March | 2014 | timistravels

Mendenhall Glacier Ice Caves (and some Northern Lights)

by timistravels

March 1, 2014

Almost every Feb. or March Juneau has a cold snap where Mendenhall Lake freezes enough that individuals can get out on the lake to cross country ski, or hike etc. Typically during that time it is also quite sunny and the rain or snow subsides for a few weeks.

These explorations around Mendenhall Glacier are typically astounding, and the photos that come out of the visits make our Christmas Card each year, it is truly part of what makes Juneau such an incredible place to live, these things are in our back yard.

This year the glacial caves are getting a lot of attention from National news outlets but here are a few of my photos from the weekend of March 1 and 2, 2014. I went on my own Sat. but did not enter the caves. I made Harry get up early with me on Sunday and get out there when 1) there were not many people there at all and 2) I felt a little more safe with it being colder in the morning. There is danger doing this but it was worth the risk!

The few Northern Light pictures are NOT taken by me, rather a friend of a friend. Thought you may enjoy seeing them!

out near the face of glacier

harry inside the cave, yes, real colors, not altered at all

me enjoying being silly

over my right shoulder is a ice column in the cave, facinating

just outside the cave with the peaks above my head being higher up on glacier.

harry at the face being silly himself

while in the cave we are looking up out of these holes…

this ice cave I would not venture into, there were sounds coming out of it and that triangular piece above Harry’s left arm looks to scary to me.

I hiked out to face on Sat. by myself, but did not venture into the caves

just as you enter the cave

that ice column that is in the middle of the cave, not quite sure how it formed, possibly a water drip that grew???

the natural heart cut out I found hiking around the face of glacier

out near face so much BLUE

not touched up at all, the colors were simply incredible, almost looks fake doesn’t it?

during this same time period we also get great Northern Lights. I did NOT take this photo rather it was taken by David Reed, a friend of a friend of a friend.

again by David Reed, this is taken out on North Douglas. the lights along the bottom are car lights. the light over the hilltop to the right is near our home!

alaska education glacier northern lights Travel Uncategorized

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Kodiak Island ~ Fossil Beach and more

by timistravels

Kodiak, Alaska Nov. 25/26, 2012 and Dec. 9/10, 2013

Kodiak Island is known for its brown bears and remoteness. I have gotten there a few times in the last few years, and didn’t do a blog last year (as we were taking off for another trip once I landed at home.)

Kodiak is the 2^nd largest island in the United States (earlier this year I visited Admiralty Island which is the 7^th largest in the US), and #80 in the world. The island is 100 miles long from tip to tip and ranges from 10-60 miles wide. The city of Kodiak is the largest on the island, though there are 7 communities/villages as part of Kodiak and part of why I was there was to do training with their advisory boards. These villages are Akhiok, Karluk, Larsen Bay, Old Harbor, Ouzinkie, Port Lions and then Afognak Island (a smaller island near Kodiak). Some of these villages have been in existence much longer than Alaska was part of the United States and remain subsistence villages as much as possible.

Kodiak reminds me a lot of Southeast, (SE) AK where I live, as it has mountains, and yet has a lot of forest on most of the island. As in SE the only way in/out is on a boat or plane. The great part of Kodiak is there is quite an extensive road system and I was lucky enough to have my good friend and colleague, Norm take me on a tour of the island.

We headed out early and drove to Fossil Beach. Along the way we saw Bison, eagles, surfers and a lot of other amazing sites. Though the road is only about 46 miles it take about 1.5 hours to get there. The roads are curvy, and slow going, but again worth it. And in the morning there was a lot of fog, buy by the time we headed back towards town it had lifted a bit.

Kodiak offers so much to see and do, there is not a ‘best time of year” to visit, you simply should just add it to your MUST VISIT list. Alaska Air and ERA Airlines fly there daily and it is a place to be seen!

alaska education fossils

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Not the Iditarod, but a “pre race” in Galena

by timistravels

Galena, Alaska 2003 or 2005

As the Iditarod race is running this year, on VERY LITTLE snow, I am reminded of a trip I took to Galena, Alaska about 10 years ago. I was in town for work and picked a great weekend to be there for the Spring Festival.

Every other year, the Iditarod Race stops in Galena, this was the off year, so this race was the highlight. It was cold that day, I’m remembering about -30 to -40 below, though a few days later it was up in the 20’s. It was a dry cold which makes it better than the wet cold of Southeast, Alaska.

I don’t remember a lot of ‘facts’ from this day, but what I do remember is that those dogs were so pampered and loved by their owners (contrary to what others might think), and those dogs LOVE to run. The other surprising part is how small the dogs are.I had always thought they were larger dogs but once I saw in person they are much smaller.

All and all a fun time and one of these years I will get to see the actual Iditarod! Enjoy the pics!