Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social) / Redsky

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Exit Glacier yesterday in Kenai Fjords National Park, below meadows and waterfalls. #Alaska #glacier #hiking

broad view of Exit Glacier descending from the mountains in Kenai Fjords National Park. The glacier is streaked with pale blue ice and gray debris, its crevassed surface sloping down toward the foreground. Above the glacier, dark rocky cliffs rise steeply, with thin white waterfalls trickling down their faces. Small patches of lingering snow sit along ledges near the top. The peaks above are hidden in a blanket of low-hanging clouds. In the lower foreground, green alpine meadows and shrubs cover the rolling terrain.

1/9/2025, 3:30:34 PM | 11 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Hiking through the Windchimes near Mt. Prindle in the White Mountain National Recreation Area, Alaska, on Wednesday evening. Hiking info in my guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide... #Alaska #hiking #summer

A hiker wearing a green jacket, black pants, boots, and a large backpack walks toward towering gray granite rock formations known as the Windchimes. The rocks rise sharply from the tundra, with vertical ridges and narrow gaps between them. The foreground is covered in low autumn tundra vegetation in shades of brown and gold.

31/8/2025, 5:33:12 PM | 11 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

McHugh Creek flowing through moss-covered rocks and forest along Turnagain Arm yesterday. #Alaska #hiking #longexposure

A fast-flowing creek cascades over small rocky ledges in a dense forest. The water appears silky and blurred from a long exposure, rushing toward the foreground in rippling white streaks. Moss-covered boulders and fallen logs frame the stream, while steep rock walls and dense green vegetation line the sides. A leaning tree crosses over the creek in the background, and ferns and shrubs add layers of texture to the scene.

31/8/2025, 5:15:50 PM | 116 12 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Denali from Denali View South on the Parks Highway last night. #Alaska #denali #sunset

A sweeping view of Mount Denali at dusk, partially obscured by a band of mid-elevation clouds. The sun has set, leaving a gradient sky that shifts from soft peach near the horizon to pale lavender higher above. Below the mountain, a dark forested ridgeline and the reflective surface of a river add depth to the scene.

30/8/2025, 4:49:56 PM | 247 21 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social) reply parent

I’ve taken a lot of photos over the past week and am still working through editing and uploading them. You can see everything that’s posted so far in my Recent Photos Gallery: photos.lwpetersen.com/Recent-Photos

29/8/2025, 5:11:28 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Caribou moving across the upper Nome Creek Valley and along the Tors on the way to Mt. Prindle in the White Mountain National Recreation Area. #alaska #wildlife #hiking

Four caribou with dark brown coats and antlers walk across a slope covered in autumn tundra vegetation. Patches of yellow-green and orange shrubs contrast against gray rocks scattered across the hillside.

Four caribou travel along a rocky hillside with autumn grasses. In the background, large gray granite tors rise from the ridge under an overcast sky, giving scale to the animals in the foreground.

29/8/2025, 5:11:28 PM | 25 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

The autumn colors are already spreading across the tundra in Nome Creek, White Mountain National Recreation Area, Alaska. #alaska #hiking #fallcolors

A wide tundra landscape with vibrant red and yellow ground foliage stretching across the foreground. Small rocks are scattered among the plants, and beyond rise two broad, sloping mountains with streaks of green and gray. The sky above is filled with a mix of dark and white clouds, with patches of blue breaking through.

28/8/2025, 7:49:18 PM | 27 4 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Saw a wolf today in Nome Creek! White Mountain National Recreation Area, Alaska. #Alaska #wildlife

A lone dark-furred wolf walks across tundra dotted with low fall shrubs in shades of gold, red, and green. The wolf is mid-stride, its head lowered and focused on the ground, against a softly blurred background of mixed vegetation.

28/8/2025, 9:34:28 AM | 9 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Sandhill cranes at Creamer's Field earlier this evening. #alaska #fairbanks

Two sandhill cranes in mid-flight against a pale blue evening sky. The nearer crane is sharply focused, its wings fully extended, showing brown feathers with a reddish crown and long neck stretched forward. Its legs trail straight behind in flight. The second crane is partly visible, slightly behind and out of focus, with wings arched upward. The blurred outlines of treetops sit low at the bottom edge of the frame.

27/8/2025, 10:28:14 AM | 31 6 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

At the edge of the Gabriel Icefall on the Gulkana Glacier in the Alaska Range. #alaska #hiking #glacier

$A person in a green jacket with a red backpack stands on rocky terrain, looking toward the fractured surface of the Gabriel Icefall on the Gulkana Glacier. The glacier ice is streaked with blue and white, pressed against a towering dark rock face. Mist and clouds obscure the upper slopes, adding to the stark, dramatic scene.$

27/8/2025, 9:55:37 AM | 5 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Deep blue disappearing into darkness in a moulin on the Gulkana Glacier in the Eastern Alaska Range. #alaska #glacier #hiking

A close-up view inside a moulin on the Gulkana Glacier in the Eastern Alaska Range. The narrow opening reveals smooth walls of deep blue ice, fading into darker shadows as the moulin descends out of sight. The ice surface shows subtle textures and curves, with small bubbles and pockets visible, giving a sense of depth and coldness.

26/8/2025, 7:39:20 PM | 4 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Exploring and looking at rocks with an old friend at the terminus of the Gulkana Glacier on debris-covered dead ice. #alaska #hiking #glacier

A person in a bright green jacket and blue helmet crouches on rocky ground near the terminus of the Gulkana Glacier. They are examining rocks on top of gray debris-covered ice. A pale turquoise glacial stream flows out from a dark opening in the background. In the foreground, a deep crevasse lined with bluish ice cuts through the rocky moraine. The scene emphasizes the rugged, unstable terrain of a glacier’s terminus.

26/8/2025, 10:46:44 AM | 4 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

The last few days have been an absolute whirlwind. Hiking, camping, visiting with an old friend, and, you know, shooting a wedding thrown into that mix. I've been busy. Here's a self-portrait that I took on Saturday morning. Reflecting . . .

