Welcome to the digital home for all things from Dalton Johnson.
All tagged Alaska
We turned the corner and pointed our headlights for Cooper’s Landing. We didn’t totally have a destination, but knew we wanted to explore the Kenai Peninsula. We got lucky. As we passed Cooper’s Landing, Kristin suggested we take a left down a dirt road to quickly check out this massive lake we just saw. Bumping down the road, we found beaches, free camping, great hiking, and a magical place called Kenai Lake.
If you are an avid rock climber and are itching to climb on rock outside, Sunshine Ridge is your answer. Located close to Anchorage, Alaska along the Seward Highway is a wonderful rock climb to gain confidence and learn how to place trad gear. This route is rated 5.7, however most would claim it is something more like 5.5. Without getting into the weeds about grades, the route is fun and has quality rock, which is a surprise for the area.
Forty miles southeast of Anchorage, on the Seward Highway, lies the small town of Girdwood, Alaska. Full of character and outdoor enthusiasts, this seemingly sleepy town has some of the best access to adventures big and small. With the Chugach Mountains as a backyard and the Turnagain Arm as the front yard, the options for adventure are endless, so you just have to decide what you want to do. Which can be hard. So, I tried to make it easy for you and created this of the best adventurous things to do near Girdwood, Alaska.
For years, I have been itching to surf the bore tide in Alaska, but I never thought the opportunity would arise, but today was the day! By some miracle I was in Alaska and had the opportunity to surf the bore tide with a college buddy, so we inflated his paddle boards and headed out in the Turnagain Arm for some bore tide surfing. The joke was kinda on me as I epically failed, but you have to watch this video to find out how I failed!
Hiking Byron Glacier during the summer is a treat. From the trailhead, the cool breeze from the glacier and the rushing river sounds draw you into a mystical mindset as you approach the ice cave. After hiking for a 1.5 miles, you reach the entrance to the cave. Looking dark and daunting, as you enter, your eyes quickly adjust and reveal the magic that is the Byron Glacier Ice Cave hike.
Rainbow Lakes are a hidden gem between Kenai Lake and Cooper Lake. This chain of lakes is not very large, but Rainbow Lakes offers wonderful views—especially at sunset— and short hikes accessible to all. The trails are maintained and many of the lakes have a bench you can sit at to enjoy the view. Additionally, there is camping and fishing at all of these lakes, so bring a tent and stay for the weekend.
Covering more than 665,000 square miles, Alaska is massive. Earning the number one spot for being the largest state in the United States, Alaska’s landscape is still untouched and remote, accounting for two-thirds of the country’s national parklands, roughly 80% of wildlife refuges and houses the two largest national forests. For most, these numbers are incomprehensible, so, to put it simply, Alaska offers more outdoor adventures than any other state. Making Alaska one of the most diverse places to hike in the United States. But, which hikes should you start with?
Our morning was the start to a perfect Alaskan day. The sun was out and a cool breeze from the Arctic Ocean kept the fog away as we commuted across Kachemak Bay. Stepping off The Far Side, a two story boat, onto Stillpoint Lodge’s dock in Halibut Cove, Alaska where we were greeted by the staff – they already knew our names – and escorted us to the main lodge. We enjoyed any drink of our choice and a charcuterie board as we learned about the float plane flights, glacial kayaking, and wildlife tours in store for us this week. A quick tour of the grounds, ending at our private cabin overlooking the cove. My girlfriend, Kristin, and I were out of place. A single night at the lodge cost more than I make in a month, yet we were here for a week and it wouldn’t cost us a dime. So, how is that possible?
Going to Alaska during the summer is the best time to visit because the weather is great, the wild life is active, and the days are long. One of the first things you will notice when you arrive for summer in Alaska is the length of the days, which are 20-22 hours long. These long summer days give the time needed to explore the largest state. So, what should you do during a summer trip to Alaska?
There is nothing more annoying than a company low balling you to create content. At least that is what I originally thought! Companies are just trying to get as much as they can within their budget, there is nothing wrong with that. Heck, I always try to get as much money as possible for a job, so am I any different? Not really. So, what should we do to try to fix this budget confusion around creating content?
As we began planning our road trip to Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, one of my bucket list ideas was to rent a couple of kayaks, paddles, and PFDs so we could see a glacier at its source. While searching the internet for ideas, I stumbled upon a couple photos of people kayaking to a glacier, I was sold. Portage Glacier was added to the ideas list.
Getting to Alaska was not easy, nor was it an over night journey. Flashback six years, I had just graduated college and was starting a career in photography. Often, I drooled over images of braided glacial rivers documented from small bush planes. I would day dream about the non-pressurized cabins and the images I could potentially take. However, I was not in a place where I could fund a personal project to Alaska. I was broke, living in a car, struggling to pay my student loans. So, how did I go from broke to being paid to travel through Alaska? Mostly luck with a little bit of fortune.
A gorgeous photo-essay combined with a guiding haikus tell the journey to a remote Alaskan Cabin. Seeking mental clarity and space to think, the characters in this photo essay reset their lives living off the grid. Chopping fire wood for heat, drinking creek water, and without electricity, this cabin in the Alaskan woods is a perfect place for a digital detox from our modern world.
At the end of the day, my job as a commercial photographer is to sell a product. While photographing a campaign, a thought constantly repeats in the back of my mind and kinda goes like, “You are shooting a (insert product), that is the focus.” This mantra helps balance the struggle between creativity and capturing an image that will sell the product. Overall, the limitation in creating commercial photography is not an art director or creative freedom, the constraint is usually time and money.
“Good morning,” we hear from the outside of the tent. “The sky is a bit cloudy, but we are going to make the move for the cache today,” Hannah explains at 3am. We had packed our bags and went to bed with the mindset that we would cache, but there was a weather report predicting weather, so we were unsure if moving was going to be possible.
The five years leading up to this road trip my life had been fueled by immediate gratification, what needs to be done right now, and a constant struggle to make a living. Most of this comes with the territory of starting a career out of nothing, especially a career in photography! However, this was the first trip I was “set” and capable of focusing on my craft everyday, without having to meet the demands of others. While I was still held accountable by clients and deadlines, this project was my baby. I conjured up the idea, raised the funds, and executed on the ideas.
Driving to Alaska, my Dad graciously joined the adventurous road trip north from California. Together, we did our best to go on adventures along the way, to break up the driving. Also, I needed to continue my training for Mount Denali. During our drive, we hiked, dipped in rivers, checked out glacier, and gawked at wildlife. Our schedule was tight, so we didn’t get to do all that much, but the time together is what counts.
Midnight struck, the sun had technically set behind the ridge, but sunscreen and sunglasses were still needed. Crawling out of my sleeping bag, I reached for layers. It was cold. Base layers, socks, boot liner, jacket number one, jacket number two, and gloves… I was now ready to shed the sleeping bag, put my boots on, and start packing my pack. Just as I got started, “Hot water and breakfast is ready,” shouted Hannah. I guess packing will have to wait.
