Alaska Penninsula Trip

[AK hiker]

I made two trips this spring down the Alaska Penninsula and will share some photos from these trips. The first are from the Pacific side taken last week of petrified wood from volcanic ash coverage, fossilization and subsequent exposure. Currently the biggest “trees” there are stunted alders with a tall one reaching 8’ in height.

 

 

Brown bears use the beaches for travel and while searching for food. Their trails are unique in that they will step in the same spot and leave foot sized depressions as well as compact paths. 

 

A partial view of Aniakchak Crater with one of many small cinder cones and Surprise Lake on the way to get fuel on the Bristol Bay

 

side.

 

 

 

On the way home stopped to look at a site to view the fossils there.

This area is a National Wildlife Refuge so no collecting of fossils is permitted. 

 

We were not the only ones walking along the beach. Wolf and brown bear tracks.

Red fox neighbor to our first camp.

Japanese glass floats are still being washed up on shore or re-exposed after winter storms and present until collected by passing aircraft pilots. 

 

Sea lion remains that were likely hauled up from the beach by a brown bear. 
 

Sleepy brown bear in the afternoon sun.

 

Also no brown bears were collected on the trip but a good excuse to get out in the field for an another adventure. 

 

Edited May 29, 2022 by AK hiker
Correct word and remove duplicate picture

[Ludwigia]

Thanks for sharing your trips. What a magnificent landscape! Why do you carry that bow? Protection or hunting or both?

[Tidgy's Dad]

Fascinating as always. 

 

[Mainefossils]

Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for showing us this. I really didn't realize brown bears made trails like that. 

[minnbuckeye]

Amazing adventure! I noticed 5 different sizes of Japanese glass floats all in one small area. Is that typical when finding these?

[RJB]

  You put out the best trip reports.  Saw you name on the front page and new I had to open it up.  Loved the glass floats.  Used to find lots of those back along the Washington coast when I was a 4th grader.  Still have one too. 

 

RB

[AK hiker]

7 hours ago, Ludwigia said:

Thanks for sharing your trips. What a magnificent landscape! Why do you carry that bow? Protection or hunting or both?

I was hunting brown bears with the bow and had a friend along with a big rifle for protection. I am usually packing .44 Mag revolver in a shoulder holster

on these trips for protection as well. 

 

6 hours ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Fascinating as always. 

 

Thanks. The Alaska Penninsula is an amazing place to visit. With the wind in the right direction you can occasionally smell the active volcanos. 

 

6 hours ago, Mainefossils said:

Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for showing us this. I really didn't realize brown bears made trails like that. 

The bear trails make travel easier although a little nerve racking though the heavy brush.

4 hours ago, minnbuckeye said:

Amazing adventure! I noticed 5 different sizes of Japanese glass floats all in one small area. Is that typical when finding these?

The ocean tends to sort the floating debris so you will see the glass floats concentrated in the same spots year after year. So yes this is typical. There are places where the plastic commercial fishing floats collect along with nets, etc.
 

 

3 hours ago, RJB said:

  You put out the best trip reports.  Saw you name on the front page and new I had to open it up.  Loved the glass floats.  Used to find lots of those back along the Washington coast when I was a 4th grader.  Still have one too. 

 

RB

Thanks. I get through the winter here in Alaska reading others reports so glad to share my trips in the 5 month window I’m able to view fossils. 

[Sjfriend]

Great trip! Nice fossils but I have to ask. What broadheads did you use on the wood? I need to look closer at the regs, didn't know we had a archery season for pet wood there!

[AK hiker]

On 5/30/2022 at 11:18 AM, Sjfriend said:

Great trip! Nice fossils but I have to ask. What broadheads did you use on the wood? I need to look closer at the regs, didn't know we had a archery season for pet wood there!

Thanks. Regulations say catch and release only there 

[Shellseeker]

Thanks for sharing. Like RJB, I look forward to any of your posts.  TFF gives me window to wonderful places that I will never likely see myself, but your photos give me a glimpse of Alaska.

 

Here is one in return.  You likely do not see too many places like this. Looks quiet and serene, but the water was deep and moving fast  ..... for Florida

[AK hiker]

On 6/5/2022 at 11:35 AM, Shellseeker said:

Thanks for sharing. Like RJB, I look forward to any of your posts.  TFF gives me window to wonderful places that I will never likely see myself, but your photos give me a glimpse of Alaska.

 

Here is one in return.  You likely do not see too many places like this. Looks quiet and serene, but the water was deep and moving fast  ..... for Florida

Wow! What a beautiful scene. I too enjoy other’s TFF fossil hunting trip posts in places like your photo that I will likely never see in person. Thanks 

 

From the first part of the trip. “The One That Got Away”