Lee Petersen

Photographer writing Alaska hiking, travel, wildflower guides and other junk. Living in Fairbanks, Alaska. Lots of stuff here: http://lwpetersen.com/links

WEBSITE ARTICLES AND GUIDES: https://www.lwpetersen.com/
PHOTOGRAPHY: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/
SUBSTACK: https://lwpetersen.substack.com/
OLD MASTODON ACCOUNT: https://mastodon.social/@leepetersen

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Last Notes

2026-03-30 05:42:24 GMT

It's been a busy month...
https://lwpetersen.substack.com/p/staying-busy-my-march-summary

2026-03-24 21:12:53 GMT

A small icefall on a mountain glacier flowing into the Loket Tributary of the Black Rapids Glacier, Eastern Alaska Range. The crevassing where the ice flows over the steeper terrain is visible at the center; ice fractures under tension when the bed topography forces it to accelerate.
More on the Black Rapids, one of Alaska's most studied surge glaciers: https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-information/black-rapids-glacier/
#Alaska #glacier #alaskarange #mountains
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/116/286/192/415/867/514/original/f3086be21f2511e1.jpg

2026-01-13 07:28:43 GMT

It was my birthday, so after running a few errands, I stopped by the lake near work to take some photos. It had dropped to about -35°F, but the light and the sundogs were too good to pass up.
#alaska #sunlight #winter
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2026-01-05 17:57:24 GMT

Aurora borealis forming layered bands with a brief corona directly overhead, overpowering the light of the moon.
More of my aurora photography here:
https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Galleries/Alaska-Photos/Aurora-Borealis
#alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights #fairbanks
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/843/772/414/904/117/original/b3714d3fd8c46c4c.jpg

2026-01-04 19:15:45 GMT

Some clips from this summer on the Gulkana Glacier in the Eastern Alaska Range. Such a beautiful area!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/L4q43FoZ6u0
Info about the area in my Alaska Guide: https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide/gulkana-glacier-hike/
#Alaska #hiking #glacier

2026-01-03 22:36:46 GMT

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Kinda feels like Middle Earth from LOTR

2026-01-03 21:29:35 GMT

The Windchimes rock formations on a ridge near Mount Prindle in the White Mountains of Alaska, with low clouds moving through the spires.
Hiking guide: https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide/mt-prindle-via-nome-creek/
#alaska #hiking #mountains
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/833/255/394/616/683/original/47aaa96a37a01413.jpg

2026-01-02 16:01:27 GMT

A midwinter sunset over a boreal forest near Fairbanks, Alaska, with low clouds catching warm light.
#alaska #sunset #winter
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/826/321/171/910/766/original/4a02ea05a998cd64.jpg

2025-12-30 17:43:35 GMT

A bright aurora over the boreal forest north of Fairbanks in mid-February. The display was strong enough to soften the stars and light the snow-covered trees below.
Prints and Wall Art in my Aurora Gallery: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Galleries/Alaska-Photos/Aurora-Borealis
#alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/809/743/895/406/879/original/155b07940c87c145.jpg

2025-12-29 18:17:40 GMT

A meltwater channel on the Black Rapids Glacier, divided by a narrow ice island and a balanced boulder. In the early melt season with limited englacial drainage, much of the water flows on the surface, making foot travel difficult at times.
Prints and Wall Art here:
https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images/i-7P723g7/A
#alaska #glacier #hiking
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/804/218/833/009/991/original/67e4df783e7a49c2.jpg

2025-12-29 04:46:00 GMT

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They're equal at -40

2025-12-29 03:58:36 GMT

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It's dropping...
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/800/847/338/620/137/original/ee95573b96a9bb61.jpg

2025-12-29 02:49:16 GMT

Went for a long walk this afternoon with the temperature around −48°F. I only had my phone with me, since I left my mirrorless camera at work, and the cold can be brutal on shutter and mirror assemblies in DSLRs.
#alaska #fairbanks #winter #cold
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/800/524/698/880/566/original/c010af1c15bf0dc3.jpg
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2025-12-27 18:48:53 GMT

Aurora looping over Angel Rocks in late April.
Taken after 1 a.m., with the last trace of sunlight still lingering along the horizon.
Prints and wall art available here:
https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images/i-PPmLt2n/A
#alaska #aurora #northernlights #landscapephotography
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/793/014/035/647/327/original/801b6b75d219c474.jpg

