Hike Up the Hill (Non-Political!)
This is our first cold, windy, rainy weekend of spring. It reminds me of the entirety of last summer. And the summer before that. But I was able to go out and enjoy one of the warm sunny days earlier in the week.
Things are really greening up, but the grasses and leaves are still not mature yet, so it’s easy to see all the little things that will become hidden under the green as summer progresses. Fungi and lichens seem to congregate on particular trees for some reason or another, and are easy to spot and photograph now.
The cow parsnip growing on the sides of this trail will stand more than five feet tall by the end of summer, and the leaves will be the size of small platters. The canopy, too, will be full and bushy, and it will look like a big green tunnel without much visibility beyond it’s leafy border. It’s one of my favorite spots on this trail because it evolves in such a beautiful way between spring and autumn.
Not far down the trail I came upon the remains of a feast. I’m guessing that the lynx whose been hanging around made quick work of a rabbit, leaving nothing but some tufts of white hair on the side of the trail to mark its picnic spot.
My destination was the top of the ridge of mountains bordering Chugach State Park. It’s always fun to hike up at higher elevations early in the season and see all the alpine flowers in bloom. They grow in the most unlikely inhospitable places you can imagine. They put down roots in ground that is much closer to a combination of cement and gravel, than it is to soil.
In the mid-elevations there are occasional stands of quaking aspen which are just gorgeous, and the leaves do seem to quake and tremble at the slightest breeze.
The view from the top is amazing. One one side is the valley ringed with peaks and the last vestiges of snow, and Cook Inlet and the Anchorage Bowl spread out on the other side. The last deep patches of snow which remain in avalanche chutes are still obviously covered in volcanic ash from Mt. Redoubt’s eruption last month.
There are lots of flowers blooming up in that hard, gravelly substrate that they love so well. The one that seems most prolific here is the white mountain aven. I love taking pictures of them, and they seem unlike most of the other alpine blooms in size. Most alpine flowers are small and tentative…like they know it’s a risk to be a blooming thing up here where the wind gusts can top 120 mph, and snow stays late and comes early. You get the impression that being tiny and compact is a distinct advantage in these parts, and most flowers require close and careful inspection to reveal their beauty. But not the mountain aven. They’re big by comparison (almost 2 inches across) with large but dainty petals, sticking up as happy as can be, defying the elements. If a flower can have a devil-may-care attitude, this one does.
~~White mountain aven clinging to the gravelly hillside~~
There were zillions of little insects crawling around. There were teeny interesting spiders, big creepy rectangular spiders, strange bi-colored ants, and all sorts of things. I thought it would be fun to take a picture of what the mountain aven looked like from their point of view.
While I was on the ground with all my scuttling little friends, I noticed lots of flowers which were very inconspicuous, but beautiful nonetheless. I don’t even know what this one is, and I don’t remember seeing it before, but it was about the size of a pencil eraser.
And I’m pretty sure these little pink bells of the same size will become cranberries at some point.
And these yellow ones are so burn-your-eyeballs yellow that it’s hard to get a decent picture of them, especially in the sun. But it must do something for that little guy in the lower left flower.
One more look at the view, and it was time to head back down.
Now that June is upon us, the real show will begin. Soon there will be roses, and geraniums and fireweed and iris and all sorts of colorful additions to the scenery.
Gramiam – thanks for the link to that gorgeous site.
AKM, your photos are always a joy to behold. Have you considered doing a coffee-table photo book? Your gift for seeing the beauty in the miniscule (the neat lichen and fungi) as well as the huge vistas is amazing!
LOL. You call that a hill? Down here a fifty foot change in elevation is considered a dangerous mountain climb.
Great shots. I think alpines are so beautiful because they have so little time.
great pictures, i love your backyard 🙂
redwoodmuse Says:
What do Alaskans with SAD do?
LIGHTBOXES! High powered full spectrum lightboxes (reminder to self–must get new bulbs for ours before Sept….). And we put full spectrum CF bulbs in fixtures and use Ott Lites and try to get out during daylight in the winter. OK, I don’t have it, but the spouse does (and dad and sister and aunt). And we pump them full of Vit. D.
I am fighting it off in advance, having gotten a riproaring sunburn again today working in the yard! 😳 I shall wear it as a badge of honor (and no one tell Martha UYS–she’ll disown me as a Juneauite!).
AKM–those tiny pink bell shaped flowers are prob. a lingonberry/low bush cranberry, unless they’re a bog or alpine blueberry.
kraftytess–we have a couple of watermelon berry plants in our yard! Last summer something ate the 12 or so berries that we had before I could get to them (same with the 13 blueberries on that bush… 🙁 )They also grow all over in the woods here.
