Wild Iris in Denali

The Spectacular Color of Alaska – A Post Dedicated to Me

by Jeff Bell
January 23, 2014
30 comments
Alaska, Photography

Fall Colors at Broad Pass

This post is dedicated to me. You can read it if you want, but I didn’t write it for you.

You see, I just moved back to Alaska, downtown Anchorage to be specific. It is inhumanely frigid here. When the wind blows the cold cuts right through your soul. The parking lots are skating rinks; the sun rises at 10:00am and sets at 4:30pm.

Pink Plume in a forest in Alaska

The Pink Plume. A cool ass flower.

I created this post as a reminder of how colorful and beautiful Alaska will be in a few months. In April, the pasque flower will make a tentative appearance, adding color to the drab landscape. In May, lush green leaves will erupt on the tree branches seemingly overnight. When there is 20 hours of sunlight, nature changes quickly.

During the summer the land is covered in polychromatic wildflowers. Purple iris and pink fireweed fill the meadows and white mountain avens carpet the tundra. The forest floor is covered with blue bells and assorted other flowers.

All this color is nothing when compared to the fall, when the tundra fades to a fiery crimson and the aspen trees blaze with golden leaves.

I created the photo gallery below to have something to look at when the weather is hateful, trying to drive me away. I will look at the photos instead of looking at jobs in Kauai online. (I just Googled Hawaii weather. Average winter high is 78°. If I’m going to live somewhere remote…)

NO! I have to focus here. I love Alaska…in the summer.

Colorful Alaska Photo Gallery

Note: If you choose to look at the photo gallery, that is your call. If you want to leave a comment, that would be great, but I don’t really care. This post is dedicated to me.

You can click on any image to open a slideshow view if you want. Or not. I know I will.

Denali National Park, Alaska
Dwarf Fireweed along the banks of Riley Creek. What this photo does not illustrate is me slipping and falling into the river on my way down to take the photo.
Meadow filled with Mountain Iris in Denali National Park.
Berries cover the ground every autumn
I like how the delicate flowers cling to the stem of this flower.
One of my favorites which I have named the “Golf Ball Flower.” I am not sure of the scientific name. Disclosure: I am not a botanist.
Denali, North America’s highest mountain, from the Little Coal Creek Trail.
What this photo cannot illustrate is the swarm of vampirian mosquitoes that assaulted me as I tried to take this. I am sure I could have got a better shot, but I was being attacked by hundreds and thousands of ruthless mozzies.
A fireweed blossom.
A moose smiling in the fireweed.
Fall colors from the Meadow View Trail.
Broad Pass near Cantwell, Alaska.
Denali National Park, Alaska
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Currently living in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. I travel, write, take photos, and stalk street cats. ~ planetbell1@gmail.com

30 thoughts on “The Spectacular Color of Alaska – A Post Dedicated to Me”

  1. melanie crane says:

    It’s easy to believe why most people who move to Alaska never want to leave. What a wildly diverse and beautiful state! Thanks for the awesome shots.

  3. Linda Harrison says:

    Wow, your photos are spectacular. I love reading your blog, Jeff. Your “old” English teacher is stupendously proud of you!

    • Jeff | Planet Bell says:

      Hi Mrs. Harrison. I am very sorry for all the grammatical errors, misspellings and just bad sentences on this blog. It should in no way be a reflection of your teaching skills.

      Thank you for reading and commenting and hopefully we will see you in AK someday.

      • Lyle Krahn says:

        It mostly depends on the wind. We get a too much of that in all seasons. I think the nicest day last year was in February when it was -10C with a fresh coat of snow and we enjoyed a northern lake. Oh yes it was absolutely calm.

      • Jeff | Planet Bell says:

        Having grown up on the plains of Oklahoma, I understand. An otherwise nice but cold day can become bitter with a 50kph wind ripping through your soul.

  8. Adventures in Kevin's World says:

    Didn’t read it, didn’t look at the photos. I know how to follow directions.

  13. Pingback: Snapshots of Alaska in Black and White | Planet Bell

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