1. Welcome to Seward- When you first arrive in Seward there is this beautiful mural right beside the Visitors Center, and the background is beautiful as well.

2. "Fog Woman"

3. Raven Releases, the Sun, Moon and Stars

4. Raven the Creator

5. Japanese mural gift.

Nothing like a snow dragon defending a frozen castle!!

Can anyone guess the theme of this sculpture?

Not sure why the moose above was so angry looking, may his shoes were too tight?

This one was my favorite. Seeing the attention to detail in this work was amazing. The picture to the left showed the backside of the sculpture. The one below shows the interior. The detail is amazing, even down to being able to see through the wings of the dragon and the fire pouring out at the knight. I really admire the work that is put into these works of art!!
 

I kept hearing this high pitch male voice asking me "Whatchya doin?"

But of course he gave me the always majestic pose of an eagle!

Check out more of Eddie in the Eagle files!

F202Waterdroplets in the fungus. F202Fungus found on some wood. F203Fungus on some wood

NV105Gorgeous layered rocks along the road in Valley of the Fire State Park in Nevada. If you have time make a stop at the visitor center which will give you a plethora of information on the area and the park itself and as a bonus has a gorgeous desert garden in front.

I was lucky enough to be there when the cacti were in bloom and those blooms brought in some beautiful humming birds. After perusing the visitor center head up Mouse Tank Road for some spectacular views of these rocks.

NV101Gorgeous layered rocks along the road in Valley of the Fire State Park in Nevada. NV109Gorgeous layered rocks along the road in Valley of the Fire State Park in Nevada. NV113Valley of Fire State Park If you have time explore some of the trails, be aware of the weather though, as the heat can be intense and deadly here. And make sure to keep an eye on the side of the road for the wildlife that seem to be everywhere as long as your paying attention. I only had a short amount of time to spend here but would love to go back and take a few of the longer hikes.

Coming in at the 5th place slot would be beautiful, sunny and hot Hawaii. I know it pretty much is beautiful everywhere you go here so many might think it should be higher on the list but it comes in further down for me simply because I have a deep love of landscape photography and while it offers many opportunities for great shots it doesn't offer the kind I LOVE to photograph. That doesn't mean it doesn't provide some spectacular views. Check out the ones below!

OHI120Beautiful shoreline along the windward side of Oahu. and my personal favorite that was taken from the balcony of the hotel I was staying in:

OHI121Sunset viewed from the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. Coming in in 4th place would be the state of Utah! The only reason I think Utah isn't higher on the list is I haven't been able to explore it more. It truly has a plethora of landscape photography opportunities. When I went I explored southern Utah I was mainly only in Zion National Park and the shot below was one of my favorites. It is such a contrast to my home state of Alaska.

UT102Scappy tree with Zion National Park in the background. Coming in in 3rd place with the Bronze medal is South Dakota and more specifically Badlands National Park. This place is phenomenal!! The contrast between the sharp jagged rocks and the soft prairie is mesmerizing. I am pretty sure I took about 500 photos in the half a day we spent here and could have taken more if the wind wasn't trying to send me to Nebraska!

SD108Badlands National Park

I can resist just one more of the Badlands

SD103Badlands National Park

And in 2nd place with the silver medal dangling around its neck I present the state of Wyoming. Wyoming was a big surprise to me on my visit in 2022. I grew up driving through it as fast as I could because there was always somewhere better I was going. The beauty that I found by slowing down and enjoying myself really left me pleasantly surprised. We briefly visited Devil's Tower, the Big Horn Mountains and Yellowstone National Park. Each one brought its own unique beauty that had me snapping away with my camera.

Pano-BigHorn National Forest, WYLate spring view along the Cloud Peak Skyway Scenic Byway  and in 1st place is still my home state of Alaska! I know I am probably biased as I love mountains and untouched beauty and Alaska has plenty of that to go around but until I find something better it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Pano-Chugach Mountains, AKThe Chugach Mountains surrounded by a sea of autumn colors. Pano-Seward, AKA beautiful Panoramic view of the city of Seward, AK from accross Resurrection Bay. L323The view from the top of Thompson Summit just north of Valdez.

Pano-Seward SunriseA beauiful sunrise over Resurrection Bay from Seward, AK

UT102Scappy tree with Zion National Park in the background. UT110Zion National Park UT106Views from the road of Zion National Park

My favorite for watching the power of the waves was along the southern shore at Halona Blowhole. OHI104Halona Blowhole along the west coast of Oahu. OHI101Halona Blowhole along the west coast of Oahu.

The North shore provided some pretty spectacular waves and views as well. OHI109A beach along the North Shore of Oahu. OHI118The waves created their own beauty.

In truth no matter what side of the island you were on the beaches were like something out of a post card!

OHI110The windward side of the island.

OHI120Beautiful shoreline along the windward side of Oahu.

For someone coming from the largest state in the United States I have to say that the size of the island of Oahu threw me. When I first looked at a map of the road system I didn’t quite make the conversion from the expanse of Alaska. Oahu itself is 44 miles long and 30 miles wide, roughly half the size of Rhode Island (my commute to work is over 50 miles normally so the size of the island surprised me).  And while the distances may look like nothing be aware that the traffic is something all together different. If you catch the tide of traffic correctly and you flow against the majority you can make the trips in a normally expected time frame but if you end up with the flow of the majority of traffic be aware that it will take you quite a bit longer than you were expecting! And trying to get around the North Shore during high traffic times (evenings and weekends) reminds me of watching snails race. It is slow and there is a lot of pedestrian traffic. But with all that being said the roads lead you to some pretty amazing views. Today I want to show you my two favorite lookouts; Tantalus and Pali. The Tantalus lookout is on the Honolulu side of the island, if you use Google maps it can lead you right to it. There is a state park there with offers great views but the road itself has some amazing views of Diamond Head OHI103Diamond Head with Waikiki in the foreground.

 and Waikiki! OHI106Waikiki skyline

 I was told the view at night was even more spectacular but I never made it there after dark. But here is a couple of Panos I got from my two day trips up to the Tantalus Lookout. The first is from the state park view point. OHI114Tantalus Lookout The second is from the Tantalas Road itself. Whether you come from the Round Top Drive road or the Tantalus Drive road I highly suggest driving the full loop as it is a spectacular drive through lush forest.

OHI115Tantalus Lookout. The other look out that was spectacular but windy was the Pali lookout. It can be found on the Pali Highway at the top of the mountain and overlooks the windward side of the island. I will warn you that if it is breezy down below it will be blowing up above. This look out gets crazy windy but is worth the trip.

OHI112Pali Lookout

So in the month of August I was asked to go on a last minute assignment for work to Honolulu, HI. I have to say I was excited to get to spend 3 weeks in the tropical location, who wouldn’t be? I stayed in downtown Waikiki at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. If you are going to Honolulu and are only staying for a few days I highly suggest this area, as quite a bit is easily accessible. You have a beautiful beach, a plethora of restaurants in walking distance and plenty of shopping and nightlife. The Hilton offered a ton of different tours and activities and even offered transportation to most of the activities. Personally, I didn’t get to do any of the tours as my work schedule wouldn’t allow and I really didn’t want to be around a ton of people.  But I did use the Hilton as my jumping off point, every evening after work I would take off and explore another area of the island. So whether you are going to Hawaii for the touristy things or whether you are going to explore all that Oahu has to offer, Waikiki worked as a great starting point. One of my favorite features about my room was the view, especially at sunset! OHI121Sunset viewed from the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki.