2025-12-27 17:48:11 GMT

Late August above Gakona Glacier during a solo backpacking trip in the Eastern Alaska Range in 2023.
From the western marginal moraine, the glacier’s movement is visible in looping moraines, while active icefalls continue to feed the upper basin.
Trip report and more photos here:
https://www.lwpetersen.com/trip-reports/gakona-glacier-hike-info-and-august-2023-trip-report/
Prints and wall art:
https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images/i-3Rchh3Q/A
#alaska #glacier #mountains #hiking #backpacking
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/792/755/014/493/972/original/ccabce35bb27a57f.jpg

2025-12-26 16:25:17 GMT

A few photos from the trails at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, taken yesterday after fresh snowfall.
The quiet and stillness are always a little surprising. There’s no movement, no wind, no sound, except the crunch of snow underfoot and the low, hollow guttural calls of ravens passing overhead.
#alaska #winter #snow #fairbanks
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2025-12-25 05:00:48 GMT

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I also have a short article on the formation of light pillars here: https://www.lwpetersen.com/atmospheric-optics/light-pillars/

2025-12-25 05:00:39 GMT

Some of the most intense and vivid light pillars I've seen on the south side of Fairbanks tonight! I took a few more photos: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Recent-Photos
#alaska #lightpillar #atmosphericoptics #fairbanks #nightsky
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/778/390/658/728/945/original/41d300b9b7382c6c.jpg
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2025-12-24 17:57:03 GMT

Thunderbird Falls in Chugiak, Alaska.
A long exposure turns the rushing water into a soft, continuous flow as it spreads out at the base of the falls. Early autumn color is just starting to show along the canyon walls, with moss, rock, and fading leaves catching what little light reaches down here.
Prints and Wall Art in my Gallery: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images
#alaska #waterfall #hiking #landscapephotography
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/775/800/359/232/583/original/1443f55a9fc24135.jpg

2025-12-21 20:15:49 GMT

Happy Winter Solstice from Fairbanks, Alaska.
This was the view from my front porch this morning at 11 a.m., right at sunrise (it's -40° outside).
#fairbanks #alaska #wintersolstice #winterlight
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/759/370/001/814/841/original/1ca80943d82bfc91.jpg

2025-12-20 17:58:49 GMT

A narrow ribbon of green aurora cutting through a clear winter sky over a snow-covered boreal forest in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Prints, wall art, and digital downloads available here:
https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images/i-rzqsdf4/A
#alaska #auroraborealis #winterlight #borealforest #northernlights
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/753/127/576/396/400/original/c037bb457e668c34.jpg

2025-12-19 17:59:23 GMT

Fall has always been my favorite season in Alaska. The light, the color, the brief intensity of it all before winter settles in.
This photo was taken 12 years ago along a trail at UAF, and it still stops me every time I come back to it. Hard to believe how quickly time moves, and how some moments manage to feel just as close as the day they were made.
Prints and wall art are available here:
https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images/i-BN3CtJw/A
#alaska #fall #autumn
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/747/503/250/341/310/original/ff23afee03f62cf4.jpg

2025-12-16 18:18:59 GMT

The light in Fairbanks around the winter solstice.
It’s cold, dark, and some days it’s hard to get moving at all. Some winters are harder than others, and I don’t always know why. What I do know is that getting outside helps.
Even on the shortest days, there’s a brief stretch of low sun, long shadows, and quiet color. It’s subtle, short-lived, and always worth stepping out for.
This image is available as a fine art print or wall piece:
https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images/i-MW5rhXN/A
#alaska #fairbanks #winterlight
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/730/527/777/456/807/original/c13da87d966a6d08.jpg

2025-12-15 18:02:44 GMT

My favorite thing about Fairbanks this time of year is the light. Long sunrises stretch into sunset on the shortest days of the year, turning even brief mornings into something worth stopping for.
Prints and wall art available here:
https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images/i-tBQR4LV/A
#alaska #sunrise #sunset #winter
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/724/853/560/548/626/original/ee0ed9b0a4634b2a.jpg

