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Crisp, sharp frosty mornings roll into sun bathed yellow-gold birch leaves papering the ground at the Crevasse Moraine hiking trails, a perfect time of year to trek. Bob and I walked up and down the undulating trails sometimes blinded by sunlight streaming through dark woods invigorated by clean air and autumn beauty. Over stimulation to an artists’ senses, something stunning everywhere, quiet forest, sounds of leaves falling onto soft wet ground, we were startled as a grouse flushed from the underbrush to the safety of a tall spruce.

The fireweed is dead brown killed by frost, seeds strewn by last weeks wind planted into the soil by the cover of fallen leaves. Fall in Alaska is fleeting, here today gone tomorrow, and should not be missed from the hum drum duty of daily responsibility. Pause, look, breathe, walk in the woods and soak in the splendor.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

My hiking partner, Evelyn Bunch, getting ready to leave our lunch spot along the beach on the Eklutna Lake Trail. We estimated that we hiked about 4 miles out, 8 miles round trip, on a lovely level trail that skirts the lake. I’ve been sidelined for a few weeks with a knee/leg injury so I was seeking a hike that wasn’t a big challenge physically, this was the perfect choice! On a cloudy, warm day we enjoyed views of this stunning glacier fed lake, cooled by an occasional sprinkle of rain, we commented that this was perfect hiking weather.

This is my last hike in the valley for awhile, next week I will embark on a 10 day stay at Denali National Park serving as Artist-in-Residence. I’m confident that plenty of hiking is in the mix during my residency. I may not be able to send daily blogs during my Denali visit as access to internet is generally limited to outside the park boundaries, so we shall see. Whatever the situation, I’ll certainly post photos and stories about my adventures once I’ve returned to the studio.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Three old broads hiking the Reed Lakes Trail in Hatcher Pass in 81 degree heat!  Left to right me, Evelyn Bunch, and Mary Mystrom.  What a beautiful day to spend hiking in the mountains.

We made it to the lower lakes and made the decision to head back home.  We hiked close to 8 miles with a lot of climbing and boulder scramble.  My legs are sore today, climbing stairs is painful.  This was a much needed workout, good exercize!

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Hikers stand next to the 5 mile marker on the Gold Mint Trail at Hatcher Pass, Alaska.  This week I was joined by Evelyn Bunch, Jen Scott and Mary Mystrom.  This group is very fit and I had to work hard to keep up with their pace.  We hiked a total of 10 miles which is a milestone for me this summer.  The wildflowers are blooming in profusion, beaver ponds dot the side of the trail and the sight and sounds of the nearby river make this trail exceptional and one of our favorites!

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

We cancelled our regular Tuesday hike due to heavy rain and re-scheduled Wednesday, weather permitting.   Wednesday morning I could see fresh snow at Hatcher Pass and the sun shining in Palmer so two of us hiking die-hards decided to try the Palmer/Moose Creek Rail Road Trail.  It is a very scenic route that begins at the north end of Palmer and slowly descends the bluff above the Matanuska River.

Unfortunately there are several serious landslides that have washed out the trail about a mile and a half from the start.  For senior citizens like myself, they were tricky and dangerous to cross.  I’m finding that my balance isn’t what it used to be when I was younger, and I don’t trust my footing on a 45 degree slant of loose rock and soil with a straight chute below ending in the raging glacier fed Matanuska River.  My trusty companion Mary urged me to take my time and be careful, and soon we were through the steep stuff and enjoyed the lovely forested trail.  On the way back I climbed above the wash outs on my hands and knees picking my way carefully up the steep scree slope and felt more confident that way.  Mary is more nimble than I, and managed very well although admitted that one slip of the foot and it would all be over except for the shouting.  We would like to see the Borough send some trail workers out with picks and shovels, it wouldn’t take too much to make these crossings safer.

Gail Niebrugge, landscape painter

This week five of us tackled the first three miles of the Gold Mint Trail at Hatcher Pass.  Not pictured (taking our photo) is Mary Kate Mayer, and from left to right; Carol Turner, Sue Mues, me, and Mary Mystrom.  What started out as a cloudy cool day turned into perfect, sunny hiking weather.  We all decided that our goal by the end of summer will be to hike all the way to the glacier, a total of nine miles making an eighteen mile round trip.  It was agreed that Hatcher Pass is awesome!

Gail Niebrugge, Landscape artist

A few of us girls are planning to hike together one day a week the first hike was yesterday, June 2.  In the middle of a clear, sunny day we drove two cars to the Butte trail in Palmer.  This time I knew better and parked one car at the north trail head and another at the south trail head where we began.  It was warm and dusty, and all of us felt out of condition.  We took several panting, breathing breaks and made it to the top in 45 minutes!  The views are outstanding.  We marveled at the gorgeous mountains, glacier and the patterns of the farmers fields, then headed down the maintained trail on the north side.  Our first hike included myself (on the left), Mary Mystrom and Tamera Baughman.  We plan to hike each Tuesday at 1:00PM, interested parties call me at (907) 746-3256.

