Glacier Trek, Juneau, AK, August 2013

I was lucky enough to go on a glacial adventure this weekend with the help of NorthStar Trekking!

Going underneath the Mendenhall Glacier is one thing, but putting on a pair of crampons and checking out all the features on top of it is awesome… as is scaling the face of a frozen slab of ice. In all, the exploring lasted about three hours. Throw in the helicopter rides and perfect weather and well, needless to say, it was a pretty epic afternoon.

Below are just a sampling of the nearly 500 photos I snapped. I did my best to capture the full breadth of the experience, but I would highly recommend making your own way onto the Mendenhall if you can, even if you’re from Juneau and you see it all the time. There’s nothing like it!

On the Ramp

On the Ramp

Fly By

Fly By

Heli

Heli

Mendenhall Glacier + Valley

Mendenhall Glacier + Valley

Suicide Falls

Suicide Falls

Previous Trekker

Previous Trekker

Blue Water

Blue Water

Yellow Tent

Yellow Tent

Glacial Pool

Glacial Pool

Mt. Stroller-White + Mendenhall Glacier

Mt. Stroller-White + Mendenhall Glacier

Crampon Walking

Crampon Walking

Glacial Traverse

Glacial Traverse

Mendenhall Towers + Thunder Mountain

Mendenhall Towers + Thunder Mountain

The Blues

The Blues

Ice Fall

Ice Fall

Glacier Waterfall

Glacier Waterfall

Watery Blues

Watery Blues

Base Camp

Base Camp

Trek 19

Trek 19

Waterfall + Stream

Waterfall + Stream

Ice Climbing

Ice Climbing

Intent Watching

Intent Watching

Summit!

Summit!

Coat Rack

Coat Rack

Ascending

Ascending

Trek 26

Trek 26

Rappeling

Rappeling

Summiting

Summiting

Glacier Water

Glacier Water

The Guide

The Guide

Landing Zone

Landing Zone

Blue Peaks

Blue Peaks

Deep Blue

Deep Blue

Glacial Stream

Glacial Stream

Valley

Valley

Slowly Decaying Leaf

Slowly Decaying Leaf

Water Drops

Water Drops

Sunshine + Stroller-White

Sunshine + Stroller-White

Returning

Returning

REAL Glacier Water

REAL Glacier Water

Moulin Bleu

Moulin Bleu

Glacierscape

Glacierscape

Rocks

Rocks

Yellow + Blue

Yellow + Blue

Juneau Airport

Juneau Airport

Landed

Landed

On the RampFly ByHeliMendenhall Glacier + ValleySuicide FallsPrevious TrekkerBlue WaterYellow TentGlacial PoolMt. Stroller-White + Mendenhall GlacierCrampon WalkingGlacial TraverseMendenhall Towers + Thunder MountainThe BluesIce FallGlacier WaterfallWatery BluesBase CampTrek 19Waterfall + StreamIce ClimbingIntent WatchingSummit!Coat RackAscendingTrek 26RappelingSummitingGlacier WaterThe GuideLanding ZoneBlue PeaksDeep BlueGlacial StreamValleySlowly Decaying LeafWater DropsSunshine + Stroller-WhiteReturningREAL Glacier WaterMoulin BleuGlacierscapeRocksYellow + BlueJuneau AirportLanded

 


Washington, DC, August 2011

If you ever have the urge to be humbled beyond words, just head to our nation’s capital and take in as many memorials and monuments as you can. The scope and sheer size of them, combined with the deep meaning and everything they symbolize, will really bring into perspective everything that’s been done in our country’s history.

This was my second trip to DC, but the first time I really got to see the sights and have any amount of time to really feel the emotions these monuments command. I need to go back. I have a feeling I could spend a week in DC and not cover everything I want to, which is a good thing because that’s a pretty good excuse to keep going back, as if one is really necessary!

(Also… you’ll notice a photo of a veal chop below. That was taken inside Filomena Ristorante, right in Georgetown. Amazing food, amazing atmosphere, amazing amazing amazing. Did I say amazing?)

US Capitol

US Capitol

Clock inside Union Station.

Clock inside Union Station.

Arches & Statues

Arches & Statues

Trains... Tickets

Trains... Tickets

Atrium in Union Station.