2025-12-14 18:19:20 GMT

A small run of my 2026 Alaska wall calendars is now available locally.
If you’re in the Fairbanks area, you can pick one up at Ascension Rock Club. A portion of local sales supports our youth climbing team.
If you’re not local, calendars are available here:
https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Calendars/2026-Alaska-Wall-Calendar
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/719/193/861/219/915/original/0051e38ddc7d0f97.jpg
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2025-12-14 17:22:07 GMT

High peaks of the Hayes Range in the Alaska Range, seen from the Loket, a broad tributary of the Black Rapids Glacier, photographed in April. A cold, clear view of scale and distance deep in the Alaska Range.
Prints, wall art, and digital images available here:
https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images/i-fxQ36NF/A
#alaska #landscape #mountains
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/719/011/202/551/552/original/ab607ae6d905e17c.jpg

2025-12-05 18:11:41 GMT

Long winter nights — a band of aurora in January stretches over a moonlit boreal forest in Fairbanks, Alaska. The snow was bright enough to feel like daylight in places.
#alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/668/269/066/807/797/original/b7fe68b3fff962a4.jpg

2025-12-04 18:45:10 GMT

Late winter shadows - We still have 17 days of it getting darker. This was taken in February when the sunlight was quickly returning, and long, deep shadows were appearing on the ground again. I’m always glad when those first signs show up, I'm feeling the darkness now.
#alaska #winter #snow
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/662/748/240/422/886/original/735c82cc205972f8.jpg

2025-11-26 18:34:23 GMT

Green aurora rising above snow-covered spruce trees near Fairbanks, Alaska. The lights stretched overhead in shifting ribbons just a few yards from my cabin on a calm winter night.
In my portfolio: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images/i-3Rq8DKD/A
#alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/617/397/222/989/445/original/546be4e1e75891b6.jpg

2025-11-19 16:54:41 GMT

Jagged seracs where the ice pulls away from the cliffside on the Gabriel Icefall of the Gulkana Glacier.
My hiking guide to the area: https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide/gulkana-glacier-hike/
#alaska #hiking #glacier
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/577/372/980/633/441/original/cd09628a098f44e5.jpg

2025-11-14 19:14:22 GMT

I'm behind in my writing. Shocking, I know. Here's a quick one with some aurora photos I've taken since the start of the season.
https://lwpetersen.substack.com/p/aurora-intermissions
#alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights

2025-11-14 18:25:30 GMT

Golden morning light filters through mist and spruce trees along the UAF trail system in early autumn.
https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images
#fairbanks #alaska #forest
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/549/424/228/624/754/original/12828aac9552f01d.jpg

2025-11-13 16:20:28 GMT

The flower of Cypripedium guttatum, commonly known as the spotted lady's slipper, blooming in Fairbanks in mid-June.
Info in my Alaska Wildflower Guide: https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-wildflowers/cypripedium-guttatum-spotted-ladys-slipper/
#alaska #wildflower #bloomscrolling
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/543/281/870/744/936/original/149d7f79fe2f6057.jpg

2025-11-12 07:23:54 GMT

Gorgeous red auroras tonight over the Goldstream Valley in Fairbanks, Alaska. A rare show, strong enough for the red emission to be clearly visible to the eye.
More in my Recent Photos Gallery: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Recent-Photos
#fairbanks #alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/535/499/727/967/096/original/19eb65bc5fd6f178.jpg
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2025-11-05 17:49:56 GMT

Inside a now collapsed ice cave at the terminus of Canwell Glacier, Alaska. Daylight filters through openings in the ice, revealing the blue glow of the glacier’s interior.
Area info in my hiking guide: https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide/canwell-glacier-and-rainbow-basin/
#alaska #glacier #hiking
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/498/332/313/096/281/original/0674c28c709c18c6.jpg

2025-11-04 17:23:55 GMT

Granite towers beneath a deep blue sky on the shoulder of Mt. Prindle, along a ridge known as the Windchimes in the White Mountain National Recreation Area, Alaska.
Info on the area in my hiking guide: https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide/mt-prindle-via-nome-creek/
#alaska #hiking #tundra
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/492/564/546/049/177/original/6ddc666ad7e1d4ca.jpg

2025-11-02 18:02:56 GMT

Sunset on the winter solstice in Fairbanks, Alaska, taken around 2:30 p.m., when the sun barely clears the horizon.
#alaska #wintersolstice #fairbanks #sunset
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2025-11-01 17:43:33 GMT

