Anan Creek
Southeast Alaska

Located 30 miles south of Wrangell in Southeast Alaska, Anan Creek hosts the largest population of pink salmon runs in all of Southeast Alaska which tracks hundreds of brown and black bears on an annual basis. Run by the Forest Service on a permit only basis Anan Creek is a mecca for bear photography.

Mother Nature certainly has handled us a wallop this year when it comes to summer weather with overcast skies and only one day of reaching 70 degrees.  And even that was a stretch. 

Some would simply say this is a return to the old days and we have been spoiled the past few years when it comes to weather patterns.  Either way I have learned to adapt to what she has handed us.  Photographing in less than superior light and temperamental weather.

And while I was certainly planning on taking those learning’s with me this week when I leave tomorrow for Southeast Alaska - in particular Juneau and Wrangell, I was hoping to avoid what has suddenly come across the horizon.

That would be a very heavy storm coming across the Aleutians with heavy rains projected.  Anchorage itself is projected to see over an inch of rain.  Juneau?  1.5″ of rain.  However that is somewhat the norm for the area.  Wrangell?  Well that is the worst of all with a whopping 1.6″ of rain forecasted. 

I can’t say I’m used to seeing “torrential downpours” in a weather forecast.  And of course that particular forecast is projected for the exact day I will be in Anan Creek for bear photography.

Anan Creek is in a temperate rain forest, so I was expecting rain.  Just not “torrential downpours.” 

Hmph.  Looks like I had better pack my heaviest rain gear!

Female Wolf
Denali National Park, Alaska

We encountered this female wolf in the early morning hours while on our way to catch our shuttle bus for the day. Loping down the road near Savage Campground it was obvious this female was nursing pups and had enjoyed a recent kill (she had blood on her jowls). She simply glanced over at us before continuing on her way.

Just amazing.

With the Independence holiday approaching here in the US like most I find myself looking forward to the long weekend and at this moment find myself writing out my list of groceries I need to buy tonight for before packing and heading off bright and early tomorrow morning with my friend C to head up to Denali National Park once again for a long weekend of camping and hiking / shuttling in the park. If the weather turns out as predicted we are in for a definite treat.

In between these random thoughts comes also finalizing my trip to Southeast Alaska in the next few weeks where I will head down to Juneau, Wrangell and Anan Creek. The Juneau leg (little over 24 hours there) was a bit unexpected but when reserving my airline ticket I found it was actually cheaper to overnight in Juneau than it was to fly direct to Wrangell. So instead I shall enjoy that little bit of schedule change as well.

Summer is definitely here and times are busy. And in between working full time, trips, planning and moving - I have a much overdue journal entry coming up about my trip around Alaska just a few weeks ago.

It’s just about finding time in this whirlwind called summer.