Saturday, January 21, 2012

-10 Below Walk on the Kenai River


I took a four hour walk today on the Kenai River.  
It was a pretty warm day.  Only minus 10 below zero, not the 20 below
temperatures that we have been enduring for the last few weeks.

It's still cold at night, but tonight we should be in non negative
numbers because the clouds have come back.  I 
just glanced at our thermometer and we are already at 6 degrees...that's the tropics compared to
the 32 below zero temperature in Portage last night!!



The Kenai River  is really a spectacular river.  It is home
to many different species of salmon.  
I think it's one of the most beautiful rivers on the Peninsula!





It has amazing aqua colored water, and believe me when I say it's a
very cold river!!!  This is not a river you want to go swimming in,
 even in the summer!
This river is non forgiving and can give you hypothermia 
within a couple of minutes.  Vests are mandatory!!!



The hoar frost from the ice fall has turned everything
 into a magical wonderland!!





The twig and ice photo below reminded me of a oriental
water coloring...




Trees hung heavy with frost.




Everywhere I looked had another perfect postcard view.




And every bend lured me on...



To more magical scenes...



It was truly a perfect day.




Ice was flowing down the river and I could hear it
clinking away like glasses on New Years Eve.   Steam was rising from the 
water,  creating beautiful misty scenes.




A few times during my walk, I caught quick glimpses of sunlight 
on some of the surrounding mountains.


While down on the river there were icy rapids, 
dipper birds, ducks and some bald eagles!





Some of the river banks
were piled high with broken ice.

My walk was pretty tiresome today, every step put me almost waste deep into
snow.  Because it was pretty tough walking I never noticed the cold.
Next time I will have to strap on my snowshoes!!!

Stay warm everyone and enjoy the blessings of winter.



13 comments:

  1. Brrrrrr! C'è proprio freddissimo da te, ma queste immagini sono magiche!! Wonderful!
    Un caro saluto, *Maristella*.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Chris, that is so cold, I don't think I would leave the house, let alone walk for 4 hours. I will never complain about being cold again!

    Your photos are beautiful, the 7th photo in particular is spectacular!!

    Hope you are staying warm, Tam x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Chris,

    I would have loved to join you on your walk. The scenery looks stunning! You took some amazing photographs!

    Happy Sunday!

    Madelief x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your crazy 4 hours ...I'm cold sitting in my bed right now I went into Fred's yesterday when I went in it was 10 below 3 hours later after running into every one I hadn't seen in a while.....it was 8 above and boy it just felt so warm.....by the time I got home it was 0 again......your pictures are stunning!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Chris - indeed a beautiful day - what fantastic shots. Give a shout some weekend and I will drive up and meet you. When you said you were driving up to the lake at -32; did you mean driving "down" to Tern Lake? (Smiles.) Wasn't sure where you were... Looking forward to play time when we can get together. I love winter "photography." And, Cooper Landing is the best. It actually got up to 10 here.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello, stunning pictures... I wish I could have done the walk with you!

    Lou xxx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks you so much for commenting on my post today Christine. I'm so glad you did because I came over to your blog and have spent the last 1/2 hour looking at your beautiful pictures of Alaska and the Kenai. I had the pleasure of visiting my daughter there 2 1/2 years ago and fell in love with EVERYTHING. They took me rafting on the Kenai and I had a cappuchino at Veronica's. What I mostly loved about it all was the water.......Blessings, Diane

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww, what a sweet comment!!! So glad you liked the photos

      Delete
  8. Wow,I am so happy to have found your blog.This is beauty at it's best.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Incredible photography!!! But do please dress warmer. Even a complete klutz like me can stay warmer when in snowshoes. :)
    Thanks for popping over to say hi @ my little blog - I'm now a follower at yours!
    ~ Zuzu

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is heavenly! Your photographs convey the magic of winter: how I wish we had been blessed with a true winter this year. It just doesn't seem right to be seeing flowers blooming already.

    Thank you for putting a smile on my face this evening :-)

    Stephanie

    ReplyDelete
  11. I even told my husband about your most spectacular pictures, but I completely forgot to actually write you a comment! :-) Absolutely amazing once again Chris, my favorites so far I think... :-)

    ReplyDelete