Asgard Tor in the Chena River State Recreation Area near Fairbanks, Alaska, lit by the evening sun around 10 p.m. in mid-May.
Trail info in my hiking guide: https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide/granite-tors-trail/
#alaska #hiking #backpacking #fairbanks #springlight
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/475/647/260/270/474/original/cf6ad401876cab4b.jpg

2025-10-30 16:48:52 GMT

Autumn colors across the tundra in Denali National Park, Alaska. The brief season when the hills turn red and gold before winter sets in.
https://photos.lwpetersen.com/
#alaska #denali #autumn #mountains
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/464/130/730/830/659/original/957109d06776996d.jpg

2025-10-28 17:18:22 GMT

Long exposure of Falls Creek near Turnagain Arm, Alaska. Moss-covered rocks and fallen autumn leaves along the creek’s edge.
#alaska #hiking #autumn #creek
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/452/915/541/129/281/original/092814479710c97a.jpg

2025-10-24 15:52:26 GMT

I've been really busy the last few month, prepping and putting on our own competition, and today I travel to Anchorage with our youth team for another tomorrow. My life the last few months has been nothing but climbing and the gym. Not bad, but I hope to get back out and take some photos again soon. Here's a quick video of me on a route I set yesterday.
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/429/936/936/701/640/original/6d843e81b0c6943a.mp4

2025-10-23 18:40:56 GMT

Aurora behind moonlit clouds in the White Mountains National Recreation Area, Alaska.
More aurora photos: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images
#alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/424/917/330/694/187/original/94f5e9fe1c2f865d.jpg

2025-10-20 15:27:13 GMT

A Dall sheep at Polychrome Pass in Denali National Park, photographed in mid-spring.
More wildlife photos: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Galleries/Alaska-Photos/Wildlife
#alaska #wildlife #denalinationalpark #bikepacking
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/407/169/067/658/010/original/ab4743d3271488bd.jpg

2025-10-19 16:28:50 GMT

A snowshoe hare in its white winter coat, photographed in late winter in Fairbanks, Alaska.
#alaska #wildlife
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2025-10-17 18:31:36 GMT

Inside a melting glacier cave at the edge of the Canwell Glacier in the Eastern Alaska Range. Water that’s been locked in ice for centuries now falls in a steady rhythm, joining the roar of subglacial streams. Even in power, there’s fragility.
#glaciercave #alaska #nature #glaciers
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Rq_upO5zsNQ

2025-10-16 18:11:46 GMT

Aurora reflecting over Ballaine Lake in Fairbanks, Alaska, on a calm night in mid-September.
#Alaska #aurora #northernlights
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2025-10-15 18:36:30 GMT

Midwinter Sun — After months of low light, there’s a point in early February when I start to feel the sun return to Fairbanks, Alaska.
More photos: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images
#Alaska #winter #sunlight
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2025-10-14 16:24:46 GMT

Longitudinal crevasses on the Castner Glacier in the Alaska Range. These cracks form where the glacier valley widens, running parallel to the ice flow.
Learn more about glacier features and hiking in the area:
https://www.lwpetersen.com/definitions/glaciers/crevasse-glacier/
https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide/castner-glacier-hiking-guide/
#Alaska #glacier #hiking
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/373/393/460/179/973/original/818e707b65d14a28.jpg

2025-10-12 16:11:30 GMT

Autumn colors ending along US Creek Road in the White Mountain National Recreation Area, late September.
More landscape photos: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images
#Alaska #landscape #fallcolors
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/362/028/954/391/130/original/ca7de95dd865dcbb.jpg

2025-10-10 16:17:54 GMT

A peregrine falcon perched on a granite tower at Angel Rocks in the Chena River State Recreation Area, Alaska.
More wildlife photos: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Galleries/Alaska-Photos/Wildlife
#Alaska #wildlife #birding
https://alaskansocial.files.fedi.monster/media_attachments/files/115/350/739/335/414/421/original/e9a60e6c858e74d6.jpg

2025-10-09 16:28:15 GMT

A musher and dog team on the frozen Tanana River at sunset, at 3 pm in early February. The mist surrounding them is their breath rising in the -40°F air.
#Alaska #sunset #winter
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2025-10-08 17:26:24 GMT

