Denali Wildlife, Alaska

 In addition to North America's highest peak, Denali National Park & Preserve is known for a variety of wildlife. Wild animals roam the more than 6 million acres of the vast wilderness along the slopes of Mount Denali (McKinley). During the fall season, animals are in their prime. They are well fed, their fur is prepared for the coming winter, and their antlers are fully grown for the mating season.

 Denali National Park is a sanctuary for wildlife; they are somewhat used to the shuttle bus and visitors traffic within the park. Wildlife, even bears, sometimes can be viewed close by the Park Road. Here is a bull caribou, feeding by the road.

 As much as I enjoyed the close up opportunities, I also love the "animal landscape" images. Here is a grizzly bear strolling along an autumn tundra hill with Mount Denali (McKinley) backdrop.

 Here is a bull moose in autumn colors. The tundra hill warmed by the morning sun.

 Here is another bull moose in bright autumn colors.

 Sometimes little critters will pose for a photo. Arctic Ground Squirrel with fall foliage.

Here is yet another caribou running across the valley.

I'll post some more photos from Denali Park on my next update. Please check back in a few weeks!

Denali (McKinley) Views, Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska

 Continuing from a previous post, I would like to share more images of North America's highest peak - Denali (Mt. McKinley). I camped deep inside Denali National Park & Preserve to capture Mount Denali in bright fall colors. With unusually nice weather, I successfully photographed five beautiful sunsets of the famous North Face of Denali. In addition, I captured the view from the Eielson Visitor Center, another well-known park icon. 

 I climbed the ridge above the Eielson Visitor Center to get a better view of the valley with Mount Denali and the Alaska Range. The surrounding tundra was draped in warm autumn colors.

I discovered the view of Denali from Stony Hill to be stunning and easily became one of my favorites. When visitors ride the shuttle from the entrance, Mount Denali can be seen in its entirety only after a few hours of riding. When the bus turns the corner on clear days, the view is impressive. I clearly remember that awe inspiring experience back in 2001. I wanted to capture this "first impression" of Denali.

I had to wait a few hours for perfect lighting at Stony Hill... Dozens of shuttle buses passed by as clouds drifted by... I like the shadows of clouds on the vast tundra field. A few hours passed easily, I noticed a few buses stopping on the road down below... This means wildlife presence, normally. Sure enough, I spotted a small black dot moving on the road. It was a bear - a grizzly bear! More buses joined the bear viewing. Those passengers were lucky to see the bear very close by. Slowly, the black dot moved away from the road and walked into the hilly tundra. The bear started climbing up the hill ... It was a small dot and soon its was out of sight from where I was at. Then, the next time I saw him, the small dot got bigger and closer. He was coming my direction! I quickly packed up my gear and began walking to one of the shuttle buses parked by. The bear climbed up this steep hill so fast and with ease. The shuttle driver yelled to the passengers to get inside the bus. I too joined them. Soon, the huge grizzly bear came close and walked behind the bus then crossed the road! Thank goodness, the bus was here at that moment.

Here is another photo of the Grizzly Bear, I took earlier in the day.

I'll have some more Denali images to share on the next posting. Please check back soon!

Young Moose, Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Alaska

Spring came 2 months early in South central Alaska this year. By March, almost all snow was gone in Anchorage, and the greening started in early April.

It was in late February, while there was still some snow along the high elevations in the Matanuska - Susitna Valley area. Moose, especially cows with calfs search for eatable plants in lower elevations this time of year. It is not uncommon where moose can be spotted in residential areas as they feed on vegetation in backyards. This young moose was chewing on birch in the woods. He is still young and small although his antlers began to form above his eyes. He was staring at me for a long while...

Then, he began running across the road...

Running faster...

The peaks of Alaska Range was still white, shining against a blue sky.

Fresh snow covered a boreal forest. Spring is in the air!

It is time to explore a new season in the Alaskan wilderness.

Autumn Colors – Interior Alaska

 Starting in late August, the Alaskan wilderness gets painted in bright fall colors. After the short summer, trees turn bright yellow and the tundra transforms to orange and red!

 It was early September in beautiful weather as I was headed north to capture the colors. Trees in Anchorage were still green at that time. In interior Alaska, typical Alaskan tundra landscape begins at the south side of Denali National Park. The entire valley was already in vivid reddish autumn colors and full of blueberries! The rain showers over the mountain pass finally stopped… Then a perfect rainbow arched along the Alaska Range! The sun peeked through the clouds and brightened up the fall colored tundra.

