The Naughty Environmentalist: #geology

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

#NaturePorn Tuesday: Alaska Edition (Pt.1)!

Denali Viewpoint South, Alaska.

Detail view, Denali South Overlook. Inversion layers FTW!

Word to the wise: stating aloud for the Universe to hear, "I'm going to sit down and quickly pull a few pics of my awesome Alaska camping trip for the blog" is pretty much begging to be properly, full-on stumped, Matlock-style, for several hours. It's impossible to pick just a few! There is so much natural beauty in Alaska that it's almost hard to take a bad picture -- everywhere you point the camera, there is something awesome to capture. So today's installment of #NaturePorn Tuesday is going to be ... well, Alaska-sized!

Alaska, eh? All photos in this post are by the author (with an occasional
one from my better half possibly mixed in).

I could blather on about how in Alaska it feels like the sky is taller, the vistas wider, the greens greener, and the wild, wilder. But I'm pretty sure most all of that's been said many times over. So, instead: some gorgeous pics.

Add caption

(I could also blather about what a pain Blogger is when trying to get text to flow inline with images, but suffice it to say I'll be changing platforms soon. In the meantime, apologies for the choppy text.)

Don't assume that any one type of sight or activity will be your focus, unless you are limited to one breakneck day of sightseeing. Even then, you'll quickly realize you aren't sure whether to photograph the water, or the mountains, or the wildlife ... and since you're probably mortal, you'll wind up trying to catch it all. Just make sure to be present, and not lose yourself behind the lens. It's easy to do, with canvases like these surrounding you!

The road north from Anchorage to Denali. Sometimes it's hard to
tell where the mountains end and the clouds begin in Alaska.

Yours truly, capturing the photo above.

There are many wonderful things to see in Alaska by boat and by rail, but if you want to get out,
camp, and find some quiet, you'll need to rent a (preferably 4WD) vehicle. Many Alaskan roads
and highways are gravel, and become dangerously mud-slick in the regular summer rains.

Alaska's gravel roads can lead you
right to breathtaking campsites.

There's an eagle-sized mosquito
biting me in this picture. But
I'm smiling, because it's an
*Alaskan* mosquito!

View from tent door: yup, Mr. Porcupine's sayin' hi.

Mr. Porcupine was probably our first wildlife sighting, but he was soon in very good company.

MOST. BALD. EAGLES. EVARRRRRRRR!

Moose. Everywhere. And 0-60mph in like 3 seconds. Whoah.

Of course, the Alaska Railroad is a very relaxing way to take in some stunning vistas not accessible to automobiles.

Stay tuned! More Alaska #NaturePorn on the way. In the mean time, watch for more Alaska photos on The Naughty Environmentalist's Instagram, and your several-times-daily dose of environment and outdoor news at TNE's Twitter feed!

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

New: #NaturePorn Tuesdays!

*clears throat, does best stuffy Grand Maester Pycelle voice*
"Aherrm, attend, ahhhhermm, attend!"
"We have Decided and thusly Decreed that each Tuesday henceforth Shall be Knowne throughout the Seven Kingdoms as '#NaturePorn Tuesdays.' And there will Be much Rejoicing -- on theInstagramme, the Twitter, and everywhere betwixt and between the Wall and Dorne!"