A spiral-shaped aurora over snow-covered spruce trees in Fairbanks, Alaska, in January. This one seemed to stay motionless for several minutes.
More aurora photos in my portfolio:
https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images
#alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights #aurora
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2025-10-07 17:32:10 GMT

Rugged terrain and a hanging glacier near Peak 8100 above College Glacier in the Eastern Alaska Range.
More from this area in my Alaska Hiking Guide:
https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide/college-glacier-hiking-guide/
#alaska #hiking #glacier
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2025-10-06 17:54:33 GMT

Methane bubbles frozen in the ice on Smith Lake in Fairbanks, Alaska, taken in late October. Part of my Water and Ice series exploring the forms and transformations of water in Alaska’s landscapes: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Blogs/Lwpetersen/Water-and-Ice
#alaska #ice #water #nature #abstract
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2025-10-05 19:05:56 GMT

Common fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium) is one of Alaska’s most recognizable summer wildflowers.
I’ve been creating a dedicated page for Alaska Wildflowers, featuring photos, identification details, taxonomy notes, plant uses, and habitat information. It’s a work in progress, but it already includes dozens of species, each with its own page and gallery.
Explore the collection here:
https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-wildflowers/
#Alaska #wildflowers #bloomscrolling #botany #photography
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2025-10-04 16:11:10 GMT

An early June snowfall along the Summit Trail near Wickersham Dome in the White Mountains National Recreation Area.
https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images
#alaska #hiking #snow #landscape
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2025-10-03 18:15:18 GMT

Fiery winter sunset over a spruce forest in Fairbanks, Alaska.
In my gallery: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images
#sunset #alaska #photography
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2025-10-02 16:46:28 GMT

Sea stacks rising from Spire Cove in Resurrection Bay near Seward, Alaska, on a misty day with low clouds moving through the fjords.
Prints available here: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Date/2025/September/2025-09-01/i-QChdzzx/buy
#alaska #landscapephotography #nature
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2025-10-01 07:53:34 GMT

Aurora over Smith Lake (Athabascan: Tr'exwghodegi Troth Yeddha' Bena') in Fairbanks tonight at 10:30 pm. I had to sprint to get there before they faded, running through knee-deep water along the way. Worth it, even at 28°F (-2°C).
A few more in my Recent Photos Gallery: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Recent-Photos
#Alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights
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2025-09-30 18:15:27 GMT

The alpine forget-me-not (Myosotis asiatica), Alaska’s state flower, blooming along the Harding Icefield Trail in Kenai Fjords National Park.
Flower info: https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-wildflowers/alpine-forget-me-not-myosotis-asiatica/
Trail info: https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide/harding-icefield-trail/
#alaska #bloomscrolling #wildflower #hiking
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2025-09-29 16:40:43 GMT

Frost on glass.
Prints and wall art available here:
https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Macro/Macro-Portfolio
#frost #macrophotography #photography
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2025-09-29 16:07:17 GMT

Here’s a second set of photos from my 2026 Alaska Wall Calendar:
– The Asgard Tor in the White Mountains
– A red fox in Fairbanks
– Inside an ice cave at Canwell Glacier
– Aurora above the forest in midwinter
More about the calendar and photos here:
https://www.lwpetersen.com/featured/2026-alaska-wall-calendar/
#alaska #hiking #wildlife #auroraborealis #glacier
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2025-09-29 15:29:25 GMT

- reply

Thank you! Glad you enjoy the photos!

2025-09-28 22:01:49 GMT

My 2026 Alaska Wall Calendar is here!
Glaciers, aurora, wildlife, and landscapes from across Alaska — 14 of my favorite images from the past few years.
You can preview all the photos and order prints on my site:
https://www.lwpetersen.com/featured/2026-alaska-wall-calendar/
Or order the calendar directly here:
https://www.lulu.com/shop/lee-petersen/2026-alaska-wall-calendar/paperback/product-p65mr98.html?page=1&pageSize=4
#Alaska #photography #aurora #glacier #wildlife
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2025-09-27 18:31:41 GMT

Gabriel Icefall on the Gulkana Glacier. Four views of late summer ice — from the icefall itself to moulins and crevasses.
Full blog post with more images:
https://www.lwpetersen.com/photo-blog/late-summer-part-2a-glaciers-and-ice-gulkana-glacier/
#alaska #glacier #mountains #photography #hiking
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2025-09-26 21:51:10 GMT

