View allAll Photos Tagged Alaskalandscape
Winter in Alaska brings stunningly beautiful sunsets, and very often the tree branches are loaded with hoar frost. The combination can make for some awesome photos. This one was taken from my backyard.
It was around 9:30 this morning that I noticed this amazing sunrise taking place outside of my eastern facing window. Knowing how fast the colors change in winter - I quickly slipped into my winter gear and headed out. I was rewarded with this colorful scene unfolding in our backyard. I was totally enchanted as I stood surrounded by this magical landscape. I could hear the ravens calling to each other in the distance. In a tree nearby, a woodpecker was busy tapping away at a frozen trunk, as song birds were busy filling their tummies at the feeders. I counted 5 spruce hens wading through the snow for a chance to pick up any seed that was dropped beneath the feeders. A beautiful way to start to my Sunday morning. :-)
*(Enlarge image to step into my yard. You may even notice a few animal tracks.)
Color is SOOC
Emerging from the dense forest, a caribou made eye contact with me as she stepped into a clearing in our backyard.
Most of the lower 48 states are roasting under extremely high temperatures this summer - so I thought a cooling image from the far north might help.
The weather folks are predicting snow for several more days. Doc has been battling snow and cold ever since the first week in September. Guess we won't have to worry about forest fires this summer, but enough snow!
If the snow keeps piling up, I won't be able to see anything out of the kitchen window over my sink.
Doc took his drone out in our backyard just minutes ago to record the sunrise on the shortest day of the year. This was taken at 11:00 AM Alaska time, and the outside temperature was five below zero. The Chugach Mountains can be seen in the distance, with Tazlina Glacier nestled in the center.
Doc wants to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
At the end of a long migration - this little caribou family seemed to be enjoying the beautiful autumn weather just a few miles from our cabin.
“The road that leads to nowhere for others, might just be the road that leads to somewhere for you!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan
This cabin is nestled along the Inside Passage in Southeast Alaska. If you long to escape the pressures of the modern world - there is nothing better than a tiny cabin in the wilderness.
Posted for; Sliders Sunday - Processed to the "MAX!"
HSS!
Shooting directly into the sun is not a good idea, but the winter sun is rather wimpy in Alaska, so I did it anyway. When I brought the image up on my monitor - I liked the sun flares dancing in the foreground. Perfectly round, golden, and translucent - I found them fascinating. Any other time I would have deleted this image, blaming the flares for ruining my shot - but this time they are the focal point.
(I'll just blame this shot on cabin fever. It was captured at 11:28 AM)
We still have at least a foot and a half of snow on the ground - maybe as much as two - but we are sure enjoying the long days of sunshine. I shot this photo of our backyard at 8:43 this morning. The sun rising in the east, projected long shadows from the spruce trees that surround us. The Chugach Mountain Range to our south, has a tremendous snow load this year - which should help dampen the forest fires come summer. And Doc and I intend to soak up every ray of sunshine that has been predicted for us, over the week ahead.
(Photo SOOC)
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend, and a joyous Palm Sunday.
It was over thirty degrees below zero, and 11:15 in the morning, when I shot this photo in Glennallen Alaska. During the coldest days of an Alaskan winter, the smoke from vehicles and woodstoves, tends to lay flat rather than go up into the air. (For which I am sure, there is a scientific explanation.)
The snowy landscape also reflects the blue of the sky - adding a surreal appearance to our surroundings. Days are mighty short - but when the sun appears - they sure are colorful.
Temperatures in the lower 48 states have been reaching record highs so far this spring, and so I thought that I would post a look back at winter to cool off members of my family that are scattered across the USA.
In this photo you see sundogs surrounding the setting sun in my Alaskan backyard.
Mentasta Lake, Alaska, received fresh snow fall last night, and transformed the surrounding area into a winter wonderland. Isn't it beautiful . . .
Usually, Doc keeps a small portion of our trail cleared, so that he can reach our outbuildings. This year mother nature decided to deliver us an abundance of snow, and it has been impossible to keep up with it. Now I feel like our cabin is a little self-sufficient spaceship - floating in a sea of white.