OHI117Waikiki Sunset

Check out next week's mutterings about some of the amazing lookouts I found on Oahu!

F116Fireweed with Hatcher Pass in the background.

For those that don’t have Fireweed every year let me introduce you! Fireweed can be found pretty much anywhere there is an open field from the sea level into the mountains but one of the truly amazing things about it is that it tends to be one of the first to lay claim to an area after a forest fire or other devastating event. After the bombing of London in World War II Fireweed was one of the first flowers to bloom among the wreckage and after the eruption of Mount St. Helens back in 1980 Fireweed soon covered many of the affected areas. F158An off color fireweed among the brightly colored counter parts.

The stalk of this flower, on average, is about 4-6 feet tall but can grow to heights of up to 9 feet tall. The flowers themselves tend to bloom on the last third of the stalk. They can range in color from light pinks to bright pinks to purples and if the soil is right you even find the occasional white bloom. The leaves can be used for teas and the blooms make a fantastic jelly.

There are a couple of Old Wives Tales associated with Fireweed as well. Many Alaskans use the Fireweed to keep track of how long summer is going to last. The blooms begin blooming towards the bottom of the stalk and once the last bloom at the top of the stalk opens then it is said that winter will arrive in 6 weeks.

F160Fireweed

The other tale says that the height of the stalks determine how hard of a winter we are going to have, the taller the stalks the harder the winter. I just learned about this particular tale so I will have to do some personal research to see how accurate it is.

Now with all that being said there is nothing that can compare to just the plain beauty of a valley full of these flowers and when I went back down to the areas that I thought were destroyed by the fires of 2019 the beauty that I saw took my breath away.

L352Fireweed with the Kenai River and Skilak Lake in the distance, found along the Skilak loop.

Fireweed was all you could see, it was like a sea of pink.

L351Fireweed along the Skilak Loop

Once again mother nature reminded me that although devastation is bound to happen in life there is always a rebirth of one kind or another.

Check out more great information about fireweed;

https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/chamerion_angustifolium.shtml

Prince of Wales Island is a hidden gem at the bottom of the Alaska Panhandle. It is the third largest island in the United States and boasts a variety of communities along is borders. It is a bit difficult to get to as there are no roads to it. But there are a couple options to get you there; you can take a ferry to Ketchikan and then take another ferry to the island or you can fly into Ketchikan and then fly onto the island or a combination of the two. Either way it's worth the trip if you love to see practically untouched temperate rainforest and some of the last of the earth's old growth forests. This environment breeds an abundance of wildlife and its close connection to the sea around it only adds to the animals available to see on the island. I was lucky enough to explore the southern part of the island. Specifically Klawock, Craig, Hydaburg and Hollis. And what I found was a place full of life.

Bald eagles were constantly in view and you didn't have to look very long at the waters around the island to spot seals, otters or SC118A whale tail and spout found on Prince of Wales Island. even a grey whale spouting nearby. I was visiting in early spring so while there was plenty of green from the thick cedar forests there were also plenty of barren trees that I can only imagine will bring even more beauty when they begin to sprout.

Not only was the landscape beautiful but the people were friendly. I stayed in Craig, AK at Alaska Dreamin' Vacation Rental and was treated to a stunning view of the harbor beside Craig. I could sit on my front porch and watch the birds playing in the wind or the occasional grey whale spout while fishing for herring. I was also treated to an amazing sunset almost every night! L324A cotton candy sunrise viewed from Craig, AK. The lodging itself was comfortable, clean and perfect for my needs. Craig is a beautiful small town situated on a small bit of land almost completely surrounded by water. Almost anywhere you go in town you can see the water. They have a wonderful little park that has a walking trail around most of of it that takes you through a magnificent forest. It is a great way to unwind at the end of the day. If you head down the road to Klawock you will find another delightful small town that is situated on the water. They offer an amazing totem park that is really quite stunning to take the time to walk through. Hydaburg and Hollis are much smaller communities but no less charming. I have yet to find a place on this island that isn't absolutely breathtaking.

I can say without a doubt that a trip made to this gorgeous island would be a trip well worth taking!

The landscape of the area was so very unique, for me anyway. It was flat and white, looking north was the only change of scenery you were given and that was because you were looking onto the Arctic Ocean but turning in any other direction gave you the same monotonous view of white snow mounds as far as the eye could see. I have to say though that the although the landscape and weather we cold and icy the people were anything but. Everywhere I went the people that lived in Barrow were warm and hospitable. They put up with my relentless questions and told me some amazing stories. Their cultural center was full of great information and artifacts and a definite must see if you come to the area.  Despite the cold temps I was still able to get out and get a few pictures.

Barrow whale bone arch

The iconic whale bone arch in Barrow with a bank of clouds floating over the Arctic Ocean, or at least the part that isn't frozen.

IP163Sunset viewed in Barrow, AK. The sunset was amazing and starkly cold!

The trip to Barrow provided some pretty awesome sites as well. Most of Alaska was still draped in her winter clothes and this created some breathtaking shots from the air.

L321A valley of snake like rivers.

Winter river valley

L319Clouds billowing out of arctic mountains. Mountains shedding their cloudy blankets

AB141

Looking to one side of my house

AB137

Looking directly overhead

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And now the other side of our view.

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And sometimes even when you mess up a shot it gives you a an interesting result, it looks like there are ghosts of the trees in the aurora display.

IP160Beauty along the Turnagain Arm.

After that you dive into the forest and wind your way through spruce and birch that are so full of character they seem to tell a story. Along with these amazing trees there were an abundance of mushrooms growing in all kinds of places.

F171Button mushrooms on a dead tree.

These mushrooms were nestled in a bent tree.

F174Little mushroom found on the forest floor

This colorful boy was all by his lonesome on the forest floor.

F177Konk stair case

Sometimes they mixed, fungus and trees creating its own beauty.

F170Beautiful mushrooms

When flowers have run their course the mushrooms often provide their own beauty.

F179Water droplets on grass blades

Droplets on a blade of grass.

F178Berry drop

Reflection of a tree in an elderberry droplet.

FF144

Droplets caught in a spider web.

Mac103Droplets in the web

Another spiderweb with droplets.

F163Kinnikinnick comparison

Another couple tiny flowers in my area are the Pink Pyrola and Twin flowers. Both of these flowers could be easily over looked along the forest floor but if you take the time and slow down, they really are quite beautiful.

F125Delicate Pink Pyrola, Wintergreen F182Twin Flowers

and of course I would be remiss if I didn't include our Alaska State flower, the Forget Me Not

F147Forget-me-nots found on the Big Four Ice Caves trail.

Now don't get me wrong, I love these petite posies but some of my favorite flowers you don't have to look very hard to find. Take the Wild Rose, or Sitka Rose that blooms anywhere from late May into June. It's pink blooms warm the countryside.

F185Wild Rose IP113The Susitna River decorated with wild roses.

Next on the schedule would be orchids and lupine that add the perfect purple hue to the landscape.

F103Wild Iris grows like crazy in Alaska, it creates this beautiful scenic painting of deep purples among the greens of the springtime. F154Lupine found in a burnt out forest on the Kenai Peninsula.

Towards the end of the lupine blooms two of my other favorites come out, Daisies and Fireweed.

F148A hillside covered in daisies and lupine on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. F158An off color fireweed among the brightly colored counter parts.

If I was honest I would have to say that this blog post could go on and on with the beautiful flowers I have found throughout Alaska but I thought I would just share a few of my favorites with you. Do you have a favorite local wildflower?