I’ve started a new late-summer photo series. From quiet forests and mushrooms close to home, to long glacier hikes with my best friend — these posts reflect some of my favorite moments outdoors this season.
👉 https://lwpetersen.substack.com/p/new-photo-series-late-summer-in-alaska
#alaska #hiking #photography #glacier #macrophotography
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2025-09-26 18:44:36 GMT

Long exposure of Falls Creek in Turnagain Arm, Anchorage, Alaska. The stream cuts through moss-covered rocks, framed by autumn leaves.
Prints, Wall Art, and Digital Downloads in my portfolio gallery:
https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images
#alaska #hiking #fall #waterfall #autumn
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2025-09-26 01:11:01 GMT

Brown bear sow and cub among the autumn colors in Denali National Park near Igloo Creek a few weeks ago.
#Alaska #wildlife #denali #hiking
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2025-09-25 18:05:19 GMT

Patterns in the blue ice of a cave at Canwell Glacier, Alaska Range. Featured in my portfolio here: photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Images
#Alaska #glacier #ice
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2025-09-24 16:14:21 GMT

Moonrise over the Alaska Range in early September, seen near the park headquarters in Denali National Park. A calm evening with autumn colors in the valley below.
My guide to the entrance area trails: https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide/denali-national-park-entrance-trails/
#alaska #autumn #fallcolors #denali
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2025-09-23 18:07:48 GMT

Blue sky and rocky slopes in Denali National Park near Igloo Creek and Sable Pass.
#hiking #alaska #denali
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2025-09-22 15:18:37 GMT

At the glacier's edge - a supraglacial stream at the terminus of College Glacier in the Eastern Alaska Range, with the braided College Creek winding down the valley.
Hiking info in my guide: https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide/college-glacier-hiking-guide/
#alaska #glacier #hiking
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2025-09-21 16:20:55 GMT

Hiking up to the Gabriel Icefall on the Gulkana Glacier in the Alaska Range.
Hiking info in my guide: https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide/gulkana-glacier-hike/
#Alaska #hiking #glacier
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2025-09-19 18:02:15 GMT

Looking over a freshly snow-covered moulin on College Glacier in the Eastern Alaska Range.
#alaska #hiking #glacier #mountains
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2025-09-18 17:41:39 GMT

Arctic primrose (Primula pumila) blooming on the aptly named Primrose Ridge near Mt. Margaret in Denali National Park. One of the earliest alpine tundra flowers, it often blooms before the grasses green up. It’s also one of my favorites!
Flower info in my guide: https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-wildflowers/arctic-primrose-primula-pumila/
#alaska #bloomscrolling #wildflowers
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2025-09-17 15:22:01 GMT

A touch of alpenglow on the mountains above the Gulkana Glacier, seen from beneath the suspension bridge at College Creek. Taken on my hike out from College Glacier this past weekend.
#alaska #landscape #hiking
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2025-09-17 08:41:47 GMT

The aurora dancing over Ballaine Lake in Fairbanks, Alaska, about an hour ago!
A few more photos on my website: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Recent-Photos
#alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights
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2025-09-16 21:00:42 GMT

Video I put together from two trips to the Gulkana Glacier this summer. Waterfalls, icefalls, and moulins. One of my favorite places to return to. Before it's gone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=har267Cng4U

2025-09-16 17:23:03 GMT

Orcas traveling through Resurrection Bay in early September. Always an incredible sight to watch these powerful marine mammals in the wild!
#alaska #wildlife #orca #resurrectionbay
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2025-09-16 08:46:20 GMT

Evening light hitting the mountain ridges along Peak 8100 over College Glacier in the Eastern Alaska Range last night.
#Alaska #glacier #hiking #landscape
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2025-09-15 21:17:20 GMT

The mountains surrounding the College Glacier Basin are just absolutely incredible. Last night, I just stood and stared at the shadows and light creeping across the snowy landscape for way longer than I should have, and wound up hiking out in the dark.
#alaska #mountains #glacier
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2025-09-15 18:14:12 GMT

Yesterday I hiked up College Creek to College Glacier in the Alaska Range. This was one of the many little stream crossings along the way, such a gorgeous spot!
#alaska #hiking #waterfall #mountains
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2025-09-15 09:36:13 GMT

