Aurora Borealis over Boreal Forest
The aurora borealis over a snow-covered forest lit by a nearly full moon in Fairbanks, Alaska. It wasn't the best aurora I've ever seen, but it was undoubtedly some of the best scenery that I've witnessed.
Daily Photoalaskaaurora borealisfairbanksnight skynorthern lights
From 2015-01-03
Spring and Summer Footage
I had a very busy spring and start to summer that really hit a wall 2 weeks ago. I've been doing a lot of hiking around the interior of Alaska, taking thousands of photos and hundreds of video clips. I started a vlog. I've been working on my wildflower guide and am currently coming up with a timeline for publishing an Alaska Wildflower Guide and a hiking guide. Two weekends ago, the wildfire smoke got THICK! Way too much to spend any time outdoors. We finally started getting rain, and the smoke has since subsided, but just in time for this weekend, I came down with COVID. I had one miserable day, but otherwise, the symptoms were much milder than when I had it a little over a year ago, and I'm improving fast.
Since I'm just sitting at home, I thought I'd put together a short compilation of clips from some of my trips so far this season. It includes footage from McManus Peak, Table Top Mountain, Angel Rocks, Mt. Prindle, Granite Tors, and the Canwell Glacier. Check the post in my profile link to find links to some of the full videos, more photos, and blog posts! I hope to get back on the trail next weekend, rain or shine!
For more info on these areas or to see more photos and video, check out my recent blog post: Spring and Summer Updates 2022
For more video and vlog, be sure to check out and subscribe on my YouTube Channel!videoalaskawhite mountain national recreation areachena river state recreation areaalaska rangeglaciercanwell glacierglacier cavehiking
Shand Light
Mt. Shand (12,660 feet, 3859 meters) in the Alaska Range is beautiful in the sunlight! This impressive rock face towers over the Black Rapids Glacier and Trinity Basin.
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From 2012-08-29
Glacier Ice
Gorgeous color and texture in the ice of a glacier cave in the terminal moraine of the Canwell Glacier. This is (was) one of the most beautiful ice caves I have ever seen. On this day it looked like it was on the verge of collapse.
Hiking guide to the Canwell Glacier and Rainbow Basin
Video of the hike and Glacier Cavealaskaalaska rangecanwell glacierglacierglacier cavehikingicesummer
From 2022-06-27
Asgard Tor
The Asgard Tor at the Granite Tors in the smoke - June 12, 2022. This is one of the most impressive monoliths on the ridge.
Granite Tors Trail Guide
Video from the hike on YouTubealaskachenachena riverchena river state recreation areafairbanksgranite torgranite torsspringwildfirewildfire smoke
From 2022-06-12
Rolling Hills
The rolling open tundra to the east of McManus Mountain in the White Mountain National Recreation Area. Find info on this off-trail 7.5-mile hike here: McManus Mountain Hike
alaskahikingmcmanus mountainsummerwhitewhite mountain national recreation area
From 2022-06-24
Windchimes
One of the many granite towers on the shoulder of Mt. Prindle in the White Mountain National Recreation Area. The ridge is littered with these tall tors and the area is affectionately known as the Windchimes. You can read about this latest trip on my blogpost or check out my Mt. Prindle Area Hiking Guide.
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From 2022-06-05
Granite Tors
One of the entrance tors along the west end of the Granite Tors Trail near Fairbanks, Alaska. The trail conditions were a bit difficult, hitting deep snow about mid-way into the hike. There was a lot of postholing and bushwhacking just to make it to the ridge. But, the weather was absolutely perfect and made it totally worth the struggle. Granite Tors Hiking Guide
alaskabackpackinggranite torshikingspringteam ascension
From 2022-05-28
Alaska Range
This year the Denali National Park Headquarters received 174 inches (14.5 feet) of snow! The average snowfall is 84 inches. This photo was taken on May 21, 2022 at about mile-6 on the Park Road. I've seen this area nearly snow-free earlier in the month, even in late April in previous years!
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From 2022-05-21
Reflections
Reflections in the water in the Chena River State Recreation Area.
alaskachenachena riverchena river state recreation areaspring
From 2022-05-17
Great horned owl
A great horned owl hiding in a spruce tree in our front yard - Fairbanks, Alaska. The cat is no longer allowed outside, especially if they are nesting in the area.
alaskabirdbirdingfairbanksgreat horned owlspring
From 2022-05-15
Sandhill Crane
Sandhill cranes at Creamer's Field in Fairbanks, Alaska. Despite some setbacks of cold mornings and May snowstorms, the bird migration is well underway. I'm participating in the second annual Fairbanks Birding Challenge from the Alaska Songbird Institute, so my feed may be bird-centric for the rest of the month. Read more in my blogpost Spring Things.