L288Hatcher Pass

F193Floral carpet

When you get closer to fall the mountains seem to become a picturesque combination of reds, oranges, yellows and browns as the alpine landscape changes colors, this is also a popular place for berry picking in the fall.

L123Fall in Hatcher Pass.

I make this trip a couple times a year and every time I go up there I see something new. This last time we went up after almost a week of rainy dreary weather, we finally had a semi nice day and jumped on the chance to get into the mountains.

Now before I get to into this I better make sure you know how to get there! There are two ways to get up to Hatcher Pass; through Palmer and Willow. If you want start out in Palmer then head east on the Glenn Highway, when you get on the other side of Palmer you will see signs directing you to turn left to head to  Hatcher Pass and the Independence Mine. Follow those signs and you will be entering the pass from the South East. The other entrance is just past Willow, heading north on the Parks Highway there will be a sign telling you to turn right, once you are past Willow, that take you to the entrance west.

Now that that is cleared up, let's talk a little about the road. If you are coming from the Palmer side the road is paved all the way up to the Independence Mine. It is maintained year around and while it is curvy and sometimes steep it is a road that pretty much any vehicle can be driven on. Now if you are a coming from the Willow side the road is paved from your turn off the Parks Highway for a ways but then it becomes a dirt road from the base of the pass up past Summit Lake Rec area all the way until you get to Independence Mine. Every time we have gone up this way the road has been pretty smooth, no gaping pot holes or anything like that, so while I would say you could take any car up there I would just be cautious if you do. This is actually the portion of the road that gets closed when the snow starts to build up. Also, if you are not use to driving on dirt roads a word of caution, they can be slick when you go around corners so take it easy. We had a startling experience of watching a car come around a corner sideways, almost go off the sharp drop off, correct itselt and end up in the ditch on the other side of the road. Directly in front of us. So please people, take it easy!

Now let's talk about what you will see. This drive offers such amazing views I don't even know how to describe them. The mountains seem to reach way into the sky, almost cuddling with the clouds. L287Hatcher Pass in late summer

Once you have driven up into them the views to the valleys below take your breathe away. L286View from Summit Lake

Don't be afraid to stop at pullouts and explore a bit. A favorite place for people to stop is up at Summit Lake Rec area, which offers opportunities to hike a little, sled a little (snow permitting), and possibly watch some paragliders do a jump of two. L195Summit Lake at the top of Hatcher Pass.

Along with all the scenic views there is a bit of wildlife as well. If you are lucky you will spot a moose or bear along the mountain sides but if you slow down and get quiet you will also be able to see some of our smaller wildlife. Like this hoary marmot and arctic ground squirrel. A158Hoary Marmot taking in the view

The arctic ground squirrels can be very entertaining to watch if you have the time.

So here is my suggestion to you; pack a lunch and some snacks, fill up the car with gas, load up the family and your camera and pick a good day and head up to Hatcher Pass and spend the day being amazed by the beauty of Alaska!

He eventually got tired of our antics and decided to go for a snack in the trash bin but not before he took care of an itch that couldn't reach without help.

Once he got the itch taken care of (which my comical family put music to in our car, if you haven't seen a bear itch to rap music you haven't had a good laugh in awhile). It was time to crawl on in and grab a snack. Watching this big boy climb was so impressive!

He stopped and seemed to take a break here but I just figured he knew he was being photographed and wanted to give me a nice pose. After this he slid into the dumpster and would pop out every couple minutes to check and see if we were still hanging around.

Pretty sure there was something stinky in the bin when he came out looking like the above picture but then he seemed to give me the "don't post that pic" holler.

B144What you looking at?

So my little PSA for bears is put away your trash. If you can get bear proof containers great, make sure they are working and use them. If you are in the back country keep your food and trash separate from where you are and seal them up. We just had a bear shot up here because someone left food in the car and their windows were left open a crack so the bear shattered the window to get to the food and then became aggressive with people and they had to put him down. There are countless other stories like this one that could be avoided if people took precautions. Please be safe out there!

In general air shows include not just military aviation but also some local stunt pilots as well. Each piece of the show brought it own uniqueness to it and always left you impressed with both the aircraft's capabilities as well as the pilots. While I photographed everything I could I was only able to get clear photos of the military planes. Here are some of the shots I was able to get.

FF135

The planes ranged in size from small to massive. I caught these(both the upper and lower photo) during a multi-service demonstration.

It is amazing to watch these service members work!

FF137

The picture below is of a harrier jet, I believe it is manly used by the Navy/Marines. This guy was really cool as it did the fly bys and then it hovered by the crowd.

FF139

Of course the headliners of the show were the United States Thunderbirds and what a show they put on!

FF136

FF138

FF140

FF142

It was truly an a great day watching impressive machines and  truly amazing individuals who choose to be part of the 1% that stand and defend our country. I am thankful to be given the opportunity to watch the airshow but I am even more thankful for the service members who live the military life day in and day out. Thank you!

M184Front shot of bull moose in velvet.

Isn't he a beautiful bull moose!! As you can see his antlers are still in the velvet and look sooo soft that you just want to reach out and stroke them. But one should always use caution when around any moose!

M186Caution should always be used around moose.

Moose can move fast and those long gangly legs can be used to stomp on yea with very little effort by the moose. One of the first things I was taught when I moved to Alaska were that moose were a different breed, most animals would only attack until they felt the danger was taken care of but if you rile a moose it will finish the attack once it feels better. So the moral of the story is give them room! Watch their ears, they are similiar to horse in the aspect that if their ears are forward then they are comfortable and curious but if they fold back the moose has become irritated! They also have a line of hair that will rise like a mohawk along their back and neck when they get irritated. So give them their space and watch for the clues that would tell you that they have had enough of your interest! Does this mean you should avoid moose? Heck, no! Moose can be alot of fun. They love to teach moose yoga classes:

M188Bull moose yoga

I believe this move is called the sideways moose! They can also be folded for easy transport:

M183Compact sized moose

All joking aside, these animals are just amazing creatures but just like with all wild animals it is important to give them the space and respect that they deserve. Frank the moose and all of his buddies would appreciate it if you just wach them from a distance and let them go about the business of putting on the pounds for the long winter. Thanks and enjoy the moose!

M187A peek at a bull moose in velvet.

The Kenai Peninsula is absolutely stunning no matter where you go on it. There are snow covered mountains that tower over breathe taking rivers and massive lakes. And the view gets even better if you get off the main high way, if you get a chance take the small detour onto the Skilak Lake Loop Road from the Sterling Highway. It is about a 20 mile loop that comes back onto the Sterling Highway so you won't end up off course. The road itself is a beautiful one to take, make sure and take the detours onto it to all the hidden lakes.

L261Skilak lake reflections

Kenai and Soldotna are in and of themselves beautiful places to visit and offer the unique opportunities of being thriving urban centers and also beautiful places to view quite an array of wildlife. In the few days we were here we saw: moose, caribou, eagles, cranes, and multiple other birds.

A155Caribou in Kenai

And if the wildlife wasn't enough the landscape of the area is stunning. The picture of caribou above was taken from the wildlife viewing area down by the Kenai River. While the above picture was taken looking one direction, if you did a 180 degree turn the view changed completely to that of the Cook Inlet and Mt. Redoubt.

L263Mt. Redoubt

If your looking for a scenic place to visit the Kenai Peninsula doesn't disappoint. If you have the time make sure and check out places like Captain Cook State Recreation Site at the end of the Kenai Spur Road, which has great access to the Cook Inlet itself. Or check out the Kasiloff River which provides another great place to catch salmon. Or head on down the road to Homer which offers all kinds of fun activities and is its own kind of beauty.