Saw my first aurora of the season earlier tonight on my way out of the Alaska Range!
#alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights
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2025-09-14 15:26:10 GMT

Evening light on fall foliage in the Tundra along the Park Road in Denali National Park in early September.
More in my Recent Photos Gallery: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Recent-Photos
#alaska #autumn #denali
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2025-09-13 21:27:04 GMT

The tidewater Aialik Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska, taken on September 1, 2025.
#alaska #kenaifjordsnationalpark #glacier #findyourpark #KenaiPeninsula
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2025-09-13 16:21:42 GMT

Tundra and mountains showing their fall colors near the Teklanika River in early September - Denali National Park, Alaska.
#alaska #hiking #landscape #autumn
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2025-09-12 16:45:49 GMT

- reply

Feelings I know tooo well

2025-09-12 16:21:15 GMT

Crawlspace. One of the glacier caves we explored last week in the Alaska Range. This one had recently partially collapsed, with giant ice blocks wedged across the entrance. I squeezed through a narrow opening to reach this spot, but the floor was too wet to continue any farther. I’m working on a longer write-up of the trip with plenty more photos and stories—coming soon!
#alaska #glacier #hiking
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2025-09-12 08:55:49 GMT

A smallish moulin on the Gulkana Glacier in the Alaska Range.
#alaska #hiking #glacier
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2025-09-11 16:38:14 GMT

Late afternoon light touches the Windchimes rock formations on Mt. Prindle in the White Mountain National Recreation Area, Alaska Interior.
Hiking info in my guide: https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide/mt-prindle-via-nome-creek/
#alaska #hiking #landscape
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2025-09-10 20:08:47 GMT

I've done so much over the last month, that I'm breaking it up thematically rather than by place or adventure. Part one is forests and macro.
https://www.lwpetersen.com/photo-blog/late-summer-part-1-forests-and-close-ups/

2025-09-10 16:05:27 GMT

Here’s another glacier cave video that focuses a bit more on the ice texture and color than the previous. It’s so incredibly gorgeous up close!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbP3paRhaMU
#alaska #glacier #hiking #ice

2025-09-10 14:46:34 GMT

Finally had a chance to sit down and write again. Some new photos, wildflowers, and a late-but-coming 2026 calendar.
https://lwpetersen.substack.com/p/in-the-pipeline
#Alaska #photography #hiking #glacier #wildlife

2025-09-09 19:02:07 GMT

Past season aurora from August. Clouds and rain have stymied my aurora viewing so far this year. But, I'm ready to head out when the weather decides to cooperate. Here's one from late August, almost a decade ago!
#alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights
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2025-09-09 18:24:11 GMT

I've been trying to take a little bit more video at the places I go. Still images don't always do them justice. Here's one of the many I took in the glacier cave last week.
#Alaska #hiking #glacier
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/i-bz9ab6jOY

2025-09-09 07:27:26 GMT

Another big bull moose in Denali National Park on Saturday. This one was letting out calls as it moved through the fall foliage.
#alaska #wildlife #moose #denali
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2025-09-08 14:58:01 GMT

The braided Teklanika River winds through the Alaska Range, its channels glinting in the sun beside small kettle ponds. The autumn foliage across the valley was a nice touch. Taken Saturday, September 6, 2025.
Check out more of my recent photos here: https://photos.lwpetersen.com/Recent-Photos
#Alaska #landscape #denali #hiking
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2025-09-08 00:53:22 GMT

In the past two weeks, I’ve seen some of the most incredible places with one of the most important people in my life. Now that CJ’s visit is over, it’s hitting me how much those days meant; 22 years of friendship carried into moments like these.
It’s going to take me a little time to decompress, sort through the photos and video, and start writing about what we experienced. For now, here’s one from Denali yesterday, when the clouds finally broke and the sun warmed us against the cold wind.
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2025-09-07 18:02:55 GMT

We just got back from another couple of days in Denali National Park. Moose were everywhere. We saw so many bulls that I actually lost count! Now I’ve got a few hundred more photos to sort through this week.
#alaska #wildlife #denali #moose
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2025-09-05 21:16:17 GMT

Termination dust is creeping lower into the Hayes Range, with fall colors nearly at their peak across the tundra. I took this yesterday during our drive down to the Delta Mountains.
#Alaska #fallfoliage #landscape
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