Fire Pink Wildflower photo, Georgia

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Fire Pink flower, North Georgia, Georgia - Silene virginica

Hey Folks,

Here’s another flower, the Fire Pink, from the Chattahoochee National Forest, North Georgia Mountains, Georgia. I took this one spring hike up in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, near the North Carolina border.

Spring in the Appalachians is an amazing time, the biomass that is generated in the hardwood forests there in a couple of weeks is simply awesome. The woods go from bare and barren to an incredibly rich, diverse glut of biota in what seems like a couple of days. Walking through the deep green forest and seeing a red glow like this little flower is way cool. The red is so bright, I had to dull it down a little on the computer to make it not look overdone – it’s really an intense vibrant flower.

I think there was a push to make the Fire Pink the State Flower of Indiana, but I’m unsure if it ever went ahead. Fire Pinks should be the State Flower of some state, I can tell you that – they’re just way to cool not to be!

I was going to wait until springtime to post flowers, but my friend Ron Niebrugge is having such a whale of a time down in California shooting the bloom of the century in the desert, I didn’t want to be left out. Check out his blog right now for some downright NASTY wildflower photos! 🙂

Cheers

Carl

Say no to Aerial Predator Extermination in Alaska

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Grizzly bear sow and cub, nuzzling, Katmai National Park, Alaska.

Hey Folks,

I read yesterday afternoon of a couple of pieces of legislation currently under consideration in Alaska that concern me greatly. Bill SB 176 and bill HB 348 are proposals by the Alaska Board of Game that prepare for a mandate by the Board of Game to pursue what they call “aerial predator control programs” of wolves, brown bears and wolverines. SB 176 is an attempt to give the Board of Game free reign over the decision making process, with no requisite consideration of input from the scientific community – i.e., if the folks on the Board feel like mandating aerial shooting, or den killings of wolf pups, they need show no concern or evidence of supporting scientific study. HB 348 is a proposal to shift wildlife to a category they call “public assets”, which includes minerals, oil, and so forth, effectively removing them from public voice. This means the Board of Game can then make decisions such as aerial shooting with no input from or responsibility to the people of Alaska. I’ve written to local legislators here in Alaska on this issue, and I thought I’d post an amalgam of my letters here.

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Indian Paintbrush Photo, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

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Indian Paintbrush, wildflower in bloom, summertime, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada.

Hey Folks,

Here’s a photo of an Indian Paintbrush, wildflower Castilleja miniata, from the Canadian Rockies, in Banff National Park. Banff National Park and the surrounding Greater Canadian Rockies ecosystem is a simply amazing place to photograph, with a myriad subjects to seek out and photograph.

Banff National Park has awesome mountain scenery, forests and montane ecosystems, sub-alpine and alpine regions, lakes and ponds, sloughs, rivers, glaciers, icefields, waterfalls, canyons, rockfaces, wildflowers, shrubs and grasses. Aspen trees, pine, larch, spruce, and so on.

Wildlife photography in the area is probably some of the best in North America, second only (maybe) to Yellowstone National Park, which is just over a day’s drive south. Elk, moose, caribou, mule deer, whitetail deer, grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, coyotes, foxes, bald eagles, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, to chipmunks, magpies and jays – a long, long list of subjects.

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Tourists at Moraine Lake Photos, Banff National Park, Canada

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Tourists enjoy the view lakeside, at Moraine Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, the Canadian Rockies, Canada.

Accessible icons: Moraine and Peyto Lake

Hey Folks,

Here’s another image from Moraine Lake, a couple of tourists enjoying the view, lakeside, of Wenkchmena Peaks and Moraine Lake.

Banff National Park is a sweet place, with an incredible array of photographic opportunities and interesting subjects to shoot. I could go up to Moraine Lake a thousand times and not get bored with that view, I reckon. It does get a little sticky, inundated with bus loads of tourists as the day goes by, but early in the morning there’s usually very few people there.

