Life in the northern landscape
Just a short helicopter ride from Seward, Alaska is a beautiful lake filled with icebergs that have calved off of Bear Glacier. Bear Glacier is the largest glacier in the Kenai Fjords National Park, and the kayaking can be visually stunning. There was a mix of weather during my short stay, but the wind remained…
If you are thinking… wow, if camping in the Chugach National Forest looks like that, I’d love to camp there! Then you are thinking exactly like me. I spent a few days hiking and photographing in southcentral Alaska, near Seward, and the sights and views were splendid. I trekked with friends and colleagues Ron and…
A few weeks ago I traveled south of Fairbanks about 300 miles to the Copper River, which flows along the small town of Chitina in southcentral Alaska. It is a mecca during the summer for dip netters seeking to harvest red salmon through the personal use fishing permit system. A single member household is allowed 15…
Day 7, June 20, 2014, 30 miles packrafting the Ivishak River. A 7 day, 170 mile wilderness backpack and packraft trip along the Ribdon, Ivishak and Sagavanirktok rivers in Alaska’s Brooks Range from June 14-20. We woke to no rain and light winds, at least in comparison to the night before. The clouds had lifted, and hints of blue…
Day 6, June 19, 2014 45 miles packrafting through the Arctic Refuge on the Ivishak River. A 7 day, 170 mile wilderness backpack and packraft trip along the Ribdon, Ivishak and Sagavanirktok rivers in Alaska’s Brooks Range from June 14-20. While we would have welcomed the sunshine on this fine morning, it was not to be seen today. A short…
Day 5, June 18, 2014, 34 miles packrafting the Ivishak River. A 7-day, 170-mile wilderness backpack, and packraft trip along the Ribdon, Ivishak, and Sagavanirktok rivers in Alaska’s Brooks Range from June 14-20. The spring-blooming flowers beautifully colored our campsite on the tundra bench by the river. Namely Lapland rosebay, bright pink, and mountain aven, the ubiquitous blooming white…
Day 4, June 17, 2014, The Ribdon to Ivishak River. 14 miles hiking Crossed two mountain summits No packraft crossings Arrived at the Ivishak River A 7 day, 170 mile wilderness trip from the Ribdon to Ivishak River in Alaska’s Brooks Range from June 14-20. Today we would move out of the Ribdon to the Ivishak river. The morning…
Day 3, June 16, 2014, 18 miles hiking along the Ribdon River No packraft crossings today. 18 miles backpacking. A 7 day, 170 mile wilderness hiking trip along the Ribdon River valley and packraft down the Ivishak and Sagavanirktok rivers, Alaska’s Brooks Range, June 14-20. Hiking on day 3 was mainly along the broad, braided river bed of the Ribdon River.…
Day 2, June 15, 2014, 18 miles backpacking the Ribdon River One river crossing in a packraft (Ribdon) Describing my 7 day, 170 mile wilderness backpack and packraft trip along the Ribdon, Ivishak and Sagavanirktok rivers in Alaska’s Brooks Range from June 14-20. Route Map – hike up the Ribdon river valley, Packraft down the Ivishak river. 3.5 days…
Day 1, June 14, 2014, 7 miles backpacking the Ribdon River One river crossing in a packraft (Sagavanirktok) Describing my 7 day, 170 mile wilderness backpack and packraft trip along the Ribdon, Ivishak and Sagavanirktok rivers in Alaska’s Brooks Range from June 14-20. As a preamble, let me reiterate that I’m a beginner in the “light and…