Gail Niebrugge, landscape artist

I’ve spent too many days at the desk attacking the piles of paper that accumulated while I was away.  I don’t mind being indoors during the ash fall from the volcano Mt. Redoubt, but today the sun came out, the mountains were visible and the temperatures climbed to 40 degrees Fahrenheit.  I had to go outdoors and check out the landscape.  Donning sunglasses and carbide ice cleats for my boots, I walked down onto the frozen lake and chose a path that brought me the opposite shore on the west end.  The sun felt good.

From there I followed a snowmachine trail through the woods and crossed over a slowly melting stream on the foot bridge.  On my way back I talked to some ice fisherman who just lost a fishing pole through the hole in the ice.  That had to be a pretty big fish!  My walk took an hour and it felt good to stretch my legs and immerse myself in the Alaska landscape again.  Birds are beginning to return and soon the snow will be gone, but for now this is one of my favorite times of the year.

Gail Niebrugge, landscape painter

These are the first blooms I’ve seen on the Cholla Cactus this year. The Anza Borrego desert is alive in color, it has been a spectacular wildflower season. I’m sad to say that we have to leave soon, but anxious to get back to work in my studio in Alaska.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, wildflower artist

The cactus are beginning to bloom in the desert, I especially love the vivid magenta of the Beavertail flowers. It is fun to hike and search for the early bloomers, it reminds me of an Easter egg hunt.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, wildflower artist

I find myself returning to the Anza Borrego Desert Palm Canyon often, it is one of my favorite places in the park. On a hot day the clear, cool springs at the end of the canyon make the hike all the more worthwhile.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, landscape artist

Another great hike is a 3 mile treck through a winding slot canyon starting near Buttes Pass Road on Highway 78 east of Borrego Springs Road. Two state park volunteer naturalists guided our group as we squeezed and ducked our way through this Disneyesque landscape. We loved this canyon, but don’t want to be anywhere near it during the flash flood season. The weather was wonderful, once again!

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, landscape artist

Returning back to the Anza Borrego Desert we took a group hike with a state park naturalist up one of the unnamed washes of the North Fork Arroyo Salado beginning about mile 35 on Hwy. S-22, to the Truckhaven Rocks. The sandstone lined wash is interesting, we were delighted to find a new plant or rock formation around every turn. The relaxing 2 mile hike took several hours with the addition of facts, plant identification, geology, and historic information from our guide. The weather was in the balmy mid-seventies, just perfect for transplanted Alaskans!

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, landscape painter

Unlike the California Gold Poppy, the Parish’s Poppy is much smaller and grows in the Anza Borrego desert region of Southern Californina. It is fun to find these tiny golden wildflowers tucked among the boulders, or hidden in sandy washes. The desert is coming alive with yellow colored wildflowers during the peak of the bloom. My daily hikes in the field are a joyous event.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, wildflower artist

With the wildflower bloom at its peak, I’m hiking the Anza Borrego desert daily sketching and photographing. Last weekend the San Diego Union featured this spectacular bloom on its front page bringing hundreds of tourists to the park to see the wildflowers. During the week we have the place mostly to ourselves. It’s amazing to be near such a huge population center and find the landscape and nature relatively untouched, thanks to the California State Park system.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

The desert jackrabbits are big, their ears are half as tall as their bodies. They will hold very still seeming invisible, then suddenly burst out of the brush and tear across the ground lickety split. This one let me get quite close before he took off. They are gorging themselves on the green grass and weeds that cover the ground at this time of the year. A feast before the drought of summer.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, landscape artist

We spent most of the day today hiking near Palm Canyon and identifying wildflowers, they are nearing their peak bloom in the California Anza Borrego desert this winter. The ground is covered in millions of tiny colorful blossoms.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Wildflower artist

The temperature was 80 in Borrego Springs yesterday so we drove to Blair Valley to hike, at this higher elevation the temperature was a comfortable 72. We followed the well marked Blair Valley Road and easily found the trailhead for the Morteros, an ancient American Indian campsite where we saw the bowl shaped holes formed in rocks made by grinding corn into flour using a smooth stone. A fascinating site.

A little further down the road we found the trailhead for the Petroglyphs. This is an easy 2 mile trail and well worth the hike. Along with seeing petroglyphs painted on boulders, the spectacular view from the slot canyon at the end of the trail is something to remember.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Artist from Alaska

Yesterday afternoon we explored the Badlands of the Anza Borrego State Park and found the Pumpkin Patch, a place scattered with pumpkin shaped rocks. Unusual and interesting. It was sunset, and the low light gave the rocks a yellow/orange glow. The Badlands are a maze of 4 wheel drive trails that follow sandy washes up and down narrow canyons, some S-turns were so tight that a pick-up truck needed several tries to make the curve. And it was so warm we were in shorts and tank tops! Love this desert in the winter.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Evening light illuminated the wildflower Sand Verbena changing the color of the landscape to fuchsia as it clings to desert dunes. This spot along the Henderson Canyon Road is a nice place to enjoy sunset.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, wildflower artist