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From 2022-05-03
Swans
Trumpeter swans and Canada geese at Creamer's Field in Fairbanks. There are more swans here this year than I have ever seen before.
alaskabirdbirdingcreamer's fieldfairbanksmigrationspringswantrumpeter swan
From 2022-04-24
June - Women's Final Problem #3
June Breitenbach on Women's Problem # 3 at the annual Spring Cling competition at Ascension Rock Club in Fairbanks, Alaska. Find the full photo gallery here: 2022 Spring Cling Photos (well, most of them, about half are uploaded). The competitors were awesome and I couldn't be more proud of our team kids!
spring clingascension rock clubindoor climbingboulderingclimbing gymfairbanksalaskacompetititon
Aurora Borealis
The northern lights over Fairbanks, Alaska in the early morning of March 31, 2022. Taken with Sony Alpha a7iii and a Rokinon 14 mm f/2.8 for Sony lens
alaskaauroraaurora borealisfairbanksnightnight skynorthern lights
From 2022-03-31
Snowflake
A single decomposing snowflake sticking out of the snow on our porch banister - Fairbanks, Alaska. Macro photography is still pretty new to me, and I'm learning quite a lot. For one, I may need to invest in a more stable tripod setup. I took this on our porch using my tripod and a macro focusing rail. After setting up the focus, it would take the camera about 4-5 seconds to stop shaking enough to actually take the photo, but I noticed it was still rhythmically shaking about every second. After a while, I noticed that tiny bit of shake was from my heartbeat and I was standing too close to the tripod legs. Photo was taken with a Nikon D850 and a Venus Optics Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro lens at f/5.6. This is 4 images focus-stacked using Helicon focus stacking software. As I refine my technique I'll write more on my set-up and process.
From 2022-02-14
Snowflake
Day-old snowflakes on the window - Fairbanks, Alaska. Photo was taken with a Nikon D850 and a Venus Optics Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro lens at f/5.6. Part of my on-going Water and Ice Gallery.
From 2022-01-16
Mountains of the Trinity Basin
Above 6000' elevation on the Black Rapids Glacier is typically above the equilibrium line - the extent of the snow line in summer. Almost all of the ice feeding this 40 km long glacier comes from this relatively small 8 km long and 1 km wide stretch. Being up here I find it easy to imagine what it must be like to be on another planet. Everything is covered in snow and ice. Even riddled with cracks, crevasses, bergschrunds it's hard to describe what's frequently called the "Trinity Basin" as anything but pristine. Black Rapids Glacier Photos and Info
trinity basiniceglacierblack rapidsmountainssnowalaska rangealaska
From 2012-08-29
Through the Forest
Beautiful forest canopy and floor on Mt. Kearsarge. This turned into one of the rainiest days ever on the trail for me. Even wearing full rain gear, we were absolutely soaked to the bone. I'm very happy we weren't camping, this would have been absolutely miserable! First, we had mist, then drizzle, then downpours, then misty downpours. The Lincoln Trail on Mt. Kearsarge is one of my favorite New Hampshire trails not in the White Mountain National Forest. It's 8.6 miles total (out-and-back), and I would usually only see people near the summit on the last mile, starting near the upper parking area. It travels through some beautiful and pristine forest. Here's my gallery from this day: Rainy Day on Mt. Kearsarge
lincoln trailmt. kearsargenew hampshire
From 2019-08-21
Denali from the Alpine Trail at the Savage River
Denali viewed from high up on the Alpine Trail above the Savage River in Denali National Park. Double Mountain is on the far left. For perspective, Denali is about 70 miles away. Much of this trail is often snow-free because of the high winds in this valley. Click the link for my Guide to the Savage Alpine Trail
alpine traildenalimt. mckinleyhikingcentral alaska rangedenali national parkinteriorspringalaska rangealaskalimited 50
From 2014-03-30
Goldstream Valley Aurora
Watching the aurora down in the Goldstream Valley. Lights from the homes on the hill, some purple at high altitudes (more in my article "What Causes the Aurora"), a brilliant night! Even after 11 years of aurora watching from Fairbanks, this still might be the best display I've ever seen. It's certainly in the top 3.
ballaine roadgoldstream valleynorthern lightsaurora borealisnight skyfairbanksalaskagreenportfolio
From 2012-02-18
Sunrise over Hayes
January 7, 2021. The sun rises over Mt. Hayes viewed from Fairbanks as a flock of birds flies past. A temperature inversion causes the light to ripple from the different air densities. Just driving into town from the hills was a 17°F temperature difference. The 13,832 ft (4,216 m) tall Mt. Hayes is 92 miles away from this location at the University of Alaska. Temperature: 10°F (-12°C) | Sunrise: 10:43 am | Sunset: 3:11 pm | Daylength: 4:28:06
alaskaalaska rangefairbanksmountainmountainsmt. hayessunsunrise
From 2021-01-07