In case your new to the area the nature center is located at the end of Eagle River Rd, about 10 miles east of Eagle River. If you are traveling north on the Glenn Highway out of Anchorage you can take the Hiland Rd exit just before Eagle River and follow the Hiland Road until Eagle River Rd where you will turn right and follow it until it ends at the Eagle River Nature Center which is where the trailhead begins. If you are traveling south on the Glenn Highway out of Palmer/Wasilla then the easiest  way to get there is to proceed through Eagle River on the Glenn and take the Hiland Rd exit and follow the same directions as above.

Now that you know how to get there let's talk a little about the hike itself. We are building up our fitness level and are choosing to do trails that fit our levels so most of the trails that we tackle this summer should be doable by a lower fitness level, families with smaller kiddos or families just starting to hike together. With that in mind I must say that the Rodak Nature Walk was a perfect start for us. This trail is well maintained and absolutely beautiful.

IP145Hiking on the Rodak Nature Trail.

You start at the Nature Center itself and then you descend into the valley through dense birch and cottonwood trees. We saw some stunningly large cottonwood trees that looked almost magical. The forest floor is dotted with ferns and all types of greenery, reminded me of the rain forests down by Seattle. When you reach the bottom you step out of the forest to a truly Alaskan view: the snow capped Chugach Mountains rim a lush green valley that has the Eagle River winding through it.

IP143Eagle River Valley in the spring.

All of this creates the perfect opportunity to see wildlife. If you are lucky enough there will be a moose or a bear to watch but even if those aren't available there is almost always birds of all kinds to check out from the viewing decks over the river. Don't forget to check out the side trail that leads you to a beautifully done totem that is hidden in the woods.

IP144Totem found on the Rodak Nature Trail at the Eagle River Nature Center.

When you are finally able to pull yourself away from this view and you continue back into the woods you slowly climb back up to the Nature Center. The path has benches along the walkway to help give you a rest along the way. I have a confession, this is definitely not my first time on this trail. We love this trail and go on it year around, although I will caution you to take ice cleats if you go in the winter as it can get treacherous otherwise. If you are looking for a quiet, beautiful starter hike go check out the Rodak Nature Hike.

In our family we have two avid fishermen, the manchild and the mini-manchild (aka my hubs and son), my daughter and I generally go along to watch for wildlife and explore the shores. This day I was relaxing in the back of my truck when I noticed a big black dot waddling down the road behind all these fishermen, shortly after spotting this the manchild spotted a second one and thus began our little adventure with the bears we named Bonnie & Clyde.

Introducing Bonnie & Clyde!

                              Bonnie felt that the cars should get in line with her for the fish!

At first most all the fishermen did just what we are taught, made lots of noise and tried to scare the bears into going another direction and after someone drove up the road honking their horn we thought that maybe they had been scared away and everyone went back to fishing. But we soon learned that these bears were determined. Everyone went about fishing again until Bonnie popped up directly behind a line of fisherman, successfully startling both the fishermen and Bonnie bear. Fishermen scattered and Bonnie ran over the road and up the hill on the other side and disappearing into the woods.

This left Clyde lingering in the woods that Bonnie had originally emerged from, about the time Bonnie disappeared into the woods I heard branches being crunched and sure enough Clyde emerged from the woods but he chose a different route, he decided to swim across one of the lakes to get around the hoards of humans.

Clyde decided a quick dip was the way to avoid all the crazies with two legs.

After his little dip he gave me a great photo opportunity when he passed between a Danger sign and a Caution sign. I couldn't help but get a quick shot.

We all went back to fishing and figured it was the end of it. But just a short time later Clyde decided he needed to recross the lake in order to get back together with Bonnie. He startled a poor family with small kids but made sure and stay clear of all of us while trying to get back together with his buddy.

B131Just a bear taking a swim.

Clyde was one determined bear.

He finally managed to get on the same side as Bonnie and they both took off for parts unknown, or at least that is what we thought. My family and I took off to look for a few things and made a stop in the Upper campground at Otter Lake. All of the sudden parents and children were going crazy. I stopped the car to figure out what was going on and low and behold we see our old friends Bonnie and Clyde. They were causing all kinds of a ruckus! Just a quickly as they appeared they disappeared into the woods, probably annoyed to find more two legged, noisy creatures. We headed home after this so I am hoping they moved on to a quieter area. But I have a feeling they went on to causing trouble some where else, just like their name sakes.

I have to say that these two characters helped make for a very memorable fishing trip.

I have been lucky enough to visit many of the memorials that communities have set up to remember those lost. I have visited the Vietnam Wall, World War II memorial, and Korean Memorial in Washington DC and they left me speechless. I have visited the USS Arizona memorial and was left in awe. I have also stopped at many local memorials and have been just as touched by the love and time that has gone in to creating these memorials. I want to touch on our local memorial in Anchorage. It is just outside of downtown anchorage in Delaney Park. They have set up this beautiful memorial that is eye catching during the day but at night, for me anyway, it becomes even more beautiful. This is just a small part of the memorial, so if you are in the area take some time and check out the rest. No matter where you are please take a moment and remember those that have given their lives to protect your freedoms.

LM128Veterans memorial in downtown Anchorage, AK.

LM129Veterans memorial in downtown Anchorage, AK.

LM131Veterans memorial in downtown Anchorage.

M178Mama and baby heading down the road.

When your mama is as big as a car she can walk wherever she would like!

M177Wee one running down the road.

So dang cute when they are this teeny weeny.

M176Mama and baby deciding on a way to go.

Trying to decide which way to go.

If you look at the base of his/her neck you can see the white ring starting to form what will eventually be his/her adult white head.

This shot had me giggling, for some reason I can hear a Disney characters voice while he is looking at me.

E167A juvenile eagle trying to get a better look at me.

This pose gave me a neck ache just watching him. Loved the opportunity to interact with this young fellow.

IF119Frozen waterfalls along the Seward Highway.

Although the highway may have few colors to brighten the view those few colors still offer stunning views, and if you are lucky the scenery will be decorated with wildlife.

A153Sheep along the Seward Highway.

We were lucky enough to spy some sheep among the cliffs along the highway. This is not always an easy task as the cliffs are dotted with snow, which makes finding the white sheep a bit difficult, you sometimes have to watch to see if the piles of snow make any movement. All in all our short drive down the Seward Highway was very rewarding. I can't wait for our next adventure!

"Super" refers to "a new of full moon closely coinciding with perigee, the moon's closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit"(www.earthsky.org). We have these multiple times a year with each time offering a great opportunity for a beautiful show of the moon. "Blue" refers to the fact that this is the second full moon of the month. While most of the time the moon is not actually blue, much to my children's confusion. "Blood" refers to the total lunar eclipse that also occurred. In doing some research it appears that the lunar eclipse occurrence is actually very common, happening multiple times in the year. But the kicker is that in order to get to see it, you have to be lined up in the right place. So for us in the Alaska, that time was last week but come this June's lunar eclipse we would need to be on the other side of the globe. You can check out all kinds of information on lunar ecplises at TimeandDate.com.