One of the cool things about Banff National Park, for the nature photographer, is there are so many simply awesome scenes that are super-accessible. Just a short walk off the road and you’ve got this incredible scene. For the more adventurous traveller, there’s a ton of hikes and trails to explore and places to get into the backcountry and away from it all, which is great too, but for some really easy access, Banff National Park is the spot. Moraine Lake is just one of the places among literally dozens of scenic opportunities. I’ll try to post a few more along the way.

Glacial flour and the blue of the Rockies

Peyto Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.

I promised I’d stop with the dog-fest today, so indeed, being a man of my word, I did exactly that. Here’s a photo I shot last September on the now infamous trip thru the Canadian Rockies with my parents. This is Peyto Lake, one of the icons of the Canadian Rockies and Banff National Park. Little trivia again. Anyone care to explain the rich color of the lake? I’ll give ya a hint. It’s cold. ?

Fall colors, Moose Meadows, Banff National Park, Canada.

This photo is from Moose Meadows, in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.

I took this in the fall on the trip through the Canadian and North American Rockies with my mum and dad.

A farewell to the Lower 48 and my folks.

mum and her friend in banff

Well, this shall be my last post from the Lower 48 states, for a while at least. Tomorrow on the eve I fly to Alaska, and settle down for some winter fun. It’s been a short trip, and tons of fun with my parents – hopefully it won’t take 3 more years for me to get the chance to see them again.

I’m looking forward to getting back to Alaska, and if the weather is at all reasonable, trying to get some more images from Wrangell-St. Elias. I also have a boatload of files to process, website updates to do, emails to return, and more computer stuff as well – which I’m not so eager to undertake, but, it seems, I have to. I have a ton of writing I want to, and also have had a few books recommended to me that I am keen to read. On top of that the moose rut is just starting to get underway, and that will be fun to photograph, so it seems I’ll be kept busy. I guess that’s good.

For now, I’ll just post this picture of my mum and her new friend from Banff National Park, waving us all goodbye.

Cheers

Carl

Banff Quick Photography Guide

Moraine Lake and the Ten Peaks 

To get the classic view of the Wenkchmena Peaks reflecting in the water, you have to beat the “sticky” crowds. Aim for sunrise; the light hits those granite spires first, and you’ll have a much better chance of finding a quiet spot on the Rockpile before the first tour buses roll in.

The Electric Blue of Peyto Lake 

If you’re heading to the Peyto Lake overlook, don’t feel like you have to be there at the crack of dawn. This is one of the few spots where a bit of overhead sun actually helps. The higher the sun, the more that “glacial flour”—the fine rock silt suspended in the water—glows that incredible turquoise color.

Moose Meadows and the Shoulder Seasons 

For a break from the crowds, Moose Meadows is a great spot to catch the transition into fall. It’s perfect for low-angle light and catching the local wildlife as the rut begins. Plus, it’s one of those spots that feels a bit more like “Old Alberta” and less like a tourist trap.

Moraine Lake Photo, Wenkchemna Peaks, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

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Moraine Lake photo, Wenkchemna Peaks, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.

Hey Folks

Here’s another image from the Canadian Rockies – immortalized on the Canadian $20 bill. Moraine Lake is one of the classic views of the Canadian Rockies, indeed, of anywhere.

It’s a special place.

The lake is most likely mis-named – it’s probably not a moraine that formed it at all, but a rock slide. The peaks that tower above the inviting turquoise lake are called the Wenkchemna Peaks. “Wenkchemna” is the Stoney Indian word for 10. The Stoney Indians lived in the area, and guided early European settlers and explorers in the region.

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Exxon Valdez Oil Spill and the Supreme Court

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Sunrise in wintertime, Kennecott Glacier, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska.

Hey Folks,

I was going to write tonight about another company that I’ve had great dealings with, and do a little plug for them, but I’ve changed my mind. The news has been all about the Exxon Valdez case, so maybe I’ll make a few notes here about this subject. For those of you who haven’t been following it (and I haven’t followed this latest round too closely), the US Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments from Exxon and the plaintiffs, folks from the the Prince William Sound, Alaska area, specifically concerning punitive damages. I’m no lawyer, so my comments are worth the price you’re paying to read them – but I’ll share them here regardless. 🙂

In late March 1989 the Exxon Valdez oil tanker dumped nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound. These estimates come largely from simple math – 53 million (the number of gallons originally onboard), minus what was later reclaimed from the vessel equalled 10.8 million gallons missing, i.e., spilled. Many watch groups argue these estimates, though widely accepted, are underreported, because much of the oil recovered from the ship was diluted with sea water. The accident occurred, investigations found, primarily because the ship’s captain was drunk and sleeping at the time.