A man sits in the doorway of a weathered wooden building with peeling white paint. He wears a bright blue knit hat, a black jacket, and gray pants, holding a blue mug in both hands. His gaze is lowered, giving a contemplative expression. To his left is an old six-pane window with missing glass, and the open door behind him reveals a dark interior. The rough wood and chipped paint of the structure contrast with the man’s neat clothing, emphasizing the rustic setting.

25/8/2025, 9:45:53 PM | 10 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

We had about 3 minutes of sunlight at the Asgard Tor on an otherwise very overcast day. And then the rain started. Granite Tors, Chena River State Recreation Area, Alaska. Hiking Guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide... #alaska #hiking #fairbanks #summer

A massive granite spire, known as the Asgard Tor, rises vertically from the tundra landscape. Its gray rock face is marked with long vertical grooves and sharp ridges. Small spruce trees dot the foreground, set in golden-green tundra vegetation under soft afternoon light. Beyond the formation, the horizon shows rolling ridges and distant blue mountains beneath a mostly overcast sky with a small break of sunlight.

22/8/2025, 6:24:12 PM | 41 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Two juvenile bald eagles clash over salmon scraps on the shoreline at Solomon Gulch Hatchery in Valdez. The afternoon light caught their wings just as they landed near a fish. More about the hatchery on my site: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide... #alaska #wildlife #birding #wildlifewednesday

Two juvenile bald eagles on a rocky shoreline. One eagle stands tall with its wings fully outstretched, feathers backlit in warm sunlight. The other crouches low to the ground with wings extended, water droplets flying as it pulls away.

20/8/2025, 5:13:20 PM | 18 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Lichen agaric (Lichenomphalia ericetorum) - Fairbanks, Alaska #fungi #alaska #mushroom

A small, delicate mushroom with a pale cream-colored, scalloped cap and slender stem emerging from mossy ground. The cap is slightly translucent with faint ridges along the edge, and the fungus stands upright among green moss, brown twigs, and other forest floor vegetation.

20/8/2025, 7:30:42 AM | 5 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Reflection after sunset last night - Ballaine Lake in Fairbanks, Alaska. #Alaska #reflection #fairbanks

Evening view of Ballaine Lake in Fairbanks, Alaska, shortly after sunset. Dark spruce trees line the far shore, mirrored clearly in the still water. Above, a sky streaked with soft gray and blue clouds is also reflected in the lake.

19/8/2025, 3:19:59 PM | 6 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Watched an osprey catch a fish as it got dark tonight.

A silhouette of an osprey in flight against a dusky blue sky, wings spread wide. Its talons grip a fish, clearly visible dangling below. A spruce tree rises from the bottom edge of the frame, its dark outline contrasting with the soft, fading evening light.

19/8/2025, 9:37:36 AM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Mid-winter sunrise. Snow-laden spruce trees under vast, vibrant skies. Winter in Fairbanks can be taxing, but our sunrises and sunsets are drawn out so long they sometimes blur together in the short days. In my Landscapes Gallery: photos.lwpetersen.com/Galleries/Al... #Alaska #winter #sunrise

A winter sunrise in Alaska. The foreground is filled with tall spruce trees covered in thick layers of snow, their dark branches weighed down so heavily that only hints of green peek through. The snow clings to each branch, forming rounded, lumpy shapes that contrast with the sharp spires of the trees. Behind the forest, the land opens to a wide horizon beneath a dramatic sky. The sunrise paints the sky in sweeping gradients: deep purple and blue higher above, shifting to pink, orange, and fiery gold near the horizon. The colors blend seamlessly, stretching across the sky in broad bands. Light from the low sun reflects softly off the snow-covered trees, giving them a faint warm glow against the cold, shadowed forest. The overall scene feels vast and still, capturing the quiet beauty of mid-winter in Fairbanks.

18/8/2025, 6:17:27 PM | 4 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Aurora tendrils stretch across the night sky above the Goldstream Valley in Fairbanks, Alaska, mid-February. In my Aurora Gallery: photos.lwpetersen.com/Galleries/Al... #alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights

Tall snow-covered spruce trees frame a vibrant aurora display in the night sky. Curtains of green and purple light ripple upward from the horizon above a cluster of lights in the Goldstream Valley, Fairbanks, Alaska. The snowy foreground contrasts with the colorful aurora and star-filled sky.

17/8/2025, 6:27:19 PM | 29 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

An interestingly shaped moulin in the surface of the Gulkana Glacier in the Eastern Alaska Range. Hiking info in my guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide... #alaska #hiking #glacier

A moulin in the Gulkana Glacier viewed from above, shaped like two adjoining circular shafts. The ice glows vivid blue with smooth, curving walls. Several dark rocks rest partway down the right shaft, contrasting sharply against the ice. The surrounding surface is rough white snow and ice.

17/8/2025, 3:03:18 AM | 10 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

A red fox kit peeking out from the forest floor in late May near Fairbanks, Alaska. In my Wildlife Gallery: photos.lwpetersen.com/Galleries/Al... #alaska #wildlife #fairbanks #fox

A small red fox kit with fluffy reddish-brown fur stands on a patch of melting snow among dry leaves and branches. One paw is lifted slightly, and the kit looks directly at the camera with bright, curious eyes.

16/8/2025, 6:06:09 PM | 65 5 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Active green aurora with a touch of crimson above snow-covered spruce. Mid-winter in Fairbanks, Alaska. In my Aurora Borealis Gallery: photos.lwpetersen.com/Galleries/Al... #Alaska #auroraborealis #aurora #northernlights

Vertical photograph of bright green aurora borealis stretching across the night sky with faint streaks of crimson near the center. Below, snow-covered black spruce trees stand densely packed, their branches heavy with fresh snow. The scene is illuminated enough to reveal detail in the trees from moonlight, with the deep winter sky as a backdrop.

15/8/2025, 4:00:26 PM | 25 4 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

The title of this self-portrait is: "Doing literally anything except the three writing projects and one photo project I absolutely should be working on right now."

