Inside the Sapphire Funhouse
Sometimes, words can’t possibly do a place justice. Sometimes, pictures fall short. Sometimes, a location hits you so hard that it literally changes your outlook. It sets your mind reeling, sways your body, and makes your heart long to return – even before you’ve left. For me, Cordova is that place. The old saying is so appropriate. “Life is not about how many breaths you take, but how many moments take your breath away.” I just returned from leading a small group photo tour to Cordova, on the eastern edge of Prince William Sound. Cordova is one of my favorite places on the planet – off the beaten path, yet logistically possible. It holds great variety: ocean, coastline, rainforest, mountains, glaciers, immense river delta. For...
A Lush Location
No, it’s not a drinking problem. Although, there are plenty of fluids around… As I said in my last post, Cordova is drenched in vibrant life and color. It is the most lush place I have ever seen. If you allow your eyes to drift down from the mountain peaks, you will first meet solid ice. In the winter it is pure white and covered in thick snow. As the summer goes on, some of the top layer will melt away and reveal lines of dirt and rock. These are the moraines – at the edges of the glacier are the lateral moraines. When two glaciers join, they cause a medial moraine to form between them, like a sandbar running between two rivers at their confluence. Next you will find the tree line and enter the rain forest. Greens erupt, rich and full in color....
What Dreams May Come
I have had many dreams over the past several years, since moving to Alaska. And, since moving to Alaska, many of those have come true. I have seen more amazing scenery and wildlife in the past 4 years, than most will see in a lifetime. For those of you who have been following along, I have photographed brown bear from not yards – but feet & inches. Dall sheep ram, ewes & lamb from only a few yards. Moose just beyond my car window. Bald eagles so close that their wings grazed my shoulders as they came in for a landing or to leave again. Humpback whales splashing down after an amazing series of breaches. Orca circling our boat in growing numbers. Glaciers actively calving into milky blue waters, surrounded by snow capped mountains. But one thing...
Ice Climbing on the Matanuska Glacier
Wow, what a Saturday! Tim and I spent the day out on the Matanuska Glacier with two other novice ice climbers (Mike and Nichole – both of the US Army). Our guide, also named Mike, was from MICA Guides. Thatsa lotta Mik-a’s (said with very poor Italian accent). We met at MICA’s headquarters above the glacier just after 9 am. After meeting our fellow climbers and guide, we geared up and drove out to the glacial terminus. For me, Matanuska Glacier has always been a special and awe-inspiring place. This is not just a river of ice, it is the mover of mountains, a carver of deep valleys, a shaper… in this land of extremes. We hiked over the glacial silt covered landscape for a while, then put on our crampons once we reached the ice. Our guide...