Me hiking in the Arrigetch creek valley, Arrigetch Peaks, Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska.

While going through some old image files, I had to pause when looking at pictures I took in the Arrigetch Peaks a few years ago. That region is one of the coolest places I’ve seen on planet earth. Looking at this picture of me, taken by my friend Amy Johnson, put my mind back in that great wilderness space, rugged, pure and wild. I’ll have to plan a return trip for sure. I did post a gallery of images from that trip some time ago, and if you want a few other views of that region, check it out here.

Haystack trail, Chugach National Forest, southcentral, Alaska. Canon 5D Mark III, 24-105mm f/4L IS, 1 sec @ f/13, ISO 200.

The Chugach National Forest is a huge area, spanning across southcentral Alaska, bordering Prince William Sound. For the hiker, there are many trails to enjoy and this short path winds its way through the wold’s northernmost temperate rainforest. Full of lush, green color, it was a refreshing scene after a long white winter in Fairbanks.

Western Sandpipers at Hartney Bay, Cordova, Alaska. Canon 5D Mark III, 24-105mm (105mm), 1/250 sec @ f/18, ISO 400

Cordova, Alaska hosts the Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival, which happens annually in early May, timed to coincide with the great migration of many birds that utilize the Delta as a refueling and staging location. This year, the large groups of Western Sandpipers that often congregate at Hartney Bay, were only found in small groups. They may be coming through later, or simply have chosen a different location due to weather issues, as a large storm was centered over the area in early May. Here is one photo of a group of Western Sandpipers that were feeding on the tidal flats of Hartney Bay.

Remnant snow drifts along the Copper river highway that transects the Copper River Delta from Cordova to the Million Dollar Bridge. Canon 1Ds Mark III, 100-400mm f/5.6L, (285mm), 1/320 sec. @ f/14, ISO 200

The snow keeps falling Fairbanks, with about 6-7 inches of fresh snow over the last day or so. Spring seems far away. As I prepare for a few days in the Copper River Delta region for the Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival, I pulled this picture out of my archive, taken a few years ago. It puts the current amount of snow in Fairbanks in perspective. Snow plows carved a path through large drifts along the Copper River highway which transects the Delta from the small town of Cordova, Alaska.

This is not the first time I’ve shared similar pictures, but I’m compelled to put them out there as an exhortation to respect the beautiful Alaska that many of us call home. These pictures are a common sight along the James Dalton Highway, designated one of Alaska’s scenic byways. The highway transects remote areas and the few bear-proof trash receptacles are not emptied often, especially in the winter months. It would appear to be common sense that if the trash receptacle is full, you would not overstuff it providing access for birds and animals. However, I see this almost every time I travel there. I realize I’m probably preaching to the choir for those reading this, but let it be a reminder that we all use good judgment when disposing of our trash. Let’s keep our trash off the landscape and respect the land given to our trust and care.

Overstuffed trash receptacles along the James Dalton Highway

Overstuffed trash receptacles along the James Dalton Highway