A man with medium-length dark hair and a short beard stands against a vertical wooden plank wall. His face is lit starkly from the right side, leaving the left side in deep shadow, with only one eye brightly illuminated. He wears a dark zip-up hoodie, and his expression is wide-eyed and intense, as if caught mid-thought or startled. The dramatic side lighting creates strong contrast and sharp edges in the shadows.

15/8/2025, 3:52:58 AM | 8 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Lichen is kinda cool up close. Green Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia arbuscula) #alaska #macrophotography

Close-up view of green reindeer lichen, showing clusters of pale green, branching structures with fine, coral-like tips. Thin grass blades and small twigs weave through the lichen, with patches of moss and blurred forest floor visible beneath.

15/8/2025, 3:00:54 AM | 20 3 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social) reply parent

It was before they had the bison at LARS. Turns out it was a neighbor who lived a few streets away.

14/8/2025, 7:50:40 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

When I first moved to Fairbanks 15 years ago, I lived in a dry cabin with no running water. One morning, I stepped outside to find a bison in my outhouse. It was… a weird day. (We don't have wild bison in this part of Alaska, it had gotten loose from someone's yard). #alaska #bison #onlyinalaska

A large wood bison stands with its head inside the doorway of a tan outhouse in a forested area. The animal’s massive shaggy body fills most of the frame, with patches of shedding fur. The outhouse is slightly propped open with a stick, and the surrounding area is a mix of brown grass and boreal forest trees.

14/8/2025, 7:17:42 PM | 31 3 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

An absolute monster of a moulin on the Black Rapids Glacier in the Eastern Alaska Range. Area info: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-infor... #alaska #glacier #mountains

A deep, wide moulin carved into the ice of the Black Rapids Glacier. The walls are a mix of dirty gray and clean blue ice, streaked with meltwater channels and scattered rocks. Large boulders sit on the ice near the opening, and the moulin drops steeply out of sight. In the background, snow-covered peaks of the Eastern Alaska Range rise under an overcast sky.

14/8/2025, 6:15:25 PM | 14 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

A Dall sheep ram descends a rocky hillside near Mt. Margaret in Denali National Park. More photos from this hike in my blog post: www.lwpetersen.com/photo-blog/s... #alaska #denali #wildlifephotography #dallsheep

A full-grown Dall sheep ram with thick, curved horns walks downhill across a rocky slope covered in low green and brown tundra vegetation. The ram’s white coat contrasts with the dark rocks and blurred background of the mountainside in Denali National Park.

13/8/2025, 3:30:13 PM | 6 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Possibly an Aspen Bolete (Leccinum insigne), though I’m not entirely sure. Spotted in the forest alongside bright orange moss sporophytes. #Alaska #fungi #mushrooms #macrophotography

Close-up of a mushroom with a wide, orange-brown cap and a tall, speckled stem growing on the forest floor. To the left, a dense cluster of bright orange moss sporophytes rises above a patch of green moss. Fallen brown leaves and small green plants surround the base, with a softly blurred forest in the background.

13/8/2025, 8:28:30 AM | 37 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

The base of the nearly 600-foot Bridal Veil Falls in Keystone Canyon, just outside Valdez, Alaska. Area info on my site: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide... #Alaska #waterfalls #Valdez #landscapephotography

View of the lower section of Bridal Veil Falls in Keystone Canyon, Alaska. A powerful stream of white water cascades down dark, rocky cliffs covered in patches of green moss and vegetation. At the base, the water splashes into a pool that flows into a silty, gray-blue river in the foreground.

12/8/2025, 3:19:14 PM | 27 3 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Very tiny fungi growing out of the moss. I only saw it because I already had my face in the dirt, photographing some lichen. #alaska #macrophotography #fungi #mushroom

Close-up of a very small mushroom with a thin, pale orange stem and a rounded orange cap, standing among moss and grass. A few green blades of grass rise beside it, and the surrounding moss is a mix of light yellow-green and darker tones. The mushroom is sharply in focus, with a softly blurred background.

12/8/2025, 8:16:07 AM | 21 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social) reply parent

Maybe not the view at the top, although it was pretty cool being up there. But the views along the way were pretty spectacular. If you're interested, here are the photos from that hike: photos.lwpetersen.com/Date/2025/Ju...

12/8/2025, 3:35:01 AM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social) reply parent

The wind was strong enough to knock me down a few times hiking out there.

12/8/2025, 3:28:51 AM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Air condensing into cloud on the leeward side of a ridge, seen from the summit of Mt. Prindle in the White Mountain National Recreation Area. #alaska #hiking #weather

View from the summit of Mt. Prindle showing a dark, rocky ridge partially covered with patches of yellow-green tundra vegetation. Low clouds and mist sweep over the ridge, with visible condensation forming on the leeward side. The fog obscures much of the background, creating a soft, atmospheric effect against the sharp texture of the rocks in the foreground.

12/8/2025, 2:41:11 AM | 24 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Rocky ridge and cliff wall above the American Creek Valley, viewed from Mt. Prindle in the White Mountain National Recreation Area. Hiking details in my guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide... #alaska #hiking #summer

View from Mt. Prindle showing a rugged, rocky ridge leading toward a prominent cliff wall. Low clouds drift across the scene, partially obscuring the distant slopes of the American Creek Valley. The steep mountainsides are a mix of dark gray rock, patches of green vegetation, and scattered talus. In the background, sharp ridges and gullies fade into the mist.

11/8/2025, 3:17:42 PM | 8 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Here are four of the well over 100 fungi photos I took tonight. I miss spending hours in the dirt. This was fun and very meditative. #alaska #macrophotography #fungi #mushrooms

Two slender white mushrooms with smooth, rounded caps, growing close together among green moss and dark twigs. The foreground mushroom is in sharp focus while the one behind is blurred.

Close-up of a single yellow-orange mushroom growing upright from a bed of deep green moss. The smooth cap is slightly flattened and speckled with small dark spots, and the stem is slender and pale.