While most of North America could see this eclipse in one form or another only Alaska and Hawaii were able to see the complete eclipse. It began around 2:30am and lasted till just after 6:00am, so in order to see it you have to be pretty committed to either staying up super late or getting up crazy early. Since I had to work that morning I chose getting up crazy early. I knew I couldn't make a full day of dealing with teenagers if I got up at 2:30am so I decided to get up in the middle of the total eclipse and then photograph the moon's return to the light. For some reason I didn't think about the fact that I had to leave at 6:00am for work and at sometime in there I would have to get ready for work. So when I got up at 4:00am I slipped on my fleece pj bottoms, my boots, my gloves, my hat and multiple coats and sweatshirts and set everything up on my back porch in -6 degree weather and set to shooting. Sometime around 5:30am I came to realize that I wanted to keep shooting but I also needed to get ready for work so I would; set a timer on my camera, run in the house, run down the stairs and grab my hair stuff, run back up the stairs, throw my hair stuff on the table, run outside to reset my timer on my camera, run back in the house and do my hair and then start the whole process over again with my clothes and everything else that needed done. I finally brought my camera in about 5 minutes before I left the house for work. Neatless to say I was already pretty worn out but with some coffee fortitude I made it through the day. So enjoy what I could capture of the "Super Blue Blood Moon".

This was one of the first shots I got at around 4:00am, when the moon was still in full eclipse.

AB133Super Blue Blood Moon

This shot was taken as the moon was coming out of its eclipse. Shooting up until this was relatively easy, once the full brightness of the moon started coming back it became much harder to show the details on the dark side of the moon as well as the bright.

AB135Super Blue Blood Moon

One of the really important things to remember when shooting at night is that your camera needs to hold completely still. I was shooting on my wooden back porch and my guess is this shot was taken when I stepped on a plank to close to the camera.

AB132Super Blue Blood Moon

The last decent shot I got that still showed the dark side of the moon, and as you can see the brightness of the light really started to wash things out. Can't wait to have an opportunity to try and shoot something like this again.

AB134Super Blue Blood Moon

AB144

IP126Moose slumbering in the winter snow.

For my little test I decided to use a moose the manchild spied on a back road on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. This first pic was taken with my Iphone's regular camera. It is clear and the focus automatically is set to inifinity, which can be helpful.

IP127Moose asleep in the snow.

In this shot I put the lens on but left it unzoomed. It brought me quite a bit closer and was still wonderfully clear. It definitely has a focal point, but there is an option to turn the focus to infinity.

IP128A moose in the snow

And finally I zoomed in as close as I could go and it still turned out pretty dang good. If the subject had had more colors and better lighting, we were getting close to sunset, I think it would have turned out better. I am definitely looking forward to playing with this lens in the future.

IF118A great texture mix between the ice and water at the head of a salmon ladder.

The entrance to a fish ladder that is beginning to freeze up. But the mixture of the intruding ice and the texture of the reflected forest on the smooth water caught my eye.

Pull back just enough and some of that reflection starts to create its own reflected world. Almost felt that if I jumped in the water I would come out on the other side in a strange new world.

IF117Textured reflection.

Get a little closer and you find this beautiful border of the ice looking like it is staring at its own reflection in the water.

IF118Edge of the ice forming on the creek.

This last visit I was particularly enamored with a fox that had its own enclosure. She was absolutely stunning in her bright red coat with just hints of black on her paws and she caught my attention well before we were even at her enclosure. When we got to her enclosure she immediately dove into this hollowed out log and preceded to peep at us from within the log. When she didn't come out right away my son suggested we move out of her view and see what she would do and sure enough she would come out and check to see where we were. My son and I spent quite a bit of time trying to coax her out of the log and we were eventually rewarded with her coming out and running around her pen for a bit, that is until by 6ft tall son went from kneeling to standing that was a bit much for her and back in the log she went. So here are a few shots I was able to capture of our time spent with this beauty.

A149This is Kit, she is a red fox at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, AK.

This was when she was deep in her hole and unsure of us.

A151Kit from the Alaska Zoo checking me out.

She finally started easing out but she kept a tight eye on us.

I fell in love with this little fox so much that I didn't really photograph many of the other animals in the zoo but every time I have visited The Alaska Zoo there has been at least one animal that has stolen the show and this time it was this beautiful, shy little fox. For me, as a photographer, the zoo provides an opportunity to practice my skills with 1-the certainty that animals will be present and 2-that I don't have to worry about being mauled or eaten, which is something I am very aware of when shooting out in the wild.

LM131Veterans memorial in downtown Anchorage. LM128Veterans memorial in downtown Anchorage, AK.

LM129Veterans memorial in downtown Anchorage, AK.

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L348A smokey sunrise captured along Nancy Lake Parkway.

 Grief is a unique feeling in that although everyone feels it no one experiences it in the same way. For me this picture is helping me through that process. The saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words." comes to mind every time I look at it because there are so many things I wish I could express, I just can't come up with the  right words but, for me, they all seem to be summed up in this one moment in time.

L199Dark reflection on Upper 6 mile lake on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson

Upper 6 mile on a stormy summer day.

L226A pink hued reflection shot of Upper 6 Mile Lake on JBER.

Upper 6 mile in its fall colors during a rosy sunset.

L190Upper 6 mile lake with the Chugach Mountains as the backdrop.

Upper 6 mile during late spring. Snow is still up on the Chugach Mountains but the lake has thawed and leaves are just starting to come out on the trees.

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M163A bull moose found on JBER.

This handsome man I found on Joint Base Elemendorf Richardson in late September.

M102A backward glance

This young man I found during the late summer/early fall, he was checking out a few females.

M117Studly bull moose.

This guy was found out by the Eagle River Nature Center in late summer. You can see his antlers still have the velvet on them so they are still growing.

While most bull moose have these impressive racks, there are a few that may have some work to do on theirs!

M134A young bull moose along the Glenn Highway.

This poor guy was seen on the Glenn Highway just outside of Glennallen. Looks like one of his antlers were a bit cuddly.

M114Some odd horns.

I found this guy in late autumn on Joint Base Elemendorf Richardson. I am hoping he is a young male who is just practicing growing his antlers for next year.

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The Glenn Highway started us off with some breathtaking views:

L217A fall storm making its way across the Chugach Mountains viewed from the Glenn Highway.

A fall storm along the Glenn Highway!

L205View of the Glenn Highway from the head of Long Lake.

A view of the Glenn Highway looking up from the head of Long Lake.

L202Matanuska Glacier in its fall glory

The Matanuska Glacier dressed in her fine autumn colors.

Not to be outdone the Richardson Highway provided us with some pretty specatular views of its own! L206Glacier hanging from the clouds close to the summit of Thompson Pass. A glacier hanging down out of the clouds along the summit of Thompson Pass.

L204Worthington Glacier in early fall.

Of course a drive along the Richardson Highway wouldn't be complete without a glimpse at the Worthington Glacier.

I have driven this route many times but I have to say that seeing it in its fall glory may have made it my favortie time of year to go!

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"Pets must be on leash at all campgrounds, picnic areas, parking lots and trailheads, and under complete control (e.g. voice) in the backcountry."

While I understand that many feel that they can keep their dogs in line with voice commands, allowing your dog to be out of view in no way falls into the "being in control option" since if you can't see them you don't know what they are doing. Please, please, please get better control of your pups. I love dogs and if it was just me and my hubs and your dog was friendly on approach I probably wouldn't think much about it but when I am constantly having to prevent a canine conflict rather enjoy my walk it becomes a problem. You have no idea whether other dogs are good with your dogs, or whether there is a person who may be afraid of dogs. It is not alot to ask to keep control of your dog. If there are alot of people around please help  everyone have a good day by keeping your pups controlled, happy and safe so that we can all enjoy our time out and about.

LM127Whittier viewed from a cruise ship.