 Heading down to Eastern Alaska the next day, the spectacular fall colors continued on… Here is the Tanana River with the yellow fall leaves!

 The mountain pass along the Taylor Highway was all carpeted with vibrant tundra… It was like nature was releasing the entire energy for their season's grand finale!

 Sunset glow on the distance hills… and the northern lights were dancing all night. (The northern lights photos were on the previous posting, please see them too!)

 The beautiful weather continued into the next day. Endless fall leaves cheered along the highway with numerous lakes. This lake was perfectly still and reflected the mountain range like mirror! There are so many places like this in Alaska which are outstanding sceneries but in very remote places and not so many people get to see it. I was lucky to be in the place at that special moment.

The last stop was Chugach Mountains along Glen Highway...  Brilliant colors!

Denali Aurora

When solar activity was high in early February, I headed north from Anchorage to hopefully get a glimpse of the aurora. The weather cooperated and the sky was clear. The faint northern lights arched in the north sky at 9pm which is usually a good sign for an active aurora night. It would finally be the night that I would photograph northern lights over Denali (Mount McKinley, the highest peak in the North America).

There are numerous locations about 100 miles north from Anchorage to view the south face of Mt. McKinley. The north face of McKinley is more well known - famous in postcards and books, etc, however, the best area to view the north side of the mountain is really remote, 90 miles deep inside Denali National Park. The dirt road within the park was still under the deep snow and temperatures could reach -60 Fahrenheit. Only experienced winter travelers with dog sled teams or snowmobiles can reach the area. The more accessible south side of McKinley is realistic option for winter photography.

When I arrived at the one of spots to view Denali, the faint aurora was already fading away... 

I moved on to another location with a majestic view of the Alaska Range. (Denali is part of Alaska Range) I was ready by 11pm, but no northern lights were out... just a clear sky with millions of stars above the mountains. I waited for 30 minutes at 16 degrees outside, but nothing happened. I hiked back to the car and waited... It was a long cold night with no aurora activity for hours...

At 5am, finally northern lights were appeared over northern sky. I grabbed gear and running up to the spot. The aurora was slowly stretch out and waving above the mountain. It was mostly faint green and slight pink at the lower edge. 

The bright moon was slowly setting behind the mountains yielding to an amazing show. 

The lights became more intense and danced over Denali and parts of the Alaska Range. The show kept going for over an hour! 

Dragon dancing over the mountain.

At 6am, the lights slowly faded and it was time to pack up. It was such an exciting morning.

Gray Wolf - Canis lupus

I know it's been an overdue update, my excuse is I've been taking many trips to Alaskan wilderness for photo projects. Summer in Alaska is short, I have to make the most out of it. I have mountains of photos to go through... Before editing hundreds of photos from each trip, I was already off to the next adventure.

Well, I'd like to share my first Wolf images, taken just south of Denali.

It was in mid June, after a long sunset at nearly midnight, finally dusk had come down in the interior of Alaska. I was heading north on George Park Highway to explore the isolated and lightly travelled Denali Highway. There was a dog-like animal crossing the highway in the twilight. As I got closer I realized it was a wild Grey Wolf!
 

He was standing right by the highway and staring at me as if he expected something...

 

A motorcycler stopping to photograph the unforgettable sight.

After a while, the wolf jumped back in the bush. There he was scavenging a Moose carcass only a several yards away from the highway. I kept pressing the shutter button for his up close! He occasionally would stare at me while he was intensely chewing the carcass, ready to defend his sustenance in a moment's notice. I could see the wild ferocity burning incandescently his yellow eyes.

 

Finally, he dragged a piece of Moose, and disappeared into the wilderness. It was one of the most special moments that Alaska's natural elegance has brought me thus far.

Sunset Flight - Denali View!

One winter evening, I was on a small airplane flying outside of Fairbanks. Fairbanks is the second largest city in Alaska, but the city is surrounded with a vast wilderness.

The plane was following along the winding Chena River; frozen and snow covered... the whole area is wild backcountry; hard to see any human imprint. Mountain after mountain spread on all sides.

The sun was about to set on the horizon, lighting up the rugged Alaska Range... The silhouette of Denali (Mount McKinley - the highest peak in the North America) appeared beyond the mountains in the dreamy orange light! It was a gift for the day!