I loved your photos. If make my get out my wildflower book and look them up. The name of the little white flowers with the dots is spotted saxifrage, the bell shaped ones are Kinnikinnick flowers (I think) aka bearberry, and the yellow ones are some type of cinquefoil, Norwegian, perhaps.
There was a lot of interesting stuff on the the web about the Kinnikinnick. Besides bears, sheep and moose, also, like the berries.
No matter what they are called, I had a great time virtually hiking along with you. Also, spent an enjoyable hour or so trying to figure out what each one was. Use to do a lot of hiking with bird and flower guides along for company. Always thought the wildflowers were the hardest to identify. Of course some birds especially those LBJ’s (little brown jobs) can pose problems, too.
AKM, have you taken photography classes? So many of your photos look very professional.
What do you see around and about in the early morning hours?
A butterfly sitting on a flower….both covered in dew!
http://j.photos.cx/dewish-butterfly-a9f.jpg
(saw this on another forum and absolutely loved it! It has become one of my favorites)
Very pleasant hike. Wonderful flora photos through discerning eyes. Thank you.
I love that tiny “freckle flower”—when I was a kid, there were bitty little peach colored weed, but I loved it anyway.
Those yellow flowers are potentillia. part of the cinquefoil family. They grow on Kodiak too. Alaska has two kinds of cranberries, low bush & high bush, there are also wonderful blueberries, salmonberries and something we always called watermelon berries because that’s what they tasted like. I have no idea what their real name is – they grew near water and were red with an elongated oval shape. Anyone else run across those??
Hope just posted on the Hope Truck thread. She is home and safe and it sounds like it went well. Go over there and hug her!
Here is a link for more info about the alleged Darryl Hannah incident http://home.comcast.net/~leslienoelani/TNI.html . The first part is very subjective, but the rest is quite interesting, especially the police report and the letter from a policeman. I will let you make up your own minds, but I personally think he showed real class in how he handled the allegations.
Prozac during the short days works wonders. Turned my life around. Apparently, not enough seratonin is a family trait. Everyone on my mother’s side of the family is on it now after they found out I had SAD. They had all been diagnosed with chronic depression. Not!!
I think Jackson still lives in Southern California. The beating his women remark is probably not quite fair. His first wife committed suicide, and he was quite broken up about that for a long time. I know there are the allegations about Darryl Hannah, but I’m not sure that was ever proven. I could be wrong. I think that is the only instance of abuse. He is a very generous person, apparently, giving a nice sum of money to a private school that his nephew went to in the Ojai valley.
I know he still performs. I have always thought he was quite nice and unassuming. When he comes to the reunions, he always comes a bit late and slips in to stand at the back. He never tries to be the center of attention there. In fact, when they ask him to speak, he appears a bit uncomfortable talking in front of everyone.
If you are wondering, he went to Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton, CA, and graduated in 1966.
Im always amazed by the talk of how “terrible the summer that never was”(that would be ’08).
I was working outside all day at least 5 days a week from perhaps Feb till Sept,the weather was very decent.Of course if you were an office worker or stuck inside for whatever reasons,you probably didnt see alot of sun,like perhaps you expected.
BUT if you were standing in a ditch doing utility work,laying sewer pipe for septic fields or clearing land,the summer was just fine,MOST of the time.Cloudy..? sure,morning or evening showers..?sure,but for the working man thats just fine.Those are plusses
Now you want to talk miserable,the Monsoons of ’06 were bad,but even they started in july if I remember correctly. So if you really want an unbiased opinion on weather …..ask the workin’ man/women.
As a former offshore commercial fisherman for 23 yrs you just aint experienced any real bad weather yet
ak4195
Used to listen to Jackson Browne but then he started beating on his women.
For those grey days, I prefer Tears for Fears. Of course, there is some relevance to here because we all know that Palin Wants to Rule the World.
… never knew Alaska grew cranberries.
Shout
Shout
Let it all out
There are the things we are talking about
Palin.
We’re talking ’bout her
Palin.
Wow…Excellent pictures..Almost can touch them & smell them..Been working in my yard all weekend it’ starting to pay off..Gardenin is my true passion…Just something about playing in the dirt that i just love…Gramiam~ Beautiful video thanks soo much….:))
Lovely view from the hill- well worth the climb (especially since you did it for us!)
During my one Alaska summer, I was most fascinated by the skunk cabbage- (I think it was). I first saw it about 10 inches high and within a month it was up to my nose. Can you take a baby pic and then show us the adult result of 20 hours of daylight?
The alpine fireweed was also delightful beause I’m so used to tall ones. Our field party leader was a geologist from France who loved wildflowers. He would photograph them, especially the tiny alpine ones, and then press a tiny plant, root and all, in a fat pocket book novel, clamped by some big rubber bands. Then at home, he mounted groups of pressed flowers in matted picture frames with the Latin names carefully written beneath.