The town of Whittier is nestled up against Prince William Sound and has Whittier glacier hanging out above it which creates these great waterfalls that cascade down into the town. You can see the tall building in the picture, that is not a hotel or resort but rather the home of most of the just over 200 residents of this quaint town.  Once we headed out further into the sound there were opportunities to see glacier after glacier on both sides of the boat. We saw multiple types of glaciers, to include; mountain, piedmont, hanging, and tidewater. Each brought their own beauty.

L212Barry Glacier in Chugach Mountains.

Barry Glacier, a tidewater glacier, in the Chugach Mountains. We were lucky enough to watch this particular glacier calve.

L207A hanging glacier found in the Chugach Mountains.

A hanging glacier in the same bay a Barry Glacier. I loved not only the glacier but the multiple waterfalls.

L206A tidewater glacier in Prince William Sound.

Another tidewater glacier that was stunning!

Along with the glaciers were were given the opportunity to see multiple marine animals that can sometimes be hard to find close to civilization. We were lucky enough to see Sea Lions, Harbor Seals and Otters.

SC102A sealion haulout on Prince William Sound.

Sea Lions halled out on a rock to do some sunning.

SC110Seals sunning themselves next to Barry Glacier.

Harbor seals halled out on icebergs to do a little sunning below Barry Glacier.

SC109A couple of otters playing together.

Sea otters taking a rest from all the rough housing they were doing.

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LM124Alaska Railroad is its own Alaskan landmark

An awesome way to get out and explore Alaska is the Alaska Railroad! While it doesn't reach all the amazing destinations available in Alaska it takes you through some of the most scenic views available, starting in Seward and working your way northward all the way to Fairbanks. Which gives you so many places to visit! If you only have time for a day trip you can combine the railroad with things like a glacier cruise, a trip to the Alaska SeaLife Center, and so on! Or if you have a little bit of time you can take it up to Denali and spend a few days exploring. If you are lucky enough to be active duty or a veteran you can utilize the Inforation Tickets and Tours office on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson to get great deals on both the railroad tickets and and so many other attractions. LM125Alaska Railroad heading into the tunnel by Whittier.

My family decided on a day trip and took the train from Anchorage to Whittier. The 63 mile trip took us 2 hours and 15 minutes and was filled with the awe inspiring beauty of the Turnagain Arm for almost the entire way. The informative tour guide gave some great information about the history and the science around the area and the train didn't go speeding through anything, it was wonderful for a photographer like me to get some shots in. The ride itself is very comfortable. It was kept pristinly clean, well lit and on our ride they had a great little cafe where you could order food, drinks, candy and snacks. If you have the time and money and want to try a unique Alaskan experience try out the Alaska Railroad.

IP120View of a valley by Portage Valley.

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L112The beauty of Hatcher Pass in July.

Head north out of Anchorage and east towards Palmer and then head into Hatcher Pass. This great excursion heads up Hatcher Pass to Independence Mine, an old mine that has been turned into a museum. There are great trails to walk around the old mine and the landscape is spectacular.

LM110Taken at the Independence Mine in Hatcher's Pass, AK.

You feel like you are on top of the world. From Independence Mine you can look down and see Palmer nestled in the Matanuska Valley. After your done exploring the Mine area there are multiple trails that take you further into the area. If hiking isn't on your list but you still want to explore take a road less traveled, take the dirt road that leads you up to Summit Lake State Recreation Area and can lead you out of the pass in another direction, through Willow, AK. Now I am going to give this warning, if you don't like heights don't go this way. This is a dirt road that heads up to Summit Lake and then starts winding down through the mountains. It gives stunning displays of the Alpine Mountains and if you are there at the right time of year some great blueberries, or stunning fall colors. As long as the pass is open and its a decent weather day a trip to Hatcher Pass is always worth your time.

L195Summit Lake at the top of Hatcher Pass.

L123Fall in Hatcher Pass.

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F155An early fireweed bloom being enjoyed by the bees.

This flower tends to line our roads, fill our fields and just in general paint our landscape with stunning hues of pink to purple. They make me smile, and after the month I had I really needed. My father passed away quite suddenly which left a whole in my heart. I am thankful for the time I was able to spend with my family as we started the healing process but coming home to seeing these beautiful flowers brought a little brightness back into my world. And while I love their visual appeal, their brightness and I photograph them every chance I get. Nothing compares to the edible goodness that it can provide. One of my favorite things to do with it is make Fireweed Jelly. It is an awesome feeling to go out and gather up the stunning blushing petals and then take them home and process them into a sweet and gorgeous jelly.

IP119Fireweed jelly

It's great on toast, pancakes and makes a might awesome ice cream!! If you have fireweed nearby and would like to try your hand at making this make sure and check out my friend Cosmopolitan Cornbread's Fireweed Jelly recipe, and while your there check out some of her other amazing recipes!!

F116Fireweed with Hatcher Pass in the background.

So we are going to start with the Reflections Lake Trail that is just about 15-20 miles north of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway. This beautiful trail is easy to get to as it starts just off the highway, and at a little over a mile long it is a great hike to start off with. The paths are beautiful, well maintained and meander around Reflection Lake itself.

IP116Reflection lake trail.

This trail offers great views of the lake, of course,

IP117Reflection Lake

but it also offers the opportunity to see some of the Palmer Hayflats Refuge area. There are many birds that use this area to nest, as well as beavers and if you are lucky moose as well.  Along with the wildlife there is an abundance of plant life; beautiful birch and alder trees, water plants and flowers (my personal favorite)

IP115Lupine

If you have little ones a stroller is definitely doable on these trails and there are a couple of lookouts and benches if you need to take it easy along the way. I would recommend this trail to anyone looking to get away from town for a bit.

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B123Mama bear keeping an eye on me.

Black bears can acutally vary in color from black, grey and even brown. The main difference between a black bear and grizzly bear is the hump on the shoulder blades that appears on the grizzly bears. It is important to know the difference as you need to react differently depending on the type of bear you encounter. If you do come across a black bear it is best to make lots of noise as their immediate reaction is to run and climb a tree for safety rather than attack you. But always be aware if you run into a cub mama will protect her baby so pay attention and keep your distance.

B105A grizzly bear found just outside of Valdez, AK. B111A small black bear found on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson during late summer.

Black bears are "smaller", they only get up to 350 pounds, and while they can look cute and cuddly it is important to give them the respect they deserve. Once again, their first instinct is usually to run or climb a tree rather than attack but if they feel threatened they will attack, especially if they are injured like this poor fellow below.

B120Little wounded black bear found on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson

Bears are curious creatures and have been known to wonder into human inhabitated areas. I have spotted black bears at construction sites, playing on the equipment and sniffing out any food left by the workers. And last year we had a black bear family interupt a marathon as they checked out the runners, they were not aggressive just curious and eventually left the runners to finish their race. The bear pictured below found one of our road markers entertaining for a bit.

B122"Mom, mom look at this fun thing!!" black bear cub playing around.

L116Old fence found on a farm in Washington state.

The state is divided by the sprawling Cascade range that holds such mountains as Mt. Baker (to the north by Bellingham), Mt. Rainier and the famous Mt. St. Helens (both nestled more in the middle of the state). I spent time exploring one of the four major passes that crosses these mountains, Steven's Pass. This particular pass takes you through stunning forest covered mountains and follows turquoise river beds both on the west and east side of the mountains and creates spectacular views when mixed with all the greens of the hillside, deep blues in the sky and the many colors of the wild flowers growing (if you want this added beauty wait until July/August).

WL119Wentachee River just west of Leavenworth, Washington.

