Lake Cheney in winter

Soon part of this frozen lake (here in fall colors) will be maintained as a public skating rink. I'm pretty excited about it. There is plenty of skating to be done in Anchorage in winter. The public schools have rinks for school hockey teams and skating after hours is free. This week we found a covered rink (i.e., no clearing off snow) and I got a chance to brush up on my skills. I still can't skate backwards, though. Not yet. 

Independence Mine and a white-tailed ptarmigan

Skiing at Independence Mine was something of a magical experience. I'm a sucker for any "living history" location, and moving between the abandoned buildings of this mining town while surrounded by unending white was incredible. I've never seen this much snow before and winter is only in its second month. Alaska is a special place. 

Glacier Creek

Poof!

Before the snow at Eagle River Nature Center. 

Glacier Creek Hand Tram

 

Hand over hand, pulling on frozen rope, we crossed the rushing Glacier Creek in Girdwood, AK. The town of Girdwood built the tram that is a metal box 200 feet above the creek that carries passengers across the gorge.The snow has just begun to fall in this part of Alaska and our hike Saturday found us in a quiet winter wonderland. The tram in itself was a worth the 45 minute drive from Anchorage and the beautiful white views from the it were lovely. 

Watching for the white whale

Sitting on a ledge above the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge, John and I joined other volunteers to scan the waters of the Cook Inlet for beluga whales. It was a 30 degree F morning but with ample layers and a miraculous lack of wind, we sat comfortable behind our binoculars. We watched as six belugas fed at the mouth of Campbell Creek for nearly three hours before the retreating tide forced them to move on. 

The belugas of the Cook Inlet are a genetically distinct population and are federally listed as an endangered species. The beluga watch is conducted by volunteers of the Anchorage Coastal Beluga Survey and was created by the Friends of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge (FAR). Find out more information (here).

Flower.

Caterpillar earlier this summer at the Botanical Gardens.

Bird Ridge

John perched on Bird Ridge

Fall in Alaska

A beautiful evening at Cheney Lake, Anchorage, AK.

Blue skies over Anchorage

A sunny afternoon on the beach in Kincaid Park. 

Bird Ridge

A nice fall hike up Bird Ridge in Chugach State Park was a great way to say goodbye to mild weather. Winter is coming shortly. Snow has already begun to coat the peaks of the park that borders Anchorage. Bring on the snow tires, winter coats, long underwear, knitting frenzy, and skiing. 

Weirdos.

Here's to the weirdo vegetables that don't end up in grocery stores. 

My favorite is the octopus carrot on the right.

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Moose and Garden

As seen out of the bedroom window. The young buck cruises by and stops to look at our garden. This photo was taken last week before the cold snap while our garden was still alive. Growing from front to back: lettuce, spinach, carrots, green onions, and zucchini.

Sunset along the Turnagain Arm while watching for beluga whales.

One of my favorite things about macro photography is its ability to fully capture a moment and catch details I didn't notice. For example, this photo above. I took this photo by sticking my camera on the ground and clicking away bunches of times in hopes of getting at least one properly focused picture. I was using the display on my camera to generally compose the picture but I wan't paying too close attention to it as this series was the last in a long ogling session. It wasn't until I loaded the photos on my computer later that I noticed a little insect perched underneath one of the mushrooms. What a happy little surprise! This chance encounter easily made this my favorite photo from the day.

Highlights from the hidden treasures inhabiting the green of a trail near my house in Anchorage, AK

Hanging easy on the orange

Hanging easy on the yellow

Tides

A before and after shot of the tide from Gull Rock Trail in the Chugach National Forest looking across Cook Inlet. When the tide rolls out, dangerous mud flats are exposed and every Alaskan and their dog knows to keep off the mud. The suction of the mud is so strong that you will be sucked down and helplessly held prisoner while  you watch the fast-moving tides roll in. Keep off the mud. 

The intricacies of the aspen. 

 

When the sun is out in Alaska, everything is bursting with color.

Ice and Fog

Harding Icefield Trail, Kenai Fjords National Park

Rainy day reflections

The opening in the canopy is reflected in water collected on this little mushroom.

A pale aspen provides a nice backdrop for

 the intricately armored body of a crane fly.

Two spiders and a slug

The other day as I was walking through the woods two spiders caught my eye. After watching them for a few moments, I noticed a small slug above them.

 As I watched, the slug moved down the plant and crawled between the body of the spider and the plant and rested there. The only reaction the spider gave was a little twitch after resting one leg on the slug.

I walked away with a renewed appreciation for the little things that often go unnoticed in every nook and cranny in the woods. 

Mushroom portraits

The rainy season has descended upon Anchorage and with the rain comes plenty of fancy fungi. 

Wolverine Peak

In an unusually wet summer in Anchorage, a sunny Saturday is not to be wasted.

One such day last month, we set out to climb Wolverine Peak. The peak was high, it was already noon, and I was sick, but we climbed anyway, determined not to miss out on the sunshine.  Four hours later, we stood at the summit and stared down into glacial valleys made miniature from the view on Wolverine Peak.

I saw this little fellow perched on a rock.  Even flies enjoy the view.