Front Cover

The ground-cover as it is just starting to change color on the open tundra north of the Alaska Range. Only a week earlier this was lush, vibrant green, now the hillsides take on a muted color as the foliage starts turning red and orange between the summer green.

Cold River

A musher sets out for a cold evening run on the Tanana River. All I can see against the setting Sun is the silhouettes of the musher with his dogs and the trees in the distance. The fog around the dogs is actually from their breath - the air was 40 below.

February

A great aurora borealis display over the Goldstream Valley on the night I convinced my (sick) wife to go chase the northern lights with me . . . and then managed to get the car stuck in a ditch on Murphy Dome.

March

A stand of frozen spruce near the top of Murphy Dome, just outside Fairbanks. I got an early start, skiing out here to watch the aurora that never fully materialized. The air temperatures bottomed out around -30 and my toes got a little cold, but we had some phenomenal views of Jupiter and Venus (the bright stars to the left) after the Sun set.

April

A tiny patch of alpenglow persists for a few moments on a mountain in the Alaska Range. I can't describe how beautiful this was, and the photo doesn't even come close to doing it justice. With the temperature falling to -20° F and nearly 50mph winds, I retreated back to my tent rather quickly once the light was gone.

May

The Granite Tors are awesome! Beautiful rocks on a rolling tundra and taiga landscapes. While walking in the evening, flocks of swallows would swarm up from the tussocks before finding a new place to land. If you look closely you can see our tents on the left side of this tor (named 'The Flying Horseman Tor').

June

The Black Rapids Glacier in the Alaska Range shortly before sunset. The water on the surface was glistening with the light from the clouds. Stupid . . . I know. Who would want to look at that?

July

The old ammonia leaching plant at Kennecott. Part of the Wrangell St. Elias National Park, in the background is the debris covered Kennicott Glacier and icefalls on the flanks of Mt. Blackburn.

August

The morning light here was incredible. Actually, un-capturable. Fall was in full swing, but there was still some green on the mountainsides as well as freshly fallen (and bright!) snow on the peaks.

September

Just south of Donnelly Dome, looking into the Alaska Range. This spot is easy to get to, along the Richardson Highway near the mile 243 pipeline viewing location. Gorgeous golden and red colors as autumn takes hold and a clearly descending snowline in the mountains.

October

Smith Lake - subtle sunset. Fairbanks, Alaska.

November

One of the brightest aurora borealis displays I've ever seen, competing with the bright full moon.

December

Boreal forest sunrise in cold Fairbanks, Alaska. This is as high as the Sun gets around the winter solstice.