Spruce pollen, Seward, Alaska.
As I returned from my daily walk from the Post Office, I couldn’t help but notice the cool patterns the spruce pollen was making in a mud puddle in our drive-way thanks to a recent rain. This is a photo of that puddle.
F/V Northwestern
F/V Northwestern coming into Seward, Alaska.
This is the fishing vessel Northwestern coming into Seward at about 11:15 last night. This is one of the crab boats made famous on the Discovery Channel’s show Deadliest Catch. I was hoping it would arrive a bit earlier while we were enjoying some amazing evening light! But, at least it is still plenty light enough for photography despite the late time of day.
Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge
Canoes in front of the Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge, Pedersen Lagoon and Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska.
Some good friends invited us along for an over-night trip to Aialik Bay on their fishing boat, as they were going to deliver some large water tanks out to the Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge. Now doing an overnight trip with good friends sounded like a great time, but it even got better! We were actually able to stay in our own cabin at the Kenai Glacier Lodge on the shores of Pedersen Lagoon, and were joined for dinner and breakfast by Kirk Hoessle who not only owns this remote lodge, but is the owner of Alaska Wildland Adventures, a company that has been offering unique Alaska travel packages for many years now.
First a bit of history. Years ago before I had a blog I would write an occasional piece for my website. Back then I wrote one about my favorite place where I selected Pedersen Lagoon / glacier area as my favorite place. Today, it is definitely still one of my favorite places.
So I must admit I was concerned when we were contacted by a developer looking to buy images of the area for a financing proposal to develop a lodge on a piece of private in-holdings within the National Park – the wrong development could really ruin the area. That deal came and went until finally Alaska Wildland Adventures came along and leased the land. This was good news as Alaska Wildland is an Alaska based (Girdwood) travel company with other lodges in the state and a reputation of doing things right – if it had to be developed, they were an excellent choice. They ended up building Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge a few years ago and I was eager to finally see in person how it turned out.
So how did they do? Frankly, they couldn’t have done a better job! I have always been pleased that you couldn’t see any sign of the lodge from Aialik Bay, but even from within Pedersen Lagoon the shoreline cabins are barely noticeable. The cabins have “peak a boo views” through the trees as they sit just back from the shoreline. This not only hides the buildings, but has maintained the historic paths used by the local bear population, and I think almost enhances the view as you feel like you are part of the forest looking out at the lagoon and glacier. They made every effort in keeping every tree possible, they even went to great lengths to protect the mossy ground cover by using special mats to move the limited equipment around the site for foundations. Really they couldn’t have done a better job!
The wonderful development is exceeded by the actual operation. Wonderful food, very friendly staff and nice, clean cabins and lodge. They offer a wide variety of activities including canoeing, hiking and kayaking. Like most nice remote lodges in Alaska that have to get by with a 100 day season, it isn’t cheap, but when you consider the price includes boat rides meals and activities, I think it is a good value. To stay in such comfort in such an amazing remote location looking at the amazing scenery and wildlife is an opportunity that I definitely highly recommend!
Aialik Bay
Aialik Bay, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska.
Been busy having fun with visiting family so haven’t had time to post on the blog. Here is a little older one from one of my favorite places – and a place we spend time during my Alaska Whale / Eagle / Bear photo tour into Kenai Fjords N.P.
Moose Calf
Mom keeping a close eye on a very young moose. Seward, Alaska.
This came about thanks to a tip from our friends at Log Dreamin’ B and B.
Moose babies are sure cute!
Grant Creek Wolf Pack, Denali
Wild wolf, Denali National Park, Alaska.
Today I was really disappointed to read about the possible demise of the Grant Creek wolf pack in Denali in the Anchorage Daily News.
I remember when the current version began to form. It started with a collared female wolf – a wolf I had photographed a number of times out by Highway Pass and a beautiful black wolf from the East Fork Pack that I had also spent time photographing. I was thrilled to see two wolves that I was familiar with unite the following summer and become the Grant Creek Pack. I was even more excited when a biologist told me they had an active den! (This is based mostly upon my observations, if someone knows otherwise I would love to hear it.)
Over the years I watched the wolf pack chase bears from the den, be ignored by bears, howl, hunt caribou and sheep – you name it. On one wonderful day we were able to watch the young pups right after they left the den. I have thousands of images of this pack of wolves – many by camera, but even more burned into my memory.
Although their den was out of sight from the road, it was very near the highway making these wolves highly visible, especially in the first half of the summer. Because this pack was so visible, it probably gave thousands of visitors to Denali their first and only sighting of a wolf in the wild.
By spending most of their life in a National Park, these wolves don’t develop a fear of humans that you typically see in wolves. So when they do wonder outside the Park boundaries they become easy targets. As large as Alaska is, it is too bad we can’t set aside enough land to protect just one pack.
Here are some more wild wolf photos.
Country Magazine
June / July 2012 Country magazine.
I haven’t done any shameless self promotions in awhile – but this is too big not to mention. You might remember my post about the Janine’s article in an issue of Country Extra magazine this winter. Well that went well enough that they asked Janine to write another article for an upcoming issue of their flagship magazine – Country. This issue was going to feature Alaska.
Fast forward to today – not only did they use Janine’s article in the current (June / July 2012) issue of the magazine, but they used something like 14 of my Alaska photos inside, and this photo from Denali on the cover. Very, very cool!
I have had a few people ask about where they can find a copy. I don’t think it is available in stores, but I think it can be purchased here: Country Magazine once it is available. I didn’t realize it wasn’t out yet.
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