me with its beauty and prolific wildlife. Towards the end of the month, I started the trip back towards Colorado, stopping in Haines, and Skagway along the way.
Denali National Park was one of the highlights of my summer, 2016 trip to Alaska. While there, I camped at Wonder Lake with the intent of shooting Denali – the highest mountain in North America – at sunrise and / or sunset. On the night that I took this particular photo, “The Mountain” was hiding in the clouds, as it does more often than not. Fortunately, the trip was a blast regardless, and as I was walking around in the evening, I saw a ton of snowshoe hares, like the two shown here. They change color with the season, so within a few months, these guys will be pure white. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle A): 10x8, 14x11, 20x16, 24x20, 30x24.
Only about 30% of visitors to Denali National Park are usually able to see its namesake – Denali, formerly known as Mt. McKinley – the highest mountain in the United States (and North America), at 20,310 feet. I count myself very lucky that, after having to deal with bus difficulties caused by a massive landslide during my visit, I made it to Wonder Lake Campground and awoke on the morning of August 9, 2016, with a stunningly clear view of this majestic peak. A few hours later, when the Park's first buses began to make it to the part of the park from which one can view the mountain, clouds had already poured in and obscured the view. Sometimes, all the planning in the world doesn't quite compare with a bit of good luck! Available in the following sizes (Panorama A): 20x10, 24x12, 32x16, 40x20, 48x24, 60x30, 60x30 Triptych (3 x 20x30), 72x36, 72x36 Triptych (3 x 24x36), 80x40, 80x40 Triptych (3 x 27x40), 96x48, 96x48 Triptych (3 x 32x48), 108x54, 108x54 Triptych (3 x 36x54), 120x60, 120x60 Triptych (3 x 40x60).
Denali isn't the only beautiful mountain in Denali National Park, Alaska. The entire Alaska Range, of which Denali is the highlight, is quite beautiful, especially at the golden hours of sunrise and sunset. I took this photo from my camp spot at Wonder Lake just after sunrise. I love the way the clouds below blend into the forest in the foreground. Available in the following sizes (Panorama B): 30x12, 40x16, 50x20, 60x24, 75x30, 75x30 Triptych (3 x 25x30), 90x36, 90x36 Triptych (3 x 30x36), 105x42, 105x42 Triptych (3 x 35x42), 120x48, 120x48 Triptych (3 x 40x48), 135x54 Triptych (3 x 45x54), 150x60 Triptych (3 x 50x60).
I knew Denali National Park would be one of my favorite places in Alaska before I visited it during the summer of 2016, but I thought it would be a highlight more for the scenery than the wildlife. Fortunately, both the scenery and wildlife were spectacular. No private vehicles are allowed on the one road that goes 90 miles into the Park – instead, visitors must go in on one of the shuttles that are operated by the Parks Service. I got extremely lucky on an early morning bus ride coming back towards civilization from Wonder Lake Campground, and was treated to a mother grizzly and her two cubs walking alongside the road. They were unfamiliar to the Parks employees, who hadn't seen this particular family of bears yet this year. Watching them wander around, play, and eat was one of my favorite experiences in Alaska. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24.
I went on two wildlife and glacier viewing cruises while in Alaska. The weather was atrocious on my first cruise, but quite nice on the second one, which made up for the lost opportunities of the first. Departing from the town of Whittier – one of the strangest towns on the planet – the cruise I went on in the middle of August, 2016, traveled down Blackstone Bay in order to see two tidal glaciers, including this beauty: Blackstone Glacier. Like most glaciers on the planet, it is rapidly receding, so I was happy to be able to see it in the condition I did. Available in the following sizes (Panorama A): 20x10, 24x12, 32x16, 40x20, 48x24, 60x30, 60x30 Triptych (3 x 20x30), 72x36, 72x36 Triptych (3 x 24x36), 80x40, 80x40 Triptych (3 x 27x40), 96x48, 96x48 Triptych (3 x 32x48), 108x54, 108x54 Triptych (3 x 36x54), 120x60, 120x60 Triptych (3 x 40x60).
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, outside Whittier, Alaska, is a great place to see wildlife that might otherwise be difficult or impossible to see in the wild. The grizzly bears that live at the Center were a real treat to watch as they played together on the largest habitat for non-wild bears in the world. After splashing around in one of the on-site ponds, this bear relaxed and struck a few beautiful poses for me before going back to his primary task – having fun. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 8x12, 12x18, 16x24, 20x30, 24x36, 30x45.
