At 1am this morning, I found myself on the side of the road, mouth agape, staring at the sky. My vocabulary was reduced to the word “WOW!” and a series of expletives too impolite to print. I was gawking at the most amazing aurora borealis show I’ve seen […]
All posts filed under: Alaska
The Fleeting Beauty of Alaska: Rainbows
Stopped on a mountain pass We stare at an afternoon rainbow burning an arc into green tundra
The Humble Beaver, (One Of) My Favorite Animals
I have always liked beavers; I always had great respect for their work ethic. But one day, while hiking along the Savage River, I saw the most unlikely of sights: a beaver frolicking in the rapidly moving stream. It was one of the coolest things […]
The Spectacular Denali Highway in Black and White
I have been holding a winning lottery ticket for years, and I had no idea. That is how I felt last week when I finally got around to driving the first 70 miles of the Denali Highway in interior Alaska.
Shocking Photos of Exit Glacier Show Rapid Melting in the Last 7 Years
I walked up to Exit Glacier and once my mind wrapped around what I was seeing, I was shocked, surprised and saddened. It had been seven years since I’d seen it and the changes were staggering. It was like seeing a once vivacious old friend who […]
Snapshots of Alaska in Black and White
Denali National Park in the summer is full of vibrant color. This is a surprise to a lot of people who think of Alaska as a winter wasteland where snow lasts 11 months a year and the sun never rises. Trust me, those people exist. […]
Bear Spray Stories Part 3: Tear Gas
Did you know that bear spray is not only effective in thwarting attacks from charging bears, but it is also effective in clearing a building of tourists?
An Ode to Otto Lake
Denali National Park in the summer is a strange place. The sun sets at midnight in the north; the wilderness is invaded by busloads of marauding senior citizens; winter lasts until May; in August the recently green tundra turns a surreal red. I love Denali, but summers […]
Bear Spray Stories Part 2: Almost Killed by Puppies
Welcome to part II of the bear spray stories. If you haven’t read part one, I’d recommend doing it now so this will make more sense.
The 16 Immutable Laws of Northern Lights Viewing
It is one of the most awesome sights in nature, but it takes a lot of suffering and luck to see it.
Bear Spray Stories Part 1: The Golden Grizzly Award
The other day I was having a drink with a park ranger, a man who drove tour buses in Denali for 30 years, and a veteran of the Alaska tourism industry. The conversation turned to bear spray, and the three of them recounted four of the […]
Spectacular Turnagain Arm, or God Was Showing Off When He Made This Place
There aren’t many roads in Alaska, but the roads that exist are nothing short of spectacular. Driving a car in the Great Land is an exhilarating experience as each bend offers views of majestic peaks, huge lakes, rushing rivers and, as a bonus, quirky Alaskana. Every road […]
Planet Bell 