On the west side of Steven's Pass there is a roadside trail called Deception Falls. It is located just a couple miles east of Skykomish on the west side of the pass. You can see part of the falls from the Highway itself but to see all of its beauty you need to park and take the .5 mile  nature trail that guides you through the multiple layers of the falls as well as its stunning forest full of massive old trees that make you realize just how small and young we really are.

WL121Deception Falls on Stevens Pass in Washington State. WL120A moss filled tree.

Deception Falls, one of the multiple falls you can see on the nature hike.

One mossy, massive tree found along the nature hike.

My base of operations was in Everett, Wa and so I was afforded the opportunity to also explore the coastline of the Pudget Sound. While the mountains give you a feeling of steadfast solidity, the sound shows you that life is ever changing. With each new tide that comes and goes, new treasures can be found on the shoreline. Animals of all kinds can be seen; seagulls, cranes, eagles, seals and even orcas. Spending time along the shore I caught some of the iconic symbols of the region and explored some state parks such as Deception Pass on Whidbey Island.

WL126Deception Pass Bridge on Whidbey Island.

Deception Pass Bridge that connects Whidbey Island to the Anacortes Peninsula.

LM117Washington ferry in the Pudget Sound with the Olympic Mountains in the background.

A Washington State ferry with the Olympic Mountains as its backdrop.

And of course what trip to Seattle would be complete without the customary photo of the Space Needle!

L121The Space Needle and the arches from the Pacific Science Center.

M117Studly bull moose.

Moose range from the northern part of the lower 48 states all the way up to Alaska. While their Canadian and lower48 cousins are impressive specimens we grow them the largest in Alaska. To fully understand their size one needs to see them up close to something familiar; like a small suv whose roof was almost level with the underbelly of a moose I saw when I first moved up here, or when you go to walk out your back door and come belly to head with another awe inspiring creature.

M121Bull moose in the fall.

If you ask most Alaskans they probably have some crazy story about an encounter with these awkward looking animals. I use to find one in my backyard on a pretty regular basis when I lived in Fairbanks and always found it surprising to look down from my second story bedroom window and find a large nosed moose looking up at me from not far under my window. 

I had never really paid much attention to the moose before we moved to Alaska but they quickly worked their way into my heart. For the most part they will avoid human contact but don't be pacified by their gawkiness, if they feel threatened they will defend themselves and most definitely will defend their young. And unlike bears who will move on once they feel the danger has passed, moose move on once they feel better so it is best to avoid inciting trouble with them. If they have young ones with them, GIVE THEM SPACE.

M107I'm hungry mama!

My favorite rule of thumb is to keep something in between me and the family (my car door, my car, windows, trees, etc). Pay attention to their ears! Moose show alot of emotion through their ears. If you have ever handled horses they are very similiar in this aspect. If the moose's ears are forward or just aimlessly moving around they are calm and keeping an eye out. If their ears flatten onto their heads then it is time to vacate the premises!

M122Mamma moose munching on a meal. M138A nice beautiful profile pic of a cow moose.

F132Baby Spruce pincones

For the most part I love to photograph animals and landscape but all things in nature intrigue me both to photograph and how I can use them as resources for myself and my family. I bought a book when I moved to Alaska called the "The Boreal Herbal: Wild Food and Medicine Plants of the North" by Beverley Gray and have worked to try something new every year. This year I was excited to try out spruce tip jelly, which I have been told is a northern treat. Spruce tips are suppose to be high in Vitamin C and people make all kinds of dishes out of them.  I am not a fan of eating trees or the taste of pine but I decided to give it a try. So I did a little research to be able to differentiate between the pine trees, didn't want to end up with the wrong kind of tips, and started watching  the spruce trees in our area for signs of the spring growth. For anyone who hasn't done this before you wait for the bright, baby green sprouts to start to come off the end of the branches of the spruce trees. You want to pick them while they still have their brown skin on them before they pop them off and start expanding, this is when their flavor is the best.

F134Freshly picked Spruce tips

This year they didn't start appearing until the last few weeks of May. It is important to keep an eye on them as the time to harvest the best flavor is often just about a week's time span as they grow quickly. Something interesting to note is that as with any species of plant different types of spruce trees have different flavors. The type that is abundant in our area is the Sitka Spruce tree which gives tips that have a citrusy flavor.  After you harvest the tips you will need to follow the recipe which includes boiling them into a infusion, this is when the tips go from a pine taste to this sweet flavor that makes an amazing jelly.

FF121Spruce tip jelly!

P108Oskar looking very spectacular in all his quills.

*Porcupines are NOT the ninjas of the forest! They do not throw, or shoot, their quills as many people believe them to do. In truth the quills have to come into contact with something to stay and so to help protect themselves these creatures will swing their tails, where the bulk of their quills lay, to help ensure they have the force needed to deter the intruder. So while they can't shoot their quills at you it is still a good idea to keep your viewing from a distance just to be safe.

*Porcupine mamas  are not quill proof! Porcupine babies, or porcupettes, are born with their quills already on their bodies. While this might sound like a painful process for mama porcupine the porcupettes' quills are actually soft when they are born and in the next hour after their birth they will harden into their protective spikes. So mamas aren't troubled by their quills.

P106A young porcupine among the leaves.

* Porcupines have terrible eyesight! So whenever they sense danger they will run and hide or if that isn't an option they will climb a tree to achieve safety. If you ever have a chance to see this in action it is really quite amusing as the porcupines run looks like something out of a comic book because their back legs are longer than their front legs but the moment they switch into climbing mode they turn into climbers that would impress any rock climber.

P113Porcupine working his way up a tree. A189Porcupine perched up in a tree

E120A partial flying eagle.

This time around we decided to take advantage of one of the many campgrounds on the spit. We chose one of the city campgrounds as it was Mother's Day weekend and a few others weren't open. These are pretty primitive with no hookups and they are pretty close together but you spend so much time out on the beach, walking the paved paths of the spit, fishing or any of the many other outdoor activities that it really isn't to bad.

FF119Windsurfers on the Resurrection Bay by Homer, AK.

Just a word of warning, the spit can get windy, very windy! The first couple days we were there the wind was crazy. We were in our camper and so had shelter from it but we watched multiple tents try and get set up and eventually gave up. So come prepared. A unexpected benefit of the wind was the wind surfers giving us quite a show to watch while we ate dinner. These crazy individuals connect themselves to a sail and ride what looks like a cross of a surf board and snow board and utilize the wind to go cruising around the waves and when the time is right take jumps that had surprised me. They looked like they were having a great time and were probably the few people who were happy with the strength of the wind.

FF118Windsurfer taking a jump in the Kachemack Bay with the Chugach Mountains as a backdrop.

The spit itself boasts tons of activities, restaurants, shops, fishing charters, beach combing and marine life viewing. There is something for everyone! And if the weather is the pits and you need to get off the spit the town of Homer itself is so full of character that its fun to explore. This town is one of those that to me is the very definition of Alaskan. It is surrounded by the Chugach mountains (which provides a postcard-like backdrop), Kachemack Bay (which offers amazing fishing opportunities) and the Kenai Peninsula (which provides amazing wildlife viewing opportunities). 

Fishing on the spit is a pretty regular thing and the eagles know it and wait for an unsuspecting fisherman to leave their catches unattended so they can swoop in an steal them. Neatless to say they get pretty close to the fisherman. One such eagle made the pass at a fish but missed and landed just a little ways down the beach. This seemed to become an invitation to other people on the beach who saw this as an opportunity to get as close as possible and even at times trying to touch the eagle. He was pretty patient with the twits but I wasn't. I even watched as a family brought their children down close to the eagle, but not before putting a baby(close to a year old) down on the beach on his own so they could get closer. While I knew it unlikely I knew that that eagle was strong enough to pick up that small child if he saw that as enticing. The whole scene had me on edge.