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Alpenglow, Wrangell mountains in winter

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Alpenglow on the Wrangell mountains, including Donoho Peak, Bonanza Ridge and Jumbo Ridge, the Kennecott and Root Glacier, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska.

The mountains are the Wrangell Mountains, including Bonanza and Jumbo Ridges, where 2 of the more famous of the Kennecott Mines were dug.

Hey Folks

Well, it’s been a nervous last few days, but here I am in Anchorage. I managed, through sheer luck, to get all the way back to town with no real drama. A little tweaking of cables and a lot of grace, and my van started, and drove me and my buddy Charlie and his 2 dogs, Keba and Musa, all the way from McCarthy, deep in the park, back to Anchorage.

I’m still in a little bit of shock. My van seems to have some kind of mystery virus, that nobody is able to diagnose. There’s a possibility, one mechanic told me, that it’s as simple as 2 cables poorly soldered together. Which 2 remains anyone’s guess.

I’ll be here (hopefully only) a few days, and then head back to the cabin.

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Notes from My Father

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08_jan047.jpg

Hey Good People,

Well, here it is, the long-ago promised and highly sought-after follow-up to my dad’s earlier notes about my parents and my recent trip together here in the US. I’ll post it below, only this time, for integrity’s sake, I’ve interspersed a few points along the way, to verify and clarify some of his words. The prequel to this, tales from the first part of our trip, can be found here.

Final Jottings on Our North America Trip

My apologies for the delay with the second instalment. Unfortunately I had some serious affairs of state to attend to, and if you knew how serious our state’s affairs are, then you would understand. Another factor was my agonising over what to buy my wife for Xmas, but I think she really liked her Mars Bar (candy bar) – and it was the extra large size.

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Where are the Wrangell Mountains and How to Visit Them

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If you are looking for where in the US are the Wrangell Mountains, you will find them in the rugged southeastern interior of Alaska.

This range defines the landscape of Wrangell St. Elias National Park, the largest national park in the United States. Many visitors start their journey with a Wrangell Mountains map to navigate the two primary access points: the McCarthy Road to the south and the Nabesna Road to the north.

Mt Drum photo, Wrangell St. Elias National Park, Alaska

Mt Drum, Mt Sanford in the Wrangell Mountains of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Mt Drum, Mt Sanford in winter the Wrangell Mountains of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Scenic Vistas and Winter Light

I truly believe there is no grander vista in all of North America than the Wrangell Mountain Range viewed from Willow Lake. It is one of the few places where you can see a massive line of peaks all exceeding 12,000 feet, including the towering Mt. Blackburn at 16,500 feet.

This photo above was taken a during a brutal cold snap. The alpenglow was incredible, but the temperature was minus 40 and dropped to nearly minus 50 that night. Working a tripod in those conditions is a nightmare. The metal tabs and ballhead lock up, forcing you to remove your gloves to make adjustments. It reminds me of the book “Black Elk Speaks,” where the cold was so intense that metal would freeze to skin and tear it away.

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The North Face – and the last supper

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The north face of Mt. Bona, in the University Range, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska. Black and white photo of Mt. Bona..

Hey Folks,

And so, with little to no ado, I bid adieu, for the time being. I’m hitting the road in the morning, and I’m not sure when I’ll have internet access again – hopefully it’ll be no more than a few days between swigs.

I’m heading out in the morning to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, to live in a cabin named “Shacky”. I’ll be there a couple of weeks or so at a time, then make a run to Anchorage for some groceries and a little warming up, then back to Shacky. If all goes as planned. If all does not go as planned, I’ll spend a few nights there, say something like ‘this is C-R-A-Z-E-E-E!!!’ and boogie on back to the relative comfort of Anchor-ville.

I’ve too little pride to tolerate discomfort long.

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