Full Moon over the Kenai Mountains
Homer is a strange little town on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. I had been in Alaska for roughly a month when I made it to Homer, and of that time, there had only been one day in which it didn't rain at all. So when the weather turned beautiful on the afternoon of August 20, 2016, I didn't think there was much of a chance it would stay that way for long. I've never been happier to be wrong. I intended to shoot the sunset from an overlook above town this evening, but ended up getting there too late. Oops. Fortunately, I had a backup plan. I knew there would be a full moon rising shortly after sunset, but wasn't sure of the direction in which it would come up. When I checked my phone and saw that it was going to rise above the Kenai Mountains to the southeast, I knew I was going to be in for a good show. This is one of my favorite photos from my entire summer on the road. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30.
Kathleen Lake, in Canada's Yukon Territory, was an unexpected delight. Just south of Haines Junction, on the west side of the Haines Highway lies Kluane National Park and Preserve, and there is only one established campground in the whole park. It's at Kathleen Lake. It has a spectacular day-use area, but the real highlight is the lake itself. If I ever find myself in the area again, I am going to make sure to give myself at least a couple nights to camp here. Available in the following sizes (Panorama A): 20x10, 24x12, 32x16, 40x20, 48x24, 60x30, 60x30 Triptych (3 x 20x30), 72x36, 72x36 Triptych (3 x 24x36), 80x40, 80x40 Triptych (3 x 27x40), 96x48, 96x48 Triptych (3 x 32x48), 108x54, 108x54 Triptych (3 x 36x54).
I like to plan my shots to the greatest degree possible, but sometimes, you just stumble onto something that you know will make a great photo. This is exactly what happened when I pulled off the road in Canada's Yukon Territory along the Haines Highway into Kluane National Park. Autumn colors were coming through in places, but the aspen trees in this photo were still sporting green leaves. Fortunately, the underbrush had gone through a terriffic transformation, and was now all kinds of beautiful colors, from green to yellow to red. I had to “focus stack” this photograph in order to get the whole scene sharp, but the extra work proved to be entirely worthwhile. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30.
I'd stopped at a place called “Million Dollar Falls” to shoot exactly what you'd expect – a waterfall. The shots of the falls turned out quite good, but what was even better was this scene, which I only spotted because it lined up perfectly with my exit from the campground. In late August, the aspen trees in Canada's Yukon Territory begin to change colors, and I left the Yukon with hopes that it was a prophecy of beautiful colors to be seen for the rest of my trip home – through the Canadian Rockies, Montana's Glacier National Park, and Wyoming's Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30, 60x40, 72x48.
The American Bald Eagle Foundation in Haines, Alaska, is set up to educate people about an American icon – the bald eagle. It was here that I took this spectacular photo of an adolescent bald eagle's head. Notice the white head isn't entirely white. This is because the eagle is young. They are born entirely brown, and their heads and tail feathers only turn white at five or six years of age. Available in the following sizes (Square): 10x10, 12x12, 16x16, 20x20, 24x24.
I'd left my campsite in Haines, Alaska one evening in order to go up the road to take sunset photos. After only a minute or two on the road, I glanced in my rear view mirror and was forced to do a double-take. Had I really just seen a rainbow as incredibly vibrant as I thought? I got out of the car and was thrilled to find that the answer to that question was a resounding “YES!” The nearly horizontal light from the setting sun really adds some punch to this photo. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30, 60x40.
Haines, Alaska, is, at times, a difficult place to take photographs. Any direction one looks results in beauty. So it can be difficult to plan shots. I'd shot Mt. Krause – the mountain in this photo – one evening, but wasn't entirely happy with the results. I figured it might work for a sunrise photo, though, and returned early the next morning in order to try again. I'd say the few hours of sleep I lost to get this photo were well worth it! Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30, 60x40, 72x48.
It took me a month (September, 2016) to make my way home from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. At the outset of the trip, I'd planned to follow the changing fall colors south, in order to see the Canadian Rockies all the way through Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park with yellow aspen. My plan worked quite well, overall. It was great to return to the Canadian Rockies four years after my first trip to this incredible part of the world. I was able to spend ten days there, which allowed me to see a great deal more than I had on my first trip. The trip came to an end at Grand Tetons National Park, where I was privileged enough to see one of the most spectacular scenes to ever grace the planet - Oxbow Bend seen at sunrise when the aspen are at peak. Overall, my Alaska Adventure was a wonderful way to spend a few months, and the photos I was able to capture are among the best I've taken. I hope you enjoy them, too!