Untamed Land

Untamed Land
Untamed Land

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Suicidal Tendencies

The photos in this post were all taken by either Scott or Jean. While my bicycle is safely stowed away for the winter, some brave, tough, and foolhardy people ride their bikes in town throughout the winter. Besides being perilously slippery, it's hard work. Like riding a bicycle through very soft sand, it wears you out quickly.
These photos of Scott and friends were taken on the frozen river and sloughs about 50 miles south of Anchorage. Most of the time, frozen bodies of water are covered by a thick blanket of snow on top of the ice. Sometimes conditions are different, and the ice is snow free.
My bicycle is a touring bike with very narrow tires. Completely unsuitable for travelling across ice. Scott and friends have specialized equipment. Mountain bikes with thick, studded tires, and heavy duty clothes, like the giant mittens in the photo above. Riding across this ice is like riding a bicycle around an ice-skating rink.
The beauty of the scene is apparent, but I almost shiver with cold just looking at these photos.
Anyway, it must be lots of fun.
The rest of these photos are Scott and friends at Big Johnstone Bay on the Kenai Peninsula. Before landing on the ice, Scott tests it's thickness by dropping old bowling balls out of the airplane. If it breaks through the ice, he turns back to Anchorage, and tries again another day.
Broken off ice chunks from Excelsior Glacier,get imprisoned for the winter in the frozen lake.
.Scott poses amoung the sculpted ice.
Some of his friends pose as well. A very Christmassy scene.

The glacier made a wonderful playground for the younger folk.
They slid from the glacier onto the frozen lake. Great fun, no doubt.

1 comment:

NikonSniper said...

wow great shots. i am so jealous. a wonderland to photograph.
nikonsniper steve