Two mushrooms standing side by side on a moss-covered forest floor. The left one has an orange-brown cap and visible gills, while the right one is taller and pale gray. A small dark brown mushroom grows near their base.

Pair of white mushrooms with wide caps and pale gills, emerging close together from dark, damp soil. The caps are sprinkled with tiny black specks of dirt.

11/8/2025, 8:15:22 AM | 7 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

One of my favorite snowflake macros. I’m setting up to go all-in on snowflake photography this winter. Excited for the challenge... and the inevitable frustration. photos.lwpetersen.com/Macro/Macro-... #Alaska #winter #snowflakes

Close-up macro photograph of a single snowflake with six symmetrical arms radiating from a hexagonal center. Each arm has intricate, feather-like branches and fine etched patterns. The snowflake appears translucent white against a dark, slightly textured background, showing crisp edges and delicate crystalline detail.

11/8/2025, 12:58:52 AM | 22 4 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social) reply parent

Pollen from Dryas species is often used in climate studies, as it is abundant and sensitive to changes in moisture and temperature, making it a valuable indicator in ice core research. Photos taken on Wickersham Dome last weekend.

10/8/2025, 6:14:36 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Dryas octopetala, or eight-petal mountain avens, in the stage after blooming but before the seed head’s feathery plumes begin to twist. More info in my Alaska Wildflower Guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-wildf... #alaska #bloomscrolling #wildflowers

Close-up of a single Dryas octopetala seed head standing upright, with fine white feathery filaments radiating upward from the center. The base of the flower is brown and dried, and the long, slender stem rises from an out-of-focus green background.

Cluster of Dryas octopetala seed heads growing among dense, low green leaves. Each flower has a starburst of soft, white feathery filaments catching the light, with some in sharp focus and others fading into the blurred background.

10/8/2025, 6:14:36 PM | 5 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Shortly before the sun drops below the trees on Smith Lake (Athabascan: Tr'exwghodegi Troth Yeddha' Bena'). #alaska #reflection #photography

View across Smith Lake in late evening light. The sun is low on the horizon, casting bright golden rays over a dense line of spruce trees on the far shore. The lake’s surface is calm and reflective, mirroring the sky with scattered clouds in soft grays and blues. In the foreground, clusters of green grasses and reeds grow along the muddy shoreline and in the shallow water, adding texture against the smooth reflections

10/8/2025, 12:31:13 AM | 21 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social) reply parent

Right? Was seriously tall. Good size for a red fox up here, too. I thought it was someone's dog at first.

10/8/2025, 12:24:39 AM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Nuphar polysepala, Rocky Mountain pond-lily in Smith Lake (Athabascan: Tr'exwghodegi Troth Yeddha' Bena'). Taken last night. In my Alaska Wildflower Guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-wildf... #alaska #wildflowers #bloomscrolling

Close-up of a yellow Rocky Mountain pond-lily (Nuphar polysepala) emerging from calm water, its round flower bud partly open to reveal a textured central disk. The thick green stem rises above large, flat, green lily pads that float on the water’s surface, some with ragged edges where they have been eaten. The water reflects a pale blue sky, with faint ripples and the soft outlines of more lily pads in the background.

9/8/2025, 7:56:54 PM | 18 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Took a lot of photos tonight, but this red fox had the most striking color I’ve ever seen in Fairbanks, and such a gorgeous face. For some reason, I’m beyond tired now. I could barely keep my eyes open editing these, and I know the second I lie down, I’ll be wide awake. #wildlife #landscapes #alaska

A red fox lying stretched out on a grassy clearing, mouth open slightly as if munching on something. The fox’s fur is vivid orange-red, with a white chin and chest, and a bushy tail tipped in white.

A red fox standing alert on a grassy patch, looking directly at the camera. The fox’s fur is bright orange-red with black legs, a white underside, and a large, full tail. Green shrubs fill the background.

9/8/2025, 8:49:56 AM | 34 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Mid-winter sunrise in Fairbanks, Alaska, with brilliant orange and gold light spilling across the horizon behind the dark silhouettes of tall spruce trees. This one is a part of my portfolio. See more at photos.lwpetersen.com #Alaska #winter #Light #sunset #sunrise

Silhouettes of tall, narrow spruce trees stand sharply against a vivid mid-winter sunset sky in Fairbanks, Alaska. The horizon glows in deep golden yellow and fiery orange, fading upward into rich reds and purples. The trees are entirely black in shadow, their needles and branches outlined by the intense light, creating a striking contrast between the dark forest shapes and the bright, colorful sky.

8/8/2025, 9:33:56 PM | 12 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Evening light on Wickersham Dome last weekend, looking out over the endless ridges and valleys of Alaska’s White Mountain National Recreation Area. My hiking guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide... #Alaska #hiking #sunset

Late-evening sunlight casts a warm golden glow on spruce trees and tundra atop Wickersham Dome in Alaska’s White Mountain National Recreation Area. The foreground features a small cluster of spruce trees growing from a rocky alpine tundra with short grasses, their needles lit by the low sun. Rolling ridges stretch into the distance, their slopes covered in green tundra and patches of darker forest. In the far background, hazy mountain silhouettes fade into the soft colors of the sky, with clouds reflecting shades of pink, gold, and lavender.

8/8/2025, 5:19:28 PM | 9 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Another moulin on the Gulkana from Sunday #alaska #hiking #glacier

8/8/2025, 8:13:38 AM | 10 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

January skies over Fairbanks, Alaska. We're only a couple weeks away from having real darkness again. I'm not ready to let go of summer, I'm looking forward to chasing aurora this season. I took a break from it last winter. I'm ready to get back out! #Alaska #aurora #auroraborealis #northernlights

Bright green aurora borealis displays across a dark night sky in flowing, curtain-like bands and arcs. Snow-covered spruce trees create silhouettes in the foreground, their branches heavy with white snow. The northern lights show varying intensities of green with some hints of pink and purple at the edges.