Our large 5th wheel can be seen to the far right of this photo, and it is buried until spring. Doc did manage to make a path to our first Shelter Logic outbuilding that housed our snowblower, but the second Shelter Logic structure will not see us until the snow melts. (It is off in the distance to the right.) Luckily, we have a large workshop/storage building quite near our cabin for things we use more frequently.
This winter has been a challenge, but Doc and I would never think of living anywhere else.
I put a simple prompt in Wombo, and then added layers and elements from my other photo software, to achieve the photo you see above. With a high temperature of 13 degrees - it has been a fun way to while away some time this afternoon.
With "termination dust" on the mountains - (the first snow on the mountains that announces the start of winter in Alaska) - the golden glow of the sunset bathes our bench and fire ring in sunlight one last time, before we put them under cover for the winter. HSS!
My favorite time of year has begun. Once again Doc and I will spend as many hours as we can photographing the transition between summer and autumn.
This is the time of year we don our jackets when we venture outside, and enjoy a nice hot cup of cocoa and a sweet treat when we return to the warmth of our cabin.
In three weeks, the autumn equinox will arrive, and our days will grow ever shorter as we slide into winter. Did I just say "WINTER?" Oh my gosh, it's almost time to change over to winter tires! In my corner of Alaska, you can do that on September 15th. It's the last chore we must do before the snow and cold arrives.
Wishing everyone a happy and safe Labor Day weekend.
This is a classic view of the mighty Matanuska River from a popular overlook. I am privileged to see it in all seasons - but I think that it really sparkles when wrapped in the colors of autumn. There was fresh termination dust on the very tops of the mountains when I shot this four days ago - now if only mother nature had granted me a prettier sky . . .
This morning - not too far from our cabin - Doc and I discovered that the ducks and swans had arrived in our area overnight. What a delight to see them splashing and playing in every body of open water that they could find. And what a welcome sight for our winter weary eyes.
I don't claim to be a bird photographer - (especially since I have limited use of my left hand) - so this photo was shot "hand held" in my right hand only.
It is as quiet as a mouse outside of our cabin this morning. In less than twenty-four hours, old man winter has returned with a vengeance. The temperature is thirty degrees outside - but due to wind conditions it feels like twenty one - and tonight we will dip down to 13 degrees. Not quite cold enough to fire up our woodstove yet - but when single digits do arrive - "Woody" will once again be pressed into service.
Just yesterday we hit a high of 45 degrees and everything was melting. It actually felt like spring breakup. But today's snow has given us a reality check. Time to wrap our heads around "winter".
We are socked in with dark clouds, rain, and a temperature of 47 degrees Fahrenheit . this morning. It looks and feels like fall, so I slipped on a light waffle weave shirt this morning, to ward off the chill in the air. I'm not complaining though - I am enjoying the cooler break in the weather before summer returns again next week.
Spring has arrived late in Alaska this year - but once the roads are bare, Alaska beckons. It is especially nice when the roads are free from summer travelers. You can literally stop, get out, and take a few camera shots with out seeing another vehicle.
It doesn't take much to make a moose mad. A little snow falls from the trees, and she is ready for a fight. Statistically, in Alaska - more people are killed by moose, than they are by bear.
Doc and I figure that we live in their home, so we will abide by their rules. LOL
With rock slides to the right of us, and a huge drop off into the lake on our left - Doc has learned how to finesse our one ton truck over the narrow two lane road into town, and take in the beautiful scenery at the same time.
Winter driving in Alaska is an exhilarating experience. Because of the cold, hoar frost, and snow, - the lane markings on the roads are not visible, and the signs that guide your way are most often obliterated by snow. These conditions are acceptable to Alaskans that know their way around - but must be horrific for newcomers to our state.
We are quickly gaining daylight, and it has only been three weeks since we celebrated the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. It sure lifts our spirits to see the sun rising a little higher above the horizon each day.
Day length today: 5h 55m 54s (Jan 12, 2023)
4 minutes, 3 seconds longer than yesterday (Jan 11, 2023)
49 minutes, 39 seconds longer than winter solstice (Dec 21, 2022)
Our nighttime temperatures hover around the freezing mark now, and boat owners are pulling their boats from our waterways, and putting them in storage for the long winter ahead.
As they do - this lovely autumn day will become just a memory.