The forget me not photo is gorgeous, and the cranberries, and the buttercups, and…
@redwoodmuse:
My cure for SAD is retirement plus 300+ days of Colorado sunshine. My sister in Seattle would move here yesterday 🙂
Immoral Minority has a great article about an Alaskan who’s creating energy, no thanks to Governor Twit.
http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/
AKM loved the pics, the fungi and lichens, tiny cow parsnips soon to be big, quaking aspens….!
flowers the size of pencil erasers !
I can’t wait to experience your later hikes, truly makes us a part of the “nice” part of Alaska.
I guess I’m not so much a lichen and fungi fan unless I can eat it…
…but your flower and top of the mountain pictures were outstanding, AKM. That little speckled flower is just beautiful, it’s like a little fairy flower.
@wakeupamerica – the older I get the more I marvel at how small our world really is. That’s cool that you went to school with Jackson Browne… the suicide comment actually came about years ago when I called a friend of mine who was a JB fan. She said she was feeling sad and listening to music. “Jackson Browne?” I asked. She replied, “I said I was feeling sad, not suicidal.” We laughed and since then poor JB has been linked in my mind with darkness. And I still listen to him regularly.
@Sandra in Oregon – What part of Oregon? When I moved here I had a brother in the northeastern high desert and two brothers here on the southern coast. Snow v. no snow. It was a no brainer. Can’t wait to try your remedy for SAD. Sleeping as long as I want, not to mention retirement, sounds great. Unfortunately I have insomnia too (that midlife thing) and I still have too much work to do. I don’t mind the fog in the mornings ( I most recently came from Santa Cruz County, CA) and here on the South Oregon Coast we get summer fog til 9-10am. But, I don’t think I could do Portland and Seattle is out of the question. Vitamin D, some time outside even in the grey, and good natural lights help. But, I’m just not a winter person. I don’t like being cold and I just want to hibernate. I guess I could stay indoors all winter, but by 9 months I’d be a little crazy.
What do Alaskans with SAD do?
redwoodmuse
Oh, how wonderful! I live just a few miles from the Appalachian Trail – just think what you could do with that wonderful camera of yours down here! Take that back – right now everything is beat down because of all the rain we’ve been having! Have you seen any fiddlehead ferns? I love watching those unfurl! Thanks, AKM!
Thanks AKM for the information. My digital camera cannot do what yours does (I have tried and it was total FAIL). I would post one of my attempts, but it is so bad I won’t bother. Thanks again.
tinydancer- I do live in the Seattle area so you are right. I will definitely check to see if he will be in our area.
seattlefan: yes, Jackson Browne is still touring. He is going to be performing at the Susquehanna Bank Center in lovely Camden, NJ, later this summer. If you actually live in Seattle that doesn’t do you any good I know. But you can check in your area to see if he’s coming.
AKM, magnificent pics. I am so jealous. Living in South Jersey (Delaware Valley) I would have to drive for hours and leave the state to get to wide open spaces. How fortunate you are. You are truly in God’s country (and I mean that in a good way).
Awesome photos and writings! .. I did a partial hike up Flat Top Mountain today, where there were many people hiking and enjoying nature and the view.
seattlefan: yes, Jackson Browne is still touring. He is going to be performing at the Susquehanna Bank Center in lovely Camden, NJ, later this summyouer. If you actually live in Seattle that doesn’t do you any good I know. But you can check in your area to see if he’s coming.
AKM, magnificent pics. I am so jealous. Living in South Jersey (Delaware Valley) I would have to drive for hours and leave the state to get to wide open spaces. How fortunate you are. You are truly in God’s country (and I mean that in a good way).
Amazing shots, AKM– thanks for taking us armchair hikers on your trip. We got more snow in the Rockies this weekend- Arapahoe Basin, Loveland and Hoosier Passes. Welcome to spring!
Thanks so much for letting me hike with you. What a wonderful wandering.
Love #7 and #9! Sooo beautiful. I dragged them into my iPhoto and now have 7 as my desktop. (btw, I thought they were all pretty….great photography AKM). I need to look into the macro lens thing. Hope I can google it.
WakeUpAmerica-Wow, you know Jackson Browne? I love his music. Where is he now? I loved Dr. My Eyes song. Does he still perform?
I think I remember someone asking me about it… I’ve posted before, but for those who missed it, I have a Canon Digital Rebel XT, and I used a Canon 100mm macro lens for the super close-ups. So glad everyone enjoys the pics! 🙂 I definitely enjoy taking them! AKM
Redwood muse
I was reluctant to move back to Oregon because of SAD. In California I used lights because the fog in the valley was so devilitating. Discovered the secret…retirement. I now sleep as long as I want. After 5 years my SAD seems to be gone. Another reason to heed mother nature.