7/8/2025, 7:13:44 PM | 7 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Erigeron humilis, commonly known as arctic alpine fleabane or low fleabane on a rocky outcrop over the Gulkana Glacier. Info in my Alaska Wildflower Guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-wildf... #alaska #BloomScrolling #wildflowers

Close-up view of five purple-pink arctic alpine fleabane (Erigeron humilis) flowers growing among gray granite rocks on a sunny day. The small, daisy-like blooms each have numerous narrow petals surrounding bright yellow centers. The green leaves are low to the ground, thick, and slightly fuzzy, adapted to the harsh alpine environment. The rocky outcrop background shows a mix of light and dark gray tones, with sunlight casting distinct shadows across the stones and foliage.

6/8/2025, 3:19:48 PM | 15 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Seracs and crevasses in the Gabriel Icefall on the Gulkana Glacier, catching the last light Sunday evening. My hiking guide to the area: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide... #alaska #glacier #hiking

$Dramatic ice formations in a glacier icefall, showing tall white and blue ice seracs and spires rising against a cloudy sky. The heavily crevassed ice displays complex fracture patterns and deep blue crevasses between the towering ice blocks.$ $Close-up view of heavily fractured glacier ice showing intricate patterns of crevasses and seracs. The white and blue ice formations create a complex maze of ridges, valleys, and vertical walls with detailed textures and shadows throughout the icefall.$ $Towering ice seracs and formations in a glacier icefall, with white and blue ice blocks stacked in precarious formations. The ice structures show weathering and fracture patterns, with deep crevasses visible between the massive ice formations against a partly cloudy sky.$

5/8/2025, 3:11:59 PM | 12 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Scenery on the Gabriel Icefall on the Gulkana Glacier last night - Eastern Alaska Range. #alaska #glacier #hiking

Sunlight shining over jagged mountain peaks and the Gabriel Icefall on the Gulkana Glacier in Alaska’s eastern Alaska Range. The icefall shows deep blue and white crevasses, with rocky debris scattered along its base. A towering formation of layered, weathered ice dominates the right foreground, while lens flare from the sun creates bright streaks across the image.

5/8/2025, 5:38:06 AM | 37 4 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Last night in the Gabriel Icefall on the Gulkana Glacier. Perfect light! #Alaska #glacier #hiking

4/8/2025, 10:23:29 PM | 5 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

A hoary marmot on a boulder on Wickersham Dome last night, watching me, watching it. #Alaska #wildlife #hiking

Close-up portrait of a hoary marmot with thick gray and brown fur, sitting on dark rocky terrain. The animal is backlit by warm golden light that highlights the texture of its dense coat. Its dark eye and small rounded ear are clearly visible as it looks alertly toward the camera

3/8/2025, 7:07:06 PM | 47 5 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Watching the sunset from Wickersham Dome last night. It was such a beautiful day! My hiking guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide... #alaska #sunset #hiking

Sunset over the rolling tundra hills of Wickersham Dome in interior Alaska. The sun is low on the horizon, casting golden-orange light across the landscape. In the foreground, a large, weathered rock formation stands tall on the right, its blocky surface catching soft highlights from the setting sun. The terrain slopes gently into the distance, dotted with small spruce trees and patches of late-summer vegetation. The sky is mostly clear with a warm gradient from orange near the sun to pale blue higher up.

3/8/2025, 6:33:02 PM | 12 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

The Windchimes - A few hours apart from opposite sides of the ridge. I just finished posting about this hike from last Friday, with a lot of photo and video content. Check it out here: www.lwpetersen.com/photo-blog/m... #Alaska #hiking #photography

Dramatic granite rock spires known as the Windchimes rise from a golden-colored mountain ridge. Bright sunlight illuminates the weathered rock formations and surrounding slopes covered in golden alpine vegetation. Dark storm clouds gather in the background sky, while distant mountain valleys are visible through breaks in the weather.

Numerous granite spires emerge from and disappear into thick clouds and mist along a mountainous ridge. The rocky formations show varying degrees of visibility as fog envelops them. The foreground features golden-brown alpine slopes with scattered rocks and low vegetation, while white and gray clouds create a dramatic, moody atmosphere throughout the scene.

2/8/2025, 11:09:17 PM | 11 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), the only member of the cat family native to Alaska, in Denali National Park. In my Wildlife Gallery: photos.lwpetersen.com/Galleries/Al... #Alaska #wildlife #hiking #wildlifephotography

A Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) sits alert in a mossy forest clearing in Denali National Park. The lynx is facing slightly to the right, its tufted ears erect and pale green eyes focused intently on something out of frame. Its thick, grayish-brown fur blends into the shaded undergrowth, and the distinctive black ear tufts and ruff-like facial fur are clearly visible. The foreground includes soft-focus green leaves and grasses.

2/8/2025, 5:25:49 PM | 72 6 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

A little evening light on the mountains above the Loket Tributary to the Black Rapids Glacier. More photos from the area: photos.lwpetersen.com/Explore/Expl... #Alaska #glacier #mountains

A sharply defined, snow-covered mountain peak rises above the Loket Tributary of the Black Rapids Glacier in interior Alaska. The low-angle sunlight casts deep shadows across the ridges and highlights the textures of wind-sculpted snow and glacial ice. Crevasses and bulges mark the lower portion of the glacier, where it flows between steep, rocky outcrops. The sky above is deep blue, and the scene is entirely alpine—stark, remote, and silent under a blanket of white.

1/8/2025, 5:38:19 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

A fly (likely Phasia aurulans) on Siberian aster (Eurybia sibirica) Info in my Alaska Wildflower Guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-wildf... #Alaska #BloomScrolling #wildflowers #macrophotography

31/7/2025, 4:30:03 PM | 5 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

A grizzly eating soapberries in Denali National Park. Still one of my absolute favorite wildlife shots. In my wildlife gallery: photos.lwpetersen.com/Galleries/Al... #alaska #wildlife #denalinationalpark

31/7/2025, 12:31:26 AM | 7 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social) reply parent

In my wildflower guide Tofieldia coccinea: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-wildf...

30/7/2025, 3:28:57 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social) reply parent

Diapensia obovata: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-wildf...