What the heck people?! A wild animal is unpredictable and pushing the limits on their tolerance is never a good idea whether they are a bird, moose or bear! As our summer season gets started and more and more of these animals come out of hiding please give them their space! Don't become the reason they need to be put down because if you irritate them and they turn and attack you the result is often them being put down because they are considered aggressive. Please, please, please give them their space. Enjoy them by all means but do it from a respectable distance, watch them for signs that you are being a bother and do not come any closer!

A136Red squirrel getting a little help from mother nature's lighting.

L188Beautiful storm clouds over frozen Lower 6mile lake on JBER. L187Monochrome cloud scape taken on JBER.

A132A caribou along the tundra in Denali National Park. L186Denali peaking through the mountains along the Savage River Road.

BD131Well, hello there!

They are seriously intelligent! After living in Fairbanks for 3 years we had learned that you couldn't put anything even remotely resembling food in their eyesight. As I stated before we own a truck so grocery shopping became a game of cat and mouse with the ravens. If you left groceries in the bed of the truck for even the amount of time it took to wait through a red light, the ravens would find it. And they would try and eat anything that even remotely resembled food. I found beak marks in my tea boxes, milk jugs and all kinds of groceries. So we had to get creative and always have a cooler or plastic tub in the bed of the truck to carry items.

BD130A raven calling to his mates.

Another sign of their intelligence are the calls they make. I am sure they have a normal call although I haven't been able to hear just one call. They have this amazing ability to mimic sounds they hear. If you are around ravens that live around civilization you will notice that these birds will mimic car alarms and other noises that are common. I have seen people walking through parking lots get completely confused by hearing a car alarm engaging but not seeing anyone and it turns out there is a raven hanging out on a light pole above them in what seems like a game to the raven.

BD129A raven scouting from a tree.

Anchorage has a fantastic parks system and most of those parks have lakes or streams running through them. Which creates these havens for water fowl especially because people feed these birds. While this may be a fun activity for us and our children it generates all kinds of issues for these birds. One of the major issues it creates is that the birds get comfortable being fed and don't follow their natural habits of migration when winter weather sets in. So because of this we have parks that have water fowls, mainly ducks, year around and they are easily photographed.

BD126Female mallard duck posing in a snowbank.

My family and I went to one of these parks, specifically the Westchester Lake park. There are always a flock of ducks wandering around and that day was not different. My kids and I enjoyed sitting close by watching the ducks. They were very animated and quite the characters. My kids were giggling when I started focusing in on one male mallard duck and then directly behind me a female duck started quacking incessantly. My son told me it was the male duck's mate and she was jealous. Although this wasn't my favorite way to go about a photo shoot I enjoyed spending some time with my kids and watching the birds.

BD127Male mallard duck on a snow bank.

F122River Beauty and wildflowers taken along the shores of a lake just outside of Valdez, AK.

BD119Tufted puffin strutting in the Alaska SeaLife center. BD120Harlequin Duck found at the Alaska SeaLife Center. BD118What I believe to be a smew duck that can be found at the Alaska SeaLife Center.

An interesting part of living in Alaska is that we have really long winters, a decent size summer (at least that is the way it feels since the sun hardly ever sets), and then these short blips that we call fall and spring. The locals refer to spring as "break up" and after you go through a couple you completely understand, it is like someone flips a switch and you go from cold and snow to warm snow melting temps in a week's time frame. One year we lived in Fairbanks and I remember looking at the baseball fields that were still under a foot of snow a week before the start of practice and come the first day of practice the field was not only snow free but dry. It is crazy!

A good indication that break up may be on the way is snow sliding off of roofs and in the process they start forming icicles. I love icicles! I drive my family nuts driving around town and ohhing and ahhing about the amazing formations that appear. I managed to find a building the was losing its snowing coating so slowly that as the snow came off the roof it was forming icicles and they as it curled under it's weight more would form until there was a forest of icicles dangling from the building. So while I wait for the animals to come out of hibernation and the flowers to pop their heads out from the permafrost please enjoy the icicles that I find forming around the area.

IF107Crazy icicles IF106Icicles found alongside a building IF105A wall of ice forming off of snow leaving a building's roof.

AB129Aurora trails AB126Colorful Aurora viewed from Skyline Drive in Eagle River, AK. AB127Blown out aurora.

BD108Red poll finches feasting on pinecones.

B152Grizzlies playing around in the snow in the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

BD104Bohemian waxwings eating berries in the winter. BD103Bohemian waxwings eating berries in the winter. BD102Bohemian Waxwings eating berries.

IF103Crazy roadside formations. The gravel takes in what little warmth that the sunshine provides us and causes the snow to melt and create these unique formations along the side of road. Because of the gravel taking in that warmth the piles of snow soon resemble something much more oceanic. My family decided it looked like a coral reef alongside the road.

FF110Roadside Coral So when your stopped at a light or sign take a minute and look at the side of the road, you may be surprised by the intriguing designs that are awaiting you there.

The first thing we noticed when we got there was the noise. Apparently sled dogs have two modes when they are getting ready for a run; howling mode and run mode. These two modes very rarely ever happen at once. The howling mode occurs when they are unable to engage the run mode. The sounds these dog make while in howling mode are absolutely amazing. Each one of them has a unique voice and none of them just bark, they talk and you know they are saying things like, "Pick me, pick me!!" and "Why, or why am I not hooked up yet?!". There was one poor pup that they had to pull out of the line up and that poor thing sang us this sad ballad telling of the woes of being left behind. When she was finally able to rejoin the team she probably could have pulled the sled completely solo, she was that excited.

Now when the dogs engage run mode that is a sight. They go completely silent and have laser focus on running and working as a team. This was my first time venturing behind a dog sled team but it was such a fantastic experience. The power that these teams have is amazing. Before we even left on our ride, our driver asked me to stand on the brake while he took care of something. For those of you that don't know what they use for brakes, it is essentially a spike that is driven into the ground by your body weight. I was standing on said spikes and had to jump on it a couple times because the dogs were pulling my weight out of the ground like I wasn't even there. So you can imagine that when we started off on our ride these powerful dogs had us gliding across the snow. It was such a peaceful and exhilarating ride. The only sounds you heard were the footsteps of the dogs and the sled sliding across the snow. But we were moving at a nice clip and you could tell those dogs were enjoying what they were doing.

This is absolutely something I would love to do again, maybe venturing further. If you get a chance, definitely take a ride. It helps you to get a better idea of what the dog sled races are all about. I don't know how they do it, going for days on end. But I do know that I have a new respect for not only the mushers of races such as the Iditarod and Yukon Quest but the true athletes, the dogs. These furry, wildly animated athletes steal your heart with their voices and amaze you with their endurance and love of running!

LM122No one can doubt how much these dogs love to run.

Nature wasn't having a much better of a time dealing with the winds. I watched a bird work so hard to try and make some distance against the head wind but get absolutely no where until the gust ceased and they would go shooting across the sky(pretty sure there were a couple that gave up the flight fight and just walked home).

As for us land bound humans driving became a game of quick reflexes, your car would be blasted with a gust and you would steer into it and all of the sudden it was gone and you had to react quickly to not end up driving all over the road, I felt pretty sure I was going to get pulled over for drunk driving. But after all that craziness the morning brought on a new bright, windy and day and it also brought termination dust to our mountains so winter is definitely on its way!