March is a wonderful month in Alaska. You can just feel spring in the air, as the sun radiates its warmth, and the days lengthen. We no longer need to keep the wood stove stoked all day, thereby saving what is left of the precious woodpile, after a brutally cold winter.
It is this time of year, that most rural Alaskan's start scoping out the forest, for the trees that will be needed for next winters fuel.
The time between autumn and winter in Alaska, can be a time of ever changing weather. We awake to snow or freezing rain in the morning - followed by brilliant sunshine here and there around mid-morning - and then we might find ourselves plunged into thick fog as we drive a half a mile further down the road. It does make for some interesting photos, as well as keeping driver's on their toe's.
A cozy cabin nestled in a quiet cove along Alaska's Inside Passage.
*(For "Sliders Sunday" - processed to the max) HSS!
The Ceremonial start of The Iditarod Sled Dog Race will kick off in Anchorage at 10:00 AM on March 4th this year. The following day the restart will take place in Willow Alaska. The “restart” is considered to be the true start of the race, with mushers racing off into the surrounding wilderness and heading for Nome.
This year has the smallest number of mushers ever entered in the race. There are only 33 competitors, and has none of the well known names we have followed over the years. Notably absent this year are: Mitch and Dallas Seavey, Jeff King, and Martin Buser – just to name a few. In 2008 we had 96 mushers take on the grueling 1,000 mile run to Nome – but citing the cost of feed, fuel, and supplies - fewer mushers can afford to enter the race. Plus there is a diminishing interest in the race and very few corporate sponsors willing to participate.
Gone are the good old days when the “race” was essentially a three-week camping trip through the wilderness among friends. The inaugural Iditarod in 1973 took 20 days for the winner, (Dick Wilmarth) to arrive in Nome. Now, the fastest mushers arrive under the Burled Arch on Front Street in mere eight or nine days. It’s sad – but I never thought I would see Alaska’s Iditarod Race come to an end.
I captured this image with a cellphone, as Doc. and I were crossing the Knik Bridges just outside of Wasilla Alaska. It may have been shot with cellphone camera - but it is one of my personal favorites.
This young bull moose ran behind three spindly spruce trees and thought he was hiding from view. I hate to tell him - but I not only saw him - but I also got his picture. LOL
It was 1:55 PM when I captured this wintery image of my backyard. The mountains were engulfed in ice fog, and the sun was trying it's best to break through, but never did manage to do so. We had 6 hours and 17 minutes of daylight today. We'll be losing daylight for another month before the sun starts making it's way back to the frozen north country. Until then we will live in a black and white world.
Notice that we don't have much snow yet. You can still see the smallest weeds poking through the carpet of white.
Two short months ago, I was enjoying a beautiful warm autumn day - and today I awoke to several inches of new snow. It is amazing how fast mother nature can transform the landscape from one that welcomes, to one that becomes a challenge to survive each day. Just ask the wildlife; that will now find it harder to seek out their food as the temperatures plunge, and darkness settles upon them.
Doc made a path to the end of our leech field, so that he could plug in the heat tapes, should we need them. As you can see, there is easily two feet of snow on the ground, and it was still sifting down this morning. My rhubarb bed lies to the right of this photo. I don't think I will be seeing it for awhile.
We also had a 5.5 earthquake at 9:08 AM to make life a bit more exciting. No damage, so all is well.
This one is for Ansel Adams - and for anyone else that likes a black and white image every once in a while.
In this photo you see the beautiful Wrangell Mountains located about 30 miles to the east of our cabin - as the crow flies.
Doc and I had to travel to Glennallen for our flu shots yesterday. On the way we noticed that all of the wilderness ponds had frozen over, and even the larger lakes had skim ice on the surfaces. When we arrived at our local clinic, we found that the road was sanded, and a group of children were enjoying the first snowfall of the season. With 10 degrees predicted for our low temperature tonight, I think I can safely say that Old Man Winter has officially arrived in my little corner of the boreal forest.
Most rural Alaskans live back in the forest and drive to their roadside mailboxes. When big packages arrive, there has to be a place for the mail carrier to drop them off - and I have seen some pretty unique ideas to solve the problem. The one pictured here, just happens to be one of my favorites - a big ol' cache.