30/7/2025, 3:28:57 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

A few flowers of purple featherling (Tofieldia coccinea) growing in a bed of pincushion plant (Diapensia obovata), whose stems and flowers have turned bright red. Taken at Angel Rocks, in the Chena River State Rec Area, Alaska. #alaska #bloomscrolling #wildflowers

A close-up of a tundra plant community featuring a few blooming stalks of purple featherling (Tofieldia coccinea) rising from a dense mat of pincushion plant (Diapensia obovata). The Tofieldia flowers are yellowish with clustered buds atop slender upright stems. Surrounding them are numerous bright red stems of Diapensia, each tipped with a dried or senescing flower. The Diapensia’s green cushion-like foliage forms a thick ground cover, interspersed with bits of lichen and moss on the rocky alpine soil.

30/7/2025, 3:28:57 PM | 20 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Ballaine Lake in Fairbanks earlier tonight #summer #sunset #reflection

A calm lake reflects a vivid summer sunset in Fairbanks, Alaska. The water is mirror-smooth, perfectly doubling the treeline and colorful clouds above. A dense wall of spruce trees lines the opposite shore, their tall, narrow forms silhouetted against a sky glowing with soft pink, peach, and gold hues. The clouds are thick and layered but broken enough to let the warm evening light spill through. In the foreground, green vegetation borders the lake.

30/7/2025, 8:41:18 AM | 39 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social) reply parent

In my Aurora Borealis Gallery: photos.lwpetersen.com/Galleries/Al...

29/7/2025, 3:18:42 PM | 12 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Winter Aurora - I still remember this night from over 10 years ago in Fairbanks, Alaska. Everything was so quiet. The only sound was the sound crunching under my feet. It wasn't the best aurora, but the overall scenery definitely left an impression. #Alaska #auroraborealis #aurora #northernlights

A green aurora arcs across the night sky above a snow-covered boreal forest in Fairbanks, Alaska. The aurora forms a wide, wavy band with soft vertical streaks, glowing in shades of green with hints of pale violet at the lower edges. The tall spruce trees in the foreground are heavily blanketed in snow and reach up toward the sky, their dark shapes contrasting with the vibrant light overhead. The snow-covered ground reflects some of the ambient glow, and stars are faintly visible in the clear sky beyond the aurora.

29/7/2025, 3:18:42 PM | 43 6 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

I've been tearing through some posts from my hikes last week over the last couple of days. I put in a lot of miles, all after work, too! Trying to make the most of the midnight sun! Here's the first one - Storms over Granite Tors www.lwpetersen.com/photo-blog/g...

29/7/2025, 7:12:55 AM | 4 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social) reply parent

And it's a really deep ocean.

29/7/2025, 3:04:18 AM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

The weather on Mt. Prindle Friday night was really cool to watch, in so many different ways. Here, the wind was rotating around a long, mostly linear ridge. Still going through photos and videos from the night...

29/7/2025, 2:22:01 AM | 20 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Pedicularis lanata, commonly known as woolly lousewort, is one of the first flowers I usually spot in the tundra in May and early June in interior Alaska. Wildflower info in my guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-wildf... #alaska #wildflowers #bloomscrolling

A close-up of a single woolly lousewort (Pedicularis lanata) in bloom, growing from the moist tundra ground. The inflorescence is a dense cluster of bright pink to magenta, tubular flowers, each with a hooded upper lip and a small, protruding lower lip. The flower cluster is covered in fine white hairs, giving it a frosted or woolly appearance. Below the flowers, a short stem is surrounded by fern-like basal leaves that are dark green and heavily divided. The surrounding ground is typical of tundra habitat, with a mix of moss, lichen, and low-growing vegetation in soft, earthy tones.

28/7/2025, 3:23:34 PM | 9 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

A small island and distant waterfalls in Prince William Sound on a rainy summer day near Valdez, Alaska. #Alaska #waterfalls #summer

A small, rocky island covered in dense spruce trees sits in the foreground of Prince William Sound on a rainy, overcast day. The island is surrounded by calm, turquoise-gray water, reflecting the subdued light. In the background, steep, forested mountains rise abruptly, their dark green slopes streaked with thin white waterfalls cascading down the cliffs. Wisps of low-hanging fog drift across the mid-slope, partially obscuring the waterfalls and adding a sense of depth and atmosphere.

28/7/2025, 3:11:16 PM | 48 9 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Dall sheep in early May while biking the Park Road - Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska #Alaska #wildlife #biking

A Dall sheep stands alert on a tundra hillside in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Its thick, white wool coat contrasts with the muted browns and reds of the early spring vegetation. The sheep has short, slightly curved horns and is looking directly at the camera. Surrounding it are low, leafless shrubs and dry grasses, indicating early May conditions before full green-up. The background is softly blurred, giving focus to the animal and suggesting the open, expansive terrain typical of the Park Road corridor. The lighting is bright and natural, casting clear shadows and highlighting the texture of the sheep’s fleece.

27/7/2025, 8:58:08 PM | 7 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Winter sunset on a trail in Fairbanks, Alaska. #alaska #fairbanks #sunset #borealforest

A snow-covered trail winds through a dense boreal forest in Fairbanks, Alaska, leading toward a brilliant winter sunset. The ground is blanketed in deep, untouched snow with only a narrow footpath cutting through. Tall spruce trees, heavily laden with snow, rise on either side of the trail, their dark silhouettes contrasting with the soft glow behind them. The sky is painted with warm shades of orange and gold near the horizon, fading to pink and purple hues higher up, with scattered clouds catching the evening light. The overall scene is serene and cold, capturing the quiet beauty of interior Alaska in midwinter.

27/7/2025, 4:13:03 PM | 13 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social) reply parent

Hiking info in my guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide...