Atrium in Union Station.

Intricate ceiling.

Intricate ceiling.

Umbrella

Umbrella

DC sunset.

DC sunset.

Navigating.

Navigating.

The... building.

The... building.

Glassy skies.

Glassy skies.

Interesting fact!

Interesting fact!

Excellent veal parmigiana at Filomena.

Excellent veal parmigiana at Filomena.

Georgetown Park.

Georgetown Park.

Iwo Jima memorial.

Iwo Jima memorial.

Capitol dome and Washington monument.

Capitol dome and Washington monument.

Jefferson Memorial

Jefferson Memorial

The steps to the Jefferson Memorial

The steps to the Jefferson Memorial

Looks like the moon... or a UFO.

Looks like the moon... or a UFO.

TJ was a tall guy.

TJ was a tall guy.

Washington Monument via Jefferson Memorial.

Washington Monument via Jefferson Memorial.

At the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial.

At the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial.

World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial

Alaska represented at the WWII Memorial.

Alaska represented at the WWII Memorial.

DC intersection.

DC intersection.

The US Treasury building.

The US Treasury building.

1600 Pennsylvania Ave

1600 Pennsylvania Ave

Bank of America

Bank of America

Um.. yeah.

Um.. yeah.

US CapitolClock inside Union Station.Arches & StatuesTrains... TicketsAtrium in Union Station.Intricate ceiling.UmbrellaDC sunset.Navigating.The... building.Glassy skies.Interesting fact!Excellent veal parmigiana at Filomena.Georgetown Park.Iwo Jima memorial.Capitol dome and Washington monument.Jefferson MemorialThe steps to the Jefferson MemorialLooks like the moon... or a UFO.TJ was a tall guy.Washington Monument via Jefferson Memorial.At the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial.The Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial.World War II MemorialAlaska represented at the WWII Memorial.DC intersection.The US Treasury building.1600 Pennsylvania AveBank of AmericaUm.. yeah.

Southeast Alaska State Fair @ Haines, AK, July 2011

Great music, great food, great beer, and great people. What more could you ask for!?

If you live in Juneau and have never been to the Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines, you’re missing out. Even if you go for just one day, you’ll get it. You’ll see understand why Juneau is so quiet the last weekend of every July – everybody is in Haines!

This year’s musical talent was amazing and of course, the weather helped. On Saturday, July 30, the busiest day of the fair, the clouds parted, the sun shined, and ev

All aboard!

All aboard!

Made from 100 percent alpaca.

Made from 100 percent alpaca.

Floater.

Floater.

Bubbly personalities.

Bubbly personalities.

Smile pretty.

Smile pretty.

Campfire.

Campfire.

Careful with that axe Eugene.

Careful with that axe Eugene.

Great music all around.

Great music all around.

Let the hijinks ensue.

Let the hijinks ensue.

Hillstomp

Hillstomp

The .357 String Band

The .357 String Band

Beached whale?

Beached whale?

Back to the ferry terminal.

Back to the ferry terminal.

Fireweed aplenty.

Fireweed aplenty.

Chilkoot river.

Chilkoot river.

Chilkoot river totem pole.

Chilkoot river totem pole.

Lighthouse.

Lighthouse.

All aboard!Made from 100 percent alpaca.Floater.Bubbly personalities.Smile pretty.Campfire.Careful with that axe Eugene.Great music all around.Let the hijinks ensue.HillstompThe .357 String BandBeached whale?Back to the ferry terminal.Fireweed aplenty.Chilkoot river.Chilkoot river totem pole.Lighthouse.

Flooding @ Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, AK, July 2011

Strange happenings at the Mendenhall Glacier! Apparently a lake in/on the glacier burst and released a lot of water into the lake and caused a lot of flooding. Read more here.

Enjoy the photos!

Mendenhall River rushing fast and high!

Mendenhall River rushing fast and high!

Flooded Steep Creek.

Flooded Steep Creek.

Almost over the footpath.

Almost over the footpath.

Paddling where you normally don't paddle!

Paddling where you normally don't paddle!

High waters.

High waters.

Sunny skies at the glacier.

Sunny skies at the glacier.

Bluesy.

Bluesy.

Waterfall.

Waterfall.

Mendenhall Glacier with a little extra water.

