“I thought I was the only one losing my mind coming to Alaska in November.”
Said Caroline, in the cover photo blowing snow. She didn’t say that when blowing the snow in the Mantanuska Glacier, of course, but we did find ourselves in a particularly remote place and off-peak time to travel to. Alaska. The wonder of the Arctic.
This is Caroline.
A University of Washington student, Cat mom, Foodie, and most importantly on this Aurora Express Train, a traveler.
We had met each other before in China when she was a Syracuse freshmen.
But now we cross path again.
We had never expected our reunion to take place on a slow 428-mile train ride, let along from Fairbanks to Alaska in late November. Like what?
“Where you headed?”
We began to connect on this 12-hour ride through the Denalis. Cafe car looks really empty in my 17-28mm lens. The chilly arctic land fades beyond the horizon while warm coffee made the train a different planet.
“Uhh…The Glacier tour. Mantanuska Glacier. We booked it a while ago. "
Well damn. Guess you got yourself an impromptu travel partner.
Mantanuska Glacier is the largest the oldest glacier in Alaska stretching over 40 miles long and 3 miles wide.
It is fading at about 60 feet a year.
Caroline is no stranger to the snow. She treks back the forth for the best angle. “You don’t get to see these kind of views often, do you?” She said, “I am just gonna walk back and come down again while you shoot me.”
Yes, that did work. That also caused us to fall behind our tour group, which, gave me larger space to learn how to shoot in the snow.
“I feel like time froze here.”
Caroline flicks her hair. She sees the air bubbles trapped in the ice as well as the mud. Could it be from 3,000 years ago? No one knows.
The tour lasted a solid two and half hours. That can really get people thinking deep about the nature.
No matter from close or from afar, Caroline can always deliver that one angle that frames the perfect photo.
“Watch me blow this thing.”
It didn’t work out. But the effort was worth a photo.
Second time’s the charm.
Oh wait, there was no blowing. We figured tossing is the better and warmer way to do things. After a couple of tries, Auto-Eye focus saved the day.
We ended up being late to return to base, but Caroline has had her fair share of fun.
“Better have some nice photos in there.”
She said, looking at my camera.
“Good looks today, I promise.”
When you made the decision to come to Alaska in November, you should expect all or nothing.
Caroline was the lucky one. She saw the Aurora Boralis. She saw the glaciers. She had a full experience with a one-day exclusive photoshoot. I did not see any northern lights, but I did enjoyed being the photographer.
You’ve met Caroline on ice. How about Caroline in real life? Follow her to find out.
And for the record, I am going back to Alaska again.