26/7/2025, 7:16:17 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Last night, I encountered a wide range of summer weather. This was on the descent from the summit of Mt. Prindle through the giant granite tors known as the Windchimes. The entire ridgewalk was in the clouds for the descent. #alaska #hiking #summer

A foggy alpine scene on the descent from Mt. Prindle in interior Alaska. Jagged granite tors—tall, weathered rock spires—rise dramatically from the sloped tundra, partially obscured by thick clouds. The gray stone surfaces appear cold and damp, slick with moisture from the fog. The landscape slopes downward from left to right, covered with patches of alpine grasses, mosses, and scattered lichen-covered boulders. The massive stone towers fade into the distance, becoming silhouettes in the mist. The atmosphere is quiet and surreal, with low visibility and diffused light giving the whole scene a soft, eerie feel.

26/7/2025, 7:16:17 PM | 35 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

I hiked Mt. Prindle late into the night last night in some of the wildest weather. I took more photos and video than I have in a single trip in years! It will take me a while to process everything. It was amazing watching the air instantly condense as it hit the mountain, and behind the ridges!

26/7/2025, 6:08:39 PM | 3 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Sunset colors on the northern horizon along the Granite Tors Trail last weekend. Taken at 11:30 p.m. #alaska #granitetors #midnightsun

A late-night landscape from the Granite Tors Trail in Alaska, taken at 11:30 p.m. The sky glows with layered bands of orange, pink, and purple as the sun sets just below the northern horizon. In the foreground, a dense thicket of blackened, spindly spruce trees rises from the green understory. Behind them, taller spruce trees form a dark, jagged line against the light. Mist hovers in patches above the forest floor. Rolling hills stretch into the distance, their silhouettes fading into bluish hues beneath the colorful sky. The overall mood is quiet, cool, and slightly surreal—typical of high-latitude summer nights near solstice.

25/7/2025, 4:55:41 PM | 21 3 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Contrasty water under overcast skies at Tr'exwghodegi Troth Yeddha' Bena', also known as Smith Lake in Fairbanks, Alaska. Shot Monday evening. Getting ready to go for another evening walk… somewhere. #fairbanks #alaska

A calm, reflective pond surrounded by lush boreal vegetation under an overcast sky in interior Alaska. The water’s surface is partially covered with greenish algae and floating aquatic plants. Broad, waxy heart-shaped leaves of yellow pond-lily form dense mats at the edges, while tall grasses and sedges grow in clumps from the muddy shore and a few small islands near the center. Several weathered sticks and submerged branches jut from the water. In the background, a thick stand of black spruce trees lines the far side of the pond, many of them leaning or dead, their spindly forms mirrored on the still surface. The sky is cloudy and gray, with soft, indirect light giving the entire scene a subdued, cool-toned palette of greens, browns, and grays.

25/7/2025, 3:36:00 AM | 22 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Snow arnica (Arnica griscomii) at Murphy Dome in mid-June. In my Alaska Wildflower Guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-wildf... #bloomscrolling #wildflowers #Alaska

Close-up of several bright yellow snow arnica flowers (Arnica griscomii) growing in rocky alpine soil. The petals are slightly irregular and radiate from orange-yellow centers. In the background, a rocky summit rises out of focus under a blue sky.

25/7/2025, 2:24:12 AM | 39 4 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social) reply parent

Area Information: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-infor...

24/7/2025, 6:24:17 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social) reply parent

Prints, Digital Downloads, and Wall Art: photos.lwpetersen.com/Galleries/Al...

24/7/2025, 6:24:17 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Meteor Peak towers over the Black Rapids Glacier in the Alaska Range. A fresh dusting of snow brought out the textures and details of the terrain; crevasses, icefalls, bergschrunds, as well as all the details in the rock, are all sharply defined in the afternoon light. #alaska #mountains #glacier

Close-up view of a steep, heavily glaciated mountain face under clear blue sky. The image shows a broad expanse of white snow and exposed rock, with deep ridges and crevices carved into the slopes. Jagged peaks rise sharply toward the top left and right, while the center is dominated by a series of steep chutes and icefalls. Fresh snow highlights the textures of the rock and ice, and the base of the mountain descends into a flat, snow-covered glacier in the foreground.

24/7/2025, 6:24:17 PM | 8 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Spring on College Glacier in the Eastern Alaska Range. My hiking guide to the area: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide... #alaska #glacier #backpacking #hiking

Wide view of a snow-covered glacier stretching toward a jagged mountain range. The snow in the foreground is dimpled with shallow footprints and uneven texture, leading to a cluster of dark, rocky peaks capped with streaks of snow. The mountains span the width of the image under a partly cloudy blue sky.

24/7/2025, 5:01:35 AM | 19 3 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Sunset over Birch Lake between Salcha and Delta Junction. The clouds lit up in deep reds and purples as the last light fell behind the hills, reflecting sharply across the still water and pondweed. #Alaska #sunset

A vibrant sunset over Birch Lake in Alaska, with red and purple storm clouds filling the right side of the sky and reflecting on the calm lake surface. The shoreline on the right is lined with dark conifer trees, while distant hills silhouette against the glowing yellow and orange horizon.

23/7/2025, 1:34:57 AM | 44 8 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Thunderstorm over the Granite Tors in the Chena River State Recreation Area on Saturday night. Hiking info: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide... #alaska #hiking #summer

Dark storm clouds gather over the Granite Tors Trail in Alaska. In the foreground, jagged rock formations rise from a green alpine hillside, with dense conifer forest covering the lower slopes and ridgeline. A lone dead tree stands tall beside the rocks, and rain is visibly falling in the distance beneath the storm clouds.

22/7/2025, 5:57:30 PM | 3 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

A bluet damselfly (likely boreal or taiga) perched on Port Clarence Indian-paintbrush (Castilleja pallida var. caudata) in Fairbanks, Alaska. In my Macro Gallery: photos.lwpetersen.com/Macro/Macro-... #alaska #bloomscrolling #wildflowers #macro #insect

A damselfly, likely a boreal or taiga bluet, perched on the magenta bracts of a Port Clarence Indian-paintbrush flower in Fairbanks, Alaska. The insect’s slender body and delicate wings contrast with the textured surface of the vibrant plant.

