Spring Greens - Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, Alaska

 Spring is here in Southcentral Alaska! Since the past winter was mild and short (for Alaskan standards), fresh greens already started sprouting in April, over a month earlier than past years.

 Within an hour's drive south of Anchorage, Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet is one of the most outstanding landscapes which nature photographers dream of... The inlet was surrounded with snow capped mountains which drop directly down to the ocean. The area is rich in vegetation and wildlife. The Chugach Mountains along the Turnagain Arm is my favorite place this time of the year. Under the sunshine and blue sky, I walked through the birch woods with the scent of fresh greens in the air. Finding a few open spots to over look the panoramic scene to capture... This spectacular landscape always takes my breath away!

The leaves are still in light greens and a significant amount of snow still remains in the high peaks across the inlet. Soon, the foothills and the valleys will be decorated with vivid wildflowers.

Fall Colors in Chugach Mountains, Alaska

 

Fall colors still abound in many lower 48 states and other parts of the world this time of the year. In Alaska, autumn comes early, depending on which part. It starts in late August and peaks in September. In my last post, I wrote about the colorful mid September fall in eastern Alaska, near the Canadian border. The following week, the fall colors were still gorgeous in the Chugach Mountains north of Anchorage. The high peaks of the Chugach Mountains were already dusted with new snow. Birch trees were bright yellow on the base of the mountains. Smaller trees and shrubs were turning vibrant red.

This is Alaskan wild rose; Prickly Rose, and its rose hips in autumn colors.

Wet meadows around Nancy Lakes were also painted in warm oranges colors.



Twin Peaks, a part of the Chugach Mountains, rise over golden birch trees and a grass meadow under a blue sky.

I love these dramatic color changes in this northern land. Nature was displaying a grand finale to the short summer season. At this moment in mid November, leaves were long gone, and snow starts to take over most parts of Alaska. The long cold, dark winter with has just began...

Fall Colors in Wrangell - St. Elias National Park, Alaska

 

October is the peak season for autumn colors in the U.S and in many parts of the northern hemisphere. In Alaska, the fall color season starts in August and peaks in September.

On a gorgeous September day, eastern Alaska was painted in golden yellow to vivid red! I photographed the northern part of Wrangell - St. Elias National Park. Birch trees, which comprise a large part of fall colors in Alaska, were brilliant under the sun.

 

Tundra and shrubs are decorated in bright orange to red. These amazing autumn colors are special in the northern region and alpine environments exclusively. I just love these colors!

 



Mount Sanford with fall colored birch.
 

Historical cabin surrounded by fall colored birch.
 

 

Gold was discovered at Nabesna in Wrangell - St. Elias National Park in early 1930s. The Rambler Mine is the remains of an abandoned gold mine. The atmosphere was a bit spooky around the mining ruins.