This is a journal of images by California photographer Skip Moss. The places, people, and events caught through my lens. Photographs of the Central Coast and mountains of California, the landscapes of the Western U.S. and travels abroad.
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All images © 2013 and beyond, Skip Moss.

8.24.2011

Tatshenshini - Alsek River

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.


Orca breach off Juneau


Ferry to Haines

Coming home to spawn

Whale Watching

Harbor Bound

Haines Library Totem

Columbine

Haines Harbor

Locals having dinner

All the gear


The Crew

Stan Boer


First view of the river at Dalton Post

Carry wood...

Loaded up

On to Silver Creek

Our daily gatherings

Camp 1

Heating Water

Evening sun on the peaks

Day 2

Stillwater Canyon

Learning the oars

Aspen Grove

Another Freshman

The first peaks

Sediment Creek, Camp 2

Midnight

Fireweed

Snacks on the hike

A view towards our future






We're all alone

Sediment Creek

Mud Patterns

They get your attention!

The New Kitchen

Breakfast


Bill's Favorite Seat


Lunchtime



River meets Rock

Wine in a Bag?

River Sentry


Sleepy Teepee at O'Connor

Perpendicular



Gravel Bars and Blue Skies

Life from Death

A good anchor

Towagh Camp

Colorful Nap

Another Sentry

Melt Creek Float

Glaciers all around

Melbern Glacier

Washing up

Now that's style. 

Investigating


A Perfect Campsite


He's So Cute...

Dancing

The Scale is Broken


Wet Gloves

Wood Gathering is a great excuse...

...for exploration

Right towards camp



Blending in

Walker Group Photo

Moraine Totem

Crossing Ice

Dante for Scale
Commuter Lane

Beyond Walker Glacier

On Alsek Lake

Are they Pastel?
Icebergs do roll over


Post Rollover

Alsek Lake and Glacier





Green and Blue

The Confluence

Glacier Highway

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lives on the Central Coast of California. These photographs are an attempt to share the story of a place, a person, a moment as it happens. Sit back, take a deep breath, and spend some time enjoying the images.

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