Some more from the road

[Blue_In_AK]

Somewhere around Cooper Landing on the Sterling Highway, the sun breaking through the mist


My brother lives about 15 miles outside of Homer. This is on the way


Sunrise yesterday morning from my brother's back window


This is the Russian River, world famous for its salmon runs in the summer. I liked the way the mist was rising off the water


This is the view from the east side of Turnagain Pass, Portage Valley in the distance


Sunset just south of Anchorage

[regnaD kciN]

1. Envy...envy...envy...

Not only are you in a region of stunning natural beauty, but you actually get clear skies in winter. Here outside Seattle, we get nothing but rain and slate gray overcast. I don't think I've taken more than five or six photos so far this year, and all but one of those within about a five minute patch one morning before the clouds rolled in again.

:nopity:

[Blue_In_AK]

2. Well, we pay the price

For these clear skies, we have to endure single digit or below zero temperatures. It's been really C-O-L-D here all month, but it's supposed to warm up and snow tomorrow, so I'll be somewhat grateful for the gray skies.

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. Is that sunset south of Anchorage

at Cook's Inlet?

You make me miss Alaska all over again :::sigh:::

Ever take the train to Portage? I loved the glaciers there.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. Turnagain Arm...

If you look at this map, Cook Inlet is the big body of water on the left. Turnagain Arm is the bottom finger of the three fingers of water at the top. The road to Portage Glacier cuts off right at the end of the Arm, going off to the right (the road isn't shown on this map). If you haven't been to Portage Glacier in a while, you would be amazed at how much it has receded. When I first moved up here, the terminus of the glacier was out in the middle of the lake ... now you can hardly see it from the visitor center. The other smaller glaciers are still visible from the Portage Road, though.

[Whoa_Nelly]

6. OMG! It's receded that much???

When I saw it in '85, it was dazzling and seemed so close! What a shame!

Thanks for the map! :loveya:

[Blue_In_AK]

7. Yes, if anybody has any doubts about global warming...

Portage Glacier would set them straight.

Here are some comparative photos...

1950


2002

[Whoa_Nelly]

8. Thanks, Blue

This is so disturbing. I seem to remember learning years ago that the glaciers were creeping forward at a rate of 1-2 inches a year as they calve. Those pics from Portage are very frightening.

[CC]

4. Beautiful, just simply

beautiful. If I had to pick a fav think it would be #2. Hell your pics make me miss AK, and I've never been there.


DU shut down on me last time I was trying to see these.

[alkaline9]

9. They are all lovely...

...but Turnagain Pass is by far my favorite from this bunch. Excellent work as usual!