Alaskan Road Hazard

Caribou as a road hazard? Hard to imagine such a thing for us folk who dwell in the lower 48 states. But there he was just walking down this unpaved road in Denali park. We were on a bus tour that traveled throughout the park for 9 hours. It is a big and spectacular park. We were told that it holds much wild life but they stayed out of sight for the most part. No animal stood at the side of the road for us to photograph...but this lone Caribou. The area was covered in head high scrub brush unique to tundra areas. He came walking out of this brush, bounded across the road but returned to the road after he had gotten ahead of us. He proceeded to walk slowly along the road so that the bus driver could ease up behind him. We also spotted bears, mountain sheep, foxes, and other Caribou but most were too far away for a good photograph.

Leviathans

Whales, another must see on a trip to alaska. The ship is docked...or anchored...off shore at Skagway, the northern most stop in the coastal island chain. Nothing much there but an Indian village and, of course, gift shops to cater to tourists. The Indians operate the port and allow only one ship in at a time. Here is pictured the bunch of whales that were feeding in a channel between shore and the ship. A resident Indian man told us they were feeding on herring in that channel. Leviathan, that is a big fish isn't it? A whale weighing several tons is a big fish.

The Big One

Hubbard Glacier, crowning jewel of the trip to Alaska. Our cruise ship sailed through the cove into which the glacier ended giving us the oppurtunity to take photos such as this trying to capture the wonder of a wall of ice twelve miles wide and 600 feet high. The ice tower on the right end dropped a big chunk of ice while we watched. They called this calving. This awesome sight is difficult to comprehend even when you float right up in front of it.

Mendenhall Glacier

Mendenhall Glacier is located outside Alaska's capital city, Juneau. In fact, the governor's residence was pointed out to our group as we motored out to the glacier. Of course, that was a week or so before Governor Palin, Sara, became so famous. Glaciers are one of the high points of a trip to Alaska and this was a beauty.

30% Club

30% Club, hype or truth? During our trip to Alaska we were told by the tour guide that less than 30% of visitors to Mt. McKinley have an oppurtunity to see it because of the clouds which engulf its heights. Well, hype or not, we were blessed with this view. A most beautiful spectacle in the early morning sunlight causing the snow covered peak to glow orange-pink. A lenticular cloud which hovered near by took on this same glow.

Valentines in Alaska

Juneau, Alaska is where I photographed this building. It was of interest because it was called the Valentine building, my family name. Although my Dad's clan sprang from the woods of Smith County, Mississippi, the sight of the name set me to wondering. Who can know? Equally odd was the Gross theater building down the block. Gross is my wife's mother's maiden name. Did the Valentine's and Gross' connect in the 1800's then connect again in 1957. This would make a good plot for a TV show for sure.

Heart of Alaska

Valentines pose at the foot of a huge bouquet of flowers shaped as a heart. It was found in a garden enroute to Mendenhall Glacier outside Juneau, Alaska. Not surprisingly, it is used as the backdrop for weddings.