Sojourn Alaska

28/07/2023

He made it through another winter!

Breaking news: 480 Otis is back! 🎉 (You can breathe again.)

480 Otis has returned to Brooks River and he's catching fish at the falls. 🙂🐟

Bear 480 Otis, at around 28 years old, is one of the oldest bears to use Brooks River. He is a 4x Fat Bear Week champion, and people around the world eagerly await his arrival each year. Even at his age, he's still expertly catching fish and continues to surprise us. Certainly a bear to watch this season! 👑 🐻

Photo credit: NPS Photo/F. Jimenez

04/07/2023

Our nation's largest national park is one of the least visited. Its remoteness and rich history make it worth the challenge of getting there.

25/06/2023

It's time to eat.

04/05/2023

Alaska is a hot spot for both serious and casual birders. Various communities host birding festivals from spring through winter.

08/04/2023

A moose wandered into a Providence hospital lobby in Anchorage on Thursday.

16/03/2023

https://www.adn.com/outdoors-adventure/iditarod/2023/03/14/alaska-native-mushers-sweep-iditarods-top-3-spots-in-a-good-showing-for-rural-alaska/

“It shows that in some parts of rural Alaska, mushing’s not dying,” said Aniak musher Richie Diehl, who placed third after champion Ryan Redington and second-place finisher Pete Kaiser.

16/03/2023

https://www.adn.com/outdoors-adventure/iditarod/2023/03/14/alaskan-ryan-redington-earns-first-iditarod-win-fulfilling-a-family-dream/

Redington, grandson of the Iditarod’s founder, is the first member of his family to win the race in its 51-year history. “It means everything to bring that trophy home,” he said at the finish line in Nome.

14/03/2023

Last week I went to Fairbanks to see the ice sculptures at the Ice Alaska exhibit (at Tanana State Fairgrounds on College Rd.). You can check out my full report …

04/03/2023

The Iditarod starts tomorrow!

Alaska's famous Iditarod is the last great race but there is more to the story.

19/02/2023

Beautiful capture of the aurora borealis by Amy J. Johnson near Fairbanks, Alaska.

Magnificent reflection !

03/02/2023

This month's blog post!

Winter in Alaska is more than just cold and snow. Here are some ideas to get you started with planning a winter trip.

04/01/2023

My latest blog post!

Driving into Talkeetna feels like taking a step back in time. This remnant from the gold rush days now attracts mountain climbers and tourists.

30/12/2022

Friend: “I love your outfit!”
Me: Thanks! It has pockets!

Did you know sea otters have flaps of loose skin under each forearm that they use like a pocket? What are these pockets full of? (Well, it's not sunshine.)

It’s not pocket science. When swimming, the pockets are used to carry as much food as possible back to the surface. Think buffet f***y pack.

Hot pocket! Otters also use their pockets to stash rocks. They use rocks to crack open clams, crabs and other shellfish on their tummies. (Tummies is the scientific term. Thank you.) They may also use rocks to hammer abalone shells, as quickly as 45 times in just 15 seconds (hammer time!), until the abalone loosen their tight grip on the seafloor. The ones left behind are left…abalonely.

Have rock, will travel. Many otters have a favorite rock that they store in their pocket. Some even name their rocks. Popular names include: Otter Destruction, Gneiss Knowing You⁣, King Clammer⁣, Rockslayer, and Fred. Research is still pending.

Image: An otter afloat in the water at Kenai Fjords National Park. NPS/Pfeiffenberger

21/12/2022

The sun has reached its zenith on the shortest day of the year, only 2 degrees above the horizon. Solar noon also happened to occur within a minute of the exact timing of the astronomical solstice, quite a rare event.

18/12/2022

Someone looks like they’re ready to pull a sleigh! 🎅🏼❤️🎄
📸: Doug Lindstrand

14/12/2022

03/12/2022

https://sojournalaska.com/activities/hike-on-a-glacier/
New blog post!

What's more amazing than seeing a glacier? Hiking on a glacier!

22/11/2022

Cyber Monday sale! 30% off Major Marine Tours now through Dec 2
https://majormarine.com/specials-packages/

19/11/2022

And I complain when it gets dark by 5:30!

09/11/2022

Starting November 11, 2022, a new lifetime pass will be available for U.S. Military Veterans and Gold Star Families. The pass provides free entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, including national parks, wildlife refuges, and forests.

Veterans can present one of the four forms of acceptable ID (Department of Defense ID Card, Veteran Health ID (VHIC), Veteran ID Card, or veteran’s designation on a state-issued US driver’s license or ID card) at participating federal recreation areas that normally charge an entrance fee. Gold Star Families can obtain information, self-certify they qualify, and download a voucher online.

Learn more about how to obtain passes at: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/veterans-and-gold-star-families-free-access.htm

The National Park Service invites all visitors to remember our veterans by visiting any National Park Service site for free on .

Image: Close-up of new lifetime military pass for Gold Star families and U.S. Veterans.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

03/11/2022

Check out my latest blog post about train travel in Alaska!

Want to ride a train in Alaska? Here are some ideas on how to incorporate train travel into your Alaska vacation.

01/11/2022

Happy Halloween!

This single exposure shot of the aurora borealis was captured by Kristoff Druva.

Perfect timing on this magical view !

25/10/2022

A snowy owl in Utqiagvik, Alaska. This image was captured by Andrea Shaw.

Utqiagvik is located north of the Arctic circle on the edge of the Arctic Ocean and formerly known as Barrow.

It is one of the northernmost communities in the world, and the northernmost in the United States.

It is said there are fewer than 30,000 snowy owls left in North America.

A rare and unique capture indeed !

16/10/2022

Alaska Railroad (and Sojourn Alaska) featured in this story!

The 6 most beautiful train trips in the U.S. all offer stunning sights just outside your window and superior service.

12/10/2022

11/10/2022

10/10/2022

Grazer for the win!