Redwoodmuse, I feel the same way right down to the SAD. I love the wilderness, and the SAD is the only thing that kept me from living in Alaska. BTW, I went to high school with Jackson Browne. Really. The funny thing is that he was so shy and quiet that none of us even knew that he liked music. We didn’t find out until our five year reunion that he was THAT Jackson Browne. We all knew him as Clyde. He usually comes to the reunions, but, darn it, he doesn’t provide the music.
It’s definitely hard to put into words the beauty that you captured. I love the little flower with the polka dots! And then you blew me away with the last view! Very well done Thank you for sharing.
From a Texas fan
All over signs of summer. Love your photos..so beautiful..May in Juneau means lots of low tides so I have been posting low tide pics..but I love the panoramic views you have…ahhhhh it’s so beautiful
anji
AKM, you and your Macro lens rock!!! Glad you marvel at the simple beauty of Mother Nature and you share your photos with us. Thanks!
whoops..that would be ‘juicy’ not juicey. I’ve been typing transcripts all day. My fingers are tired.
redwoodmuse
…Soon there will be roses, and geraniums and fireweed and iris and all sorts of colorful additions to the scenery…..
Sigh. Sounds beautiful.
Years ago a psychic told me that some day I would live in Alaska. I always said ‘no way’ since I don’t do well in cold weather….I curl up in a little ball and basically wait for spring thaw. In addition, I’m pretty affected by SAD (too much grey weather and I start listening to Jackson Browne songs and thinking of suicide – well, not really, but it is pretty grim)
However, all these pictures by AKM showing the beauty of Alaska in its largeness and smallness are so tempting. Gee, all that and juicey political fodder for a writer and great progressive people too. I’m tempted, oh so tempted.
Maybe I could figure out a wimpy way to come for the Spring/Summer and head south for the other 9 months. Meanwhile, I’m sure enjoying these pictures AKM. Please keep putting them up.
thanks,
redwoodmuse
Stunning. And peaceful. Thanks!
Gramiam
Wow – that final arrangement is gorgeous! Good find.
My life is much richer from seeing spring in your neck of the woods. Thank you.
I was checking e-mail and got this from a friend in Massachusetts. I couldn’t wait to share it with all the mudpuppies. It has the State Flowers from all 50 States. What the artist does with them in this “show” is not to be missed. It sort or reminds me of us. We are all individuals, but put us together in this blog and we become something very unique and special together. Enjoy!
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=1221321706636&source=jl999
Great shots, AKM. This must be the weekend for pictures. I’ve been hiking in the desert (out the front door and keep walking) and shooting pics of the same things I shoot pics of every year – and enjoying it as I do every year! Saguaros are blooming right now, and that means their fruit will soon be ready. 🙂
RE the fungi and lichen that grow on trees:
My good friend James “Nick” Freemyers, who is now 90 years young, was working as the head forester for Fruit Growers Supply Co. and its operations at Hilt, CA [Siskiyou County] in the 1960’s and 1970’s when he led pioneering research that showed the positive symbitiotic relationship between various fungi and tree growth and health. By growing the relevant fungi, then mixing them into the soil when new trees were planted, he was able to double the rate at which trees grew to marketable size, no mean feat in this area of clay soils, hot southern slopes, and dry conditions. Nick had grown up in the woods, and had always wondered about the fungi and lichen that grow on trees, and what that was all about.
— stan
Do you realize that Alaska may be the only remaining state in the Union where school children know what it means when they sing about “purple” mountain majesty?
When European artists came to the Colonies, the Great Plains, the Rockies they were in awe of the vistas. Translate: they could see because there was no smog.
May God forgive Homo sapiens for how we have f**ked up his beautiful gift.
Lovely respite.
I took pictures this weekend, too. I love Spring.
The photos are wonderful; the scenery is breath-taking! I especially love the detail pictures, closeups which show us all of the beauty and detail of nature. I also figured out why your earlier pictures of lichens (is the plural also lichen?) resonate with the Mudpups. They are the canaries in the coal mine, meaning that they do not grow in places that have pollution. Unless some of your readers are lucky enough to live near a state or national park or a protected woodland area, there are fewer places on Earth where they flourish. So, despite the bad news, someone who would deny life in the name of life, it is good to take a moment and enjoy what is beautiful about life and your beautiful photographs take us there. Many thanks.
Gosh. Ain’t Nature grand when we stand back and leave Her alone? She’s not always “kind” in the way we humans think of as kind, but She does practice harmony. I wonder how many more millennia it will take for us to learn that lesson.
Namaste.
Simply gorgeous.
Breath-taking. The harsher the winter the greater the rewards of Spring, I’m thinking.