Tyler vs. the Hill

There's crazyness afoot.  Behold Tyler taking on a vast sand cliff with an old mountain bike.  Awe as he seems briefly to succeed!  Gasp as he inevitably fails!  Laugh, as he walked away unhurt!

Bigger Sky Country

The Alaskan sky is unlike anything I've ever seen, be it overcast or blue.  The cloud formations, the colors, the sunsets (during the spring and fall when the sun sets) are sublime.

An Alaskan-Shaped Cloud

snow falling on mountains

Dragonfly Creek: First Camping Trip

Views from the Top

Front Country Trails

These were taken during a short hike amongst the front country trails in Denali Park.

Horseshoe Lake

Frozen Bridge

Alaskan Birds

Willow Ptarmigan (summer plumage)

Red-Footed Sea Birds

Raven on the Cross

Willow Ptarmigan (Winter Plumage)

Woodpecker

Denali National Park Sled Dogs

Denali National Park has a team of sled dogs.  During the winter they are used to aid park rangers in traversing the frozen landscape.  In summer, during peak season, they do shows.  Most of them are quite delightful and domestic, as opposed to the vicious sled dogs of lore.

Denali National Park: The 30-Mile Car Trip, Part 1 (Nature)

Early in the season, car tourists are allowed to drive 30 miles into the park.  Afterwards, cars can only drive 15 miles in.  We took a company van in-- these are 

These next two hazy photos are 'the Great One', Mt. McKinley, the highest mountain in North America at 20, 320 feet.  Only 30 percent of the people who visit the park get to see the mountain because it hides behind clouds.  These pictures show it partially revealed.

Buddies, hiking

When it's springtime in Alaska...

When I first got to Alaska, there was snow on the ground.  Lot's of snow, although it was only moderately cold due to the lack of any humidity.  32 in Alaska doesn't feel as miserable as 45 in New Orleans.  Behold-- snow!

Welcome to Healy: First Impressions

The camp at which I live for work is in the tiny town of Healy, population approximately 900, located 11 miles north of McKinley Village and Denali.  It is best known as A.) a cheap place to stay whilst visiting Denali National Park, B.) a coal mining town, C.) about twenty crow-flying moles from the spot where Chris McCandless (aka the Into the Wild kid) perished in his bus.  

It is remarkably small and remote, things are expensive, and it's possibly the largest redneck enclave on a major road in Alaska.  But it's filled with grandeur.  All these were taken within a twenty minute walk from where I sleep.

Anchorage: Alaska's Biggest City

Anchorage is... dull.  And kind of ugly.  But there are fun things to do.  Enjoy these pictures:

Devil in the White City

On my way to Anchorage I had a several hour layover in Chicago, during which I wandered the city a while, including a little tailgating at Wrigley Field.  Behold, the city: