This whole time I thought it was space, but according to the state of Alaska, it is the final frontier. Huh. Does that mean I’m done traveling? AM I AT THE END!? I sure hope not, I’m just getting warmed up! Literally, I’m thawing from Alaska.
Before this trip, most of the places I had been to were major cities or tropical areas. Alaska was different in so many ways—in so many good, fantastic, awesome ways. There wasn’t much snow, I didn’t see any polar bears, but I did see a Yeti. Either that or it was a very pale old man.
From what I saw, most of Alaska remains untamed and wild, but more importantly, respected. There is an abundance of wildlife, protected forests, and completely uninhabited territories with the exception of a few care takers who live without running water. Alaska unexpectedly brought me back to nature in a way I did not expect. Though jokingly for old folks, Alaska is filled with rugged terrain and excursions fit for everyone to enjoy.
Check out some snaps from my latest trek to the 49th state starring: Jenny!
Luckily no bandits boarded our train. This old school railroad took us from Anchorage to Seward, a 4.5 hour ride through the Alaskan wilderness.
The Hubbard Glacier, one of the few glaciers still advancing.
During the off season, sled dogs train at Musher’s Camps pulling wheel-mounted carriages through soil.
To the naked eye, the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) can look like a mere cloud of mist moving about the sky. Very fortunate to have captured this on a moving vessel. ISO 1600 / 24MM / F2.8 / 4 sec
According to the guides, Orcas appear about 5-10% of the time. With the lack of rain, addition of sunshine, and a pod of Orcas, it was a lucky day.
To get your endorphins going for this next set (shot with iPhone), imagine yourself exiting a canoe after a brief trip through fog and mist. You are now standing among scattered, ocean polished rocks and you can hear the rushing water that feeds the river you just traversed. As you walk along, you look up, you can see trees for miles. You can smell the greens. Entire snow-capped mountains covered with them. The crisp 50ºF air fills your lungs with a chill, but it is refreshing.
Mist beads up on your face as you step through knee deep puddles of 20º water, but thankfully you have your rain boots on. As you step closer to the frozen palace, its scale becomes more and more apparent, until suddenly you are subject to its majesty.
An entire mountainside of ice towering over you as it spews water from an opening at the foot. Standing 100 yards away is time itself, frozen into magnificent hues of blue and white. You look down and realize you’re standing on the glacier itself; frozen solid and covered with soil.
Welcome to the Davidson Glacier.
Learning about the art of glass blowing—not a native thing to AK, but an experience that made our trip special none the less.
Alaska was good to us.
Hanging out in Vancouver before our flight back to LAX. Taking in as much green as possible before hitting the concrete jungle.