Mendenhall Glacier with a little extra water.

This squirrel loves his cottonwood all over his nose.

This squirrel loves his cottonwood all over his nose.

View from East Glacier Trail.

View from East Glacier Trail.

Fungus amongus.

Fungus amongus.

Flooded trail to Nugget Falls.

Flooded trail to Nugget Falls.

Daisies.

Daisies.

Stairway to nowhere.

Stairway to nowhere.

Peekingatchu.

Peekingatchu.

Well hi there.

Well hi there.

Butterfly and fireweed.

Butterfly and fireweed.

Mendenhall River rushing fast and high!Flooded Steep Creek.Almost over the footpath.Paddling where you normally don't paddle!High waters.Sunny skies at the glacier.Bluesy.Waterfall.Mendenhall Glacier with a little extra water.This squirrel loves his cottonwood all over his nose.View from East Glacier Trail.Fungus amongus.Flooded trail to Nugget Falls.Daisies.Stairway to nowhere.Peekingatchu.Well hi there.Butterfly and fireweed.

A Day Around, On, & Under the Mendenhall, Juneau, AK, July 2011

All I have to say is, “WOW.”

I’ve been to the face of the Mendenhall Glacier, but I’ve never been lucky enough to discover a glacier cave until now and I definitely understand why people get so excited about them.

It was amazingly bright no matter how far from the entrance you got. Light somehow found its way through the mass of ice above, which filtered out all but the blue light and gave an eerie glow everywhere you looked. I had a field day snapping photos and constructing makeshift camera platforms from rocks. These are the best in my opinion – enjoy!

Glacial melt.

Glacial melt.

Rain pool.

Rain pool.

Mountain stream.

Mountain stream.

Alternate route to the glacier.

Alternate route to the glacier.

Glacier up close.

Glacier up close.

Tip of the iceberg.

Tip of the iceberg.

Got the blues.

Got the blues.

Ice bridge and blue sky.

Ice bridge and blue sky.

Ascending.

Ascending.

Glacier layers. Both layers are ice, just one is dirty and one is not.

Glacier layers. Both layers are ice, just one is dirty and one is not.

Moonscape.

Moonscape.

Bluesy peaks.

Bluesy peaks.

Trekking across the ice.

Trekking across the ice.

Meltwater dripping from the ceiling.

Meltwater dripping from the ceiling.

Going down.

Going down.

The abyss.

The abyss.

Goodbye blue sky. Hello blue ice.

Goodbye blue sky. Hello blue ice.

It does stop eventually...

It does stop eventually...

Aurora borealis-like ice formations.

Aurora borealis-like ice formations.

Blue, blue, blue.

Blue, blue, blue.

The deepest blues are black.

The deepest blues are black.

Light at the end of the tunnel.

Light at the end of the tunnel.

Watch for falling rocks.

Watch for falling rocks.

Hanging on.

Hanging on.

Not a polar bear.

Not a polar bear.

Descending.

Descending.

Pink!

Pink!

Tricky.

Tricky.

Glacial melt.Rain pool.Mountain stream.Alternate route to the glacier.Glacier up close.Tip of the iceberg.Got the blues.Ice bridge and blue sky.Ascending.Glacier layers. Both layers are ice, just one is dirty and one is not.Moonscape.Bluesy peaks.Trekking across the ice.Meltwater dripping from the ceiling.Going down.The abyss.Goodbye blue sky. Hello blue ice.It does stop eventually...Aurora borealis-like ice formations.Blue, blue, blue.The deepest blues are black.Light at the end of the tunnel.Watch for falling rocks.Hanging on.Not a polar bear.Descending.Pink!Tricky.

A Day on the Water, Juneau, AK, June 2011

Juneau is an incredible place.

Some people can become claustrophobic given the fact that due to the mountains and water surrounding us, you can’t easily just pick up and leave. However, those same mountains and water provide such an incredible array of things to do and see, with most things being within a 20 minute drive from wherever you are.

Case in point: a halibut fishing trip. Not only did everyone come home with plenty of halibut and enough shrimp for a great dinner, but we saw whales, eagles, beautiful scenery and… a snailfish. It was a completely awesome day. Enjoy the photos!

Chilkat peak.

Chilkat peak.

