Nancy and I had the privilege of joining good friends on a ten day rafting trip in Southeast Alaska in early August.
Beginning on August 1st. we flew to Juneau, ferried to Haines, drove to the Yukon territory, and floated our way 132 miles from Canada to Glacier Bay National Park on the Tatshenshini & Alsek rivers.
With eight other friends we passed from the interior forests at Dalton Post along the Fairweather Range, past the Noisy and Brabazon and Icefield and Border Ranges, through the St. Elias Range to the glaciated basin of Alsek Lake.
To say that this was the trip of a lifetime is to understate the stunningly enormous beauty of one of the earths great landscapes. We literally rowed into the ice age.
The Tatshenshini - Alsek Rivers are part of the larger UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Kluane National Park and Preserve in Yukon Canada, Tatshenshini - Alsek Wilderness Provincial Park in British Columbia, and Glacier Bay National Park in the U.S. The Alsek drains the largest non-polar icecap in the world, and the area is home to one of the largest brown bear habitats on the planet.
We had three weeks to plan for this as two members of the original group couldn't make the journey, we were invited, and so off we went, lots new gear and our cameras in tow, to experience this incredible place.
Thanks have to go to our good friends, Ray and Donette, and the "leader" of the trip Bill Morris. The three of them planned a perfect trip, including good "Alaskan" weather, and great outfitters, Stan Boer and Kate, who supplied the boats and food. We didn't have guides so a comprehensive small guidebook led us down the rivers. The other members of this adventure included Ray's brothers Scott and Bruce, his nephews Zane and Dante 14 years each, and Donette's son Weston, 10 years old. Everyone pulled their hardest all the time. There wasn't a spat the whole thirteen days we were all together, and I couldn't imagine a better group of friends to do this with, thanks.
At the end of the river, where it meets the Gulf of Alaska, we were flown out of Dry Bay to Haines in two small planes with all our gear.
So it was my duty to photograph all of this with a few of our other friends. I have included a link to my web site that offers the first shots that I regard as some of the best.
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| Orca breach off Juneau |
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| Ferry to Haines |
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| Coming home to spawn |
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| Whale Watching |
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| Harbor Bound |
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| Haines Library Totem |
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| Columbine |
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| Haines Harbor |
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| Locals having dinner |
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| All the gear |
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| The Crew |
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| Stan Boer |
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| First view of the river at Dalton Post |
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| Carry wood... |
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| Loaded up |
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| On to Silver Creek |
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| Our daily gatherings |
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| Camp 1 |
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| Heating Water |
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| Evening sun on the peaks |
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| Day 2 |
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| Stillwater Canyon |
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| Learning the oars |
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| Aspen Grove |
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| Another Freshman |
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| The first peaks |
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| Sediment Creek, Camp 2 |
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| Midnight |
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| Fireweed |
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| Snacks on the hike |
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| A view towards our future |
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| We're all alone |
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| Sediment Creek |
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| Mud Patterns |
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| They get your attention! |
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| The New Kitchen |
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| Breakfast |
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| Bill's Favorite Seat |
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| Lunchtime |
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| River meets Rock |
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| Wine in a Bag? |
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| River Sentry |
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| Sleepy Teepee at O'Connor |
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| Perpendicular |
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| Gravel Bars and Blue Skies |
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| Life from Death |
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| A good anchor |
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| Towagh Camp |
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| Colorful Nap |
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| Another Sentry |
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| Melt Creek Float |
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| Glaciers all around |
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| Melbern Glacier |
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| Washing up |
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| Now that's style. |
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| Investigating |
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| A Perfect Campsite |
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| He's So Cute... |
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| Dancing |
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| The Scale is Broken |
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| Wet Gloves |
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| Wood Gathering is a great excuse... |
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| ...for exploration |
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| Right towards camp |
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| Blending in |
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| Walker Group Photo |
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| Moraine Totem |
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| Crossing Ice |
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| Dante for Scale |
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| Commuter Lane |
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| Beyond Walker Glacier |
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| On Alsek Lake |
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| Are they Pastel? |
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| Icebergs do roll over |
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| Post Rollover |
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| Alsek Lake and Glacier |
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| Green and Blue |
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| The Confluence |
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| Glacier Highway |