22/7/2025, 2:02:08 AM | 10 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Ice-covered peaks in the Trinity Basin, the primary accumulation zone for the Black Rapids Glacier in the eastern Alaska Range. The expanse of snow here feeds one of the largest valley glaciers in the region. More about the area: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-infor...

A wide view of the snow-covered peaks and ridgelines of the Trinity Basin in the eastern Alaska Range, with crevasses and seracs visible along the slopes and a vast snowfield in the foreground under a deep blue sky.

21/7/2025, 3:25:04 PM | 6 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Last night at Granite Tors during the thunderstorms, the 80-foot Asgard Tor silhouetted against the stormy sky, standing alone among the sparse black spruce. #alaska #hiking #photography

A dark granite tor rises sharply from the tundra, silhouetted against a stormy sky at Granite Tors. Sparse black spruce trees surround the massive rock formation, with layers of ridges fading into the distance under low, gray clouds.

20/7/2025, 9:14:19 PM | 31 4 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Some sunset colors at midnight in the northwest sky from the lower Granite Tors Trail. I decided to do the loop a little late last night, but I got caught in a thunderstorm and had a very wet and rainy descent. Hiking guide to the trail: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide... #hiking #alaska #sunset

Dense vegetation and blackened spruce snags in a burn area along the lower Granite Tors Trail, with purple and pink sunset colors in the northwest sky just after midnight. Low ridges and forested hills are visible in the distance.

20/7/2025, 7:33:24 PM | 6 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Evening light sweeps across the rugged peaks of the Alaska Range above Black Rapids Glacier in late June. #Alaska #landscapephotography #mountains

Snow-covered peak in the Alaska Range illuminated by low evening light, with jagged rock faces and glacial ice visible beneath the snow. Thin clouds partially obscure the summit.

19/7/2025, 11:47:12 PM | 13 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social) reply parent

In my Wildflowers as Art Gallery: photos.lwpetersen.com/Galleries/Al...

19/7/2025, 9:09:19 PM | 1 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

A macro view of a female willow catkin in late April, showing the forked stigmas just starting to emerge. Willows are among the first plants to bloom in spring here in Fairbanks, flowering before their leaves appear. #alaska #wildflowers #bloomscrolling #macrophotography

Macro photograph of a female willow catkin in early bloom. Dozens of tiny, forked pink stigmas protrude from a fuzzy, light green catkin surface, with fine silvery hairs visible between the flowers.

19/7/2025, 9:09:19 PM | 8 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Pyrola asarifolia—commonly known as Liverleaf Wintergreen or Pink Wintergreen, thrives in the understory of boreal forests. Its nodding pink flowers are easy to miss. More info in my Alaska Wildflower Guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-wildf... #wildflowers #bloomscrolling #alaska

A close-up of a blooming Pyrola asarifolia (Liverleaf Wintergreen) plant. The upright reddish-green stem holds clusters of downward-facing, bell-shaped pink flowers. The background is a softly blurred green, typical of a shaded forest understory.

19/7/2025, 7:31:41 PM | 10 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social) reply parent

More landscapes: photos.lwpetersen.com/Galleries/Al...

18/7/2025, 6:06:38 PM | 5 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

A break in the clouds cast a sharp band of light across the rock wall where a tributary glacier meets Black Rapids Glacier, exposing the deep textures of fractured ice and steep stone. Even in flat light, this valley feels massive. #Alaska #landscapephotography #blackandwhite #glacier

$A black and white photo of an alpine icefall and steep, snow-dusted rock faces partially obscured by fog. A narrow shaft of sunlight breaks through the clouds, highlighting a section of the mountain slope and the fractured ice below. The terrain is sharply textured, with jagged ridgelines and deep crevasses visible where a tributary glacier meets the main Black Rapids Glacier.$

18/7/2025, 6:06:38 PM | 3 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Winter night skies over Fairbanks, Alaska. This one is from the Valentine's Day display in 2023, one of the coolest nights! More in my Aurora Borealis Gallery: photos.lwpetersen.com/Galleries/Al... #Alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights

Green aurora borealis streaks across the night sky above snow-covered spruce and birch trees near Fairbanks, Alaska. The lights form flowing, curtain-like patterns stretching upward into a starry sky.

17/7/2025, 6:35:55 PM | 23 3 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Long post with lots of photos from Hatcher Pass. It's been a year... www.lwpetersen.com/photo-blog/h... #climbing #fitness #depression

13/7/2025, 5:18:31 PM | 10 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Sometimes I do more than stare at the rocks. Great days climbing at Hatcher Pass! #climbing #alaska #bouldering

Climber in a green bandana and black t-shirt with white chalk marks hangs from one hand on a large granite boulder, while blowing chalk off the fingers of his other hand. Four young climbers watch from below in an alpine setting with rocky peaks in the background.

Man clings to the side of a large boulder mid-climb, feet smeared on small footholds, left hand gripping a chalked edge. Three climbers below spot him, arms raised for safety.

Climber nears the top of a boulder, gripping with both hands and pressing a foot against the rock for leverage. A young spotter stands nearby as other teammates watch. Snowy peaks are visible in the distance.

Climber finishes a boulder problem, crawling carefully over the top of a rounded rock formation under an overcast sky. Jagged cliffs and alpine vegetation fill the background.

10/7/2025, 8:57:32 PM | 5 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Two photos – 18 years apart. Still staring at rocks. My happy place. Just spent 4 days in Hatcher Pass climbing with friends and the team. It was fantastic. Moving slow today. Lots of reflection. Good things.

7/7/2025, 12:52:09 AM | 21 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen (@leepetersen.bsky.social)

Snow blows off McGinnis Peak in the Alaska Range on a windy April day. www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-infor... #alaska #mountains

Snow-covered peak of McGinnis in the Alaska Range rises sharply behind drifting clouds. Wind lifts snow from the summit and ridgelines, creating a fine plume against a deep blue sky. The lower portion of the frame is filled with soft clouds partially obscuring the base of the mountain.

29/6/2025, 4:20:57 PM | 9 1 | View on Bluesky | view

Lee Petersen

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