ATTACK OF THE TOMCOD!

ATTACK OF THE TOMCOD!

Fisheye with a fisheye.

Fisheye with a fisheye.

Living the dream.

Living the dream.

Fishing...

Fishing...

A snailfish. They are weird little guys.

A snailfish. They are weird little guys.

Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

Future dinner date.

Future dinner date.

This octopus was a SUCKER for shrimp bait. (And the shrimp too.)

This octopus was a SUCKER for shrimp bait. (And the shrimp too.)

Whale tail. A real one, NOT one caused by the combo of low pants, high thong.

Whale tail. A real one, NOT one caused by the combo of low pants, high thong.

Aw yeah, buddy.

Aw yeah, buddy.

Shrimp basket.

Shrimp basket.

Seal playing with his food. (A flounder, if you were wondering.)

Seal playing with his food. (A flounder, if you were wondering.)

On the grass, duuuuude.

On the grass, duuuuude.

Thoughtful pose.

Thoughtful pose.

Chilkat peak.ATTACK OF THE TOMCOD!Fisheye with a fisheye.Living the dream.Fishing...A snailfish. They are weird little guys.Nice to meet you.Future dinner date.This octopus was a SUCKER for shrimp bait. (And the shrimp too.)Whale tail. A real one, NOT one caused by the combo of low pants, high thong.Aw yeah, buddy.Shrimp basket.Seal playing with his food. (A flounder, if you were wondering.)On the grass, duuuuude.Thoughtful pose.

New York, NY, June 2011

Ah, the City That Never Sleeps. They weren’t kidding when they gave New York City that nickname! Anytime you want anything, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find it if you’re willing to look. Stamps at 10pm? No problem. Hamburger at 6am? No problem. Grasshopper tacos before a Broadway show? NO PROBLEM! (Yes, I ate grasshopper tacos before seeing The Book of Mormon. Want to try the best grasshopper tacos, accompanied by the best guacamole, washed down with the best tequila? Go to Toloache!)

The only other thing I want to say about NYC is about its people. I think they get a bad rap sometimes for appearing to be rude or uncaring. It’s not that they’re rude OR uncaring, there’s just a lot of people in NYC, which means there are a LOT of weirdos. What better way to screen people than to appear uninterested? Once you get past that defense mechanism, NYC’ers are the best. Yeah, there’s a different timing there, mostly rushed, but… it’s all worth it. I thoroughly enjoy New York City and its people every time I go.

Last thing – all of these photos were taken with a point-and-shoot Panasonic DMC-TS2 ruggedized camera. It’s awesome.

Allways remember.

Allways remember.

Tiles for America.

Tiles for America.

Yellow phone.

Yellow phone.

Washington Square Monument. Also, where many people tried to sell me things...

Washington Square Monument. Also, where many people tried to sell me things...

Plaid.

Plaid.

14 St.

14 St.

Fallout!

Fallout!

Citi Field.

Citi Field.

NYC skyline at dusk.

NYC skyline at dusk.

Mounties.

Mounties.

Times Square.

Times Square.

Harry Potter!

Harry Potter!

Harry Potter?

Harry Potter?

I Heart NY.

I Heart NY.

In my way.

In my way.

Lady Liberty.

Lady Liberty.

Heading to Staten Island.

Heading to Staten Island.

Bldgs.

Bldgs.

Patterns.

Patterns.

Colors.

Colors.

Pier 17.

Pier 17.

Swoosh.

Swoosh.

Bridge. Brooklyn.

Bridge. Brooklyn.

Dead end.

Dead end.

Ground Zero No. 1

Ground Zero No. 1

Ground Zero No. 2

Ground Zero No. 2

NYC skyline at dawn.

NYC skyline at dawn.

Allways remember.Tiles for America.Yellow phone.Washington Square Monument. Also, where many people tried to sell me things...Plaid.14 St.Fallout!Citi Field.NYC skyline at dusk.Mounties.Times Square.Harry Potter!Harry Potter?I Heart NY.In my way.Lady Liberty.Heading to Staten Island.Bldgs.Patterns.Colors.Pier 17.Swoosh.Bridge. Brooklyn.Dead end.Ground Zero No. 1Ground Zero No. 2NYC skyline at dawn.