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Our son, photographer Ron Niebrugge and his wife Janine join Bob and I during a day hike in the Anza Borrego State Park in southern California. We are spending time in the desert this winter anticipating a bonanza wildflower bloom due to the excellent timing of rain in the area. The plants are full of buds and we expect to see a great burst of flowers within the next week or so. On February 20 we hope we will be able to witness a total lunar eclipse, it will depend on wether or not we have clear skies. So far it has been sunny and warm. A nice break from the winter in Alaska.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

The Crevasse Moraine Trail system during the last part of June is alive with mosquitoes! We tried the trail a week earlier and spent most of our time waving our arms and swatting the pesky insects as they formed a parade behind our heads and coated the back of our jackets, climbed up our pants legs and pretty much ruined the hike. Insect spray workd for awhile, but after we break a sweat it seems nothing works. So, this time we used headnets. I look like a creature from outer space with my jacket around my waist and my headnet askew. It was o.k., but we decided that we’d stay above tree line during this period next year. I’m looking forward to hiking here in August when the fireweed is in full bloom and the bugs are gone. We took the 2 mile trail to Long Lake this day, it is well-maintained and has very pleasant up and down moraine ridges to keep from being monotonous.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

On our third hike up the Hatcher Pass road to the summit we made it all the way to Summit Lake, it was worth every minute. What a beautiful little lake. Great photo research for future paintings! It was a crystal clear morning. The road is now open but at this time of the day we saw only two vehicles.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

About three miles down the Archangel Road in Hatcher Pass is the trailhead to Reed Lakes, Snowbird. One early morning in June we set aside two hours to hike, we were not sure how far we would get in one hour outbound. The start of the trail is spectacular with views of a chain of beaver ponds. The trail follows alongside the creek and looks like it was washed out last fall for about a mile, it is like traveling up a dry stream bed. Along the sides of the rocky bottom you can see where the dirt trail used to be. After a mile the trail gets good again. (more…)

I spent another full day hiking with National Park guides to the iceberg filled Erie Lake on the Root Glacier planning to frame the lake with the glacier in the background to use as reference material for a future painting. Pilot reports said that the lake was full of water, unfortunately it drained out during the night and all that remained were huge icebergs. In the distance is the stairway icefalls. The hike was about 12 miles round trip and very interesting. We had to wait for a black bear with two tiny spring cubs to leave the trail on our return trip.
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Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Ranger Marie accompanied me with a guide on an all day hike exploring the Root Glacier and the waterfall at Donahoe Peak in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. It was a hot, sunny day, ice crampons worked well in the porous surface of the glacial ice.

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Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

What a difference a few weeks makes in the seasonal changes to the landscape at Hatcher Pass, Palmer, Alaska. The last week of May we hiked the closed Hatcher Pass Road, and it was still impassable due to snow drifts. Three weeks later it is gorgeous and I’m surprised the road is still closed. What a great hike and wonderful photo opportunities for future reference material for paintings! In the distance is the Independence Mine State Historical Park hard-rock gold mine. (more…)

One cool summer morning we decided to hike the Fishhook trail in Hatcher Pass, a 1,500 ft. climb to the 4,069 ft. peak of Marmot Mountain. The year round trailhead is located at Fishhook parking lot just before the Hatcher Pass Lodge. We began with low clouds shrouding the peak, and wildflowers blooming everywhere. A beautiful place to hike! (more…)

Armed with a fuzzy map without details and some verbal discriptions from friends, we eagerly set forth one morning for our first climb on the Matanuska Peak Trail, Palmer, Alaska. We knew it would be tough, it was 4 miles to the summit and a 5670 feet climb, but we planned to go at least part of the way and test ourselves. I was looking forward to photographing new scenery for use in future original paintings. (more…)

Now that we know about the two Butte trails it is fun to run over there when the weather is nice and have a choice. This fine clear, sunny morning we chose the south/east trail and were rewarded with incredible views from the summit and more great research for my original painting reference files! The mountain in the background is Palmer’s well-known Pioneer Peak.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

The scenery at the Fern Mine site is gorgeous, I could have spent hours sketching and photographing. I reluctantly parted when I looked at my watch and realized how long it had taken us to hike the five miles to the mine, and we still had to hike the five miles back to the car. I took one last look and headed home with wonderful memories and great photographs to use in future artwork.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Near the end of the Archangel Road a sign on the gate warns “feet only.” That worked for us since we had only our feet, we continued down the trail to the Fern Mine. The Talkeetna mountains in this region are exquisite decorated with patterns of unmelted spring snow. With my camera I explored many potential scenes for future paintings.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Above treeline the road crosses a crude bridge beyond the Reed Lakes Trailhead where remnants of the last winter snow remain in the creek bed. I photographed beautiful wide vistas of the highland Archangel Valley from the road adding new research material for my original painting files.

More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

The unmaintained Archangel Road is located just above the Motherlode Roadhouse at mile 15 Hatcher Pass Road, and is closed during the winter. It is a perfect late Spring hike and a great place to scout for scenery to photograph for my research files for future original paintings.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

The Gold Mint Trail passes alongside a chain of many active beaver ponds. The calm, clear water created perfect reflections of the surrounding alpine peaks perfect to include in a future original landscape painting. We hiked for two hours and vowed to come back soon for a longer trip. The trail was in very good condition and easy to navigate. A great outing!
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

The Gold Mint Trail meanders up a beautiful valley and follows the Little Susitna River, eventually ending at the headwaters. It was a crisp, overcast day and the sounds of rushing water and birds chirping filled the air. What a wonderful hike! I found many beautiful landscape scenes to photograph for use in future original paintings.
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Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

The well kept Gold Mint Trail crossed the clear flowing water of Archangel Creek with a beautiful bridge built by volunteers using funds raised by junior middle school classes. We were the only people on the trail this morning. The scenery was spectacular.

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Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Just 25 miles away is the scenic alpine country of Hatcher Pass, in the Talkeetna Mountains, and the beautifully maintained public recreation area of Alaska State Parks. At this elevation Spring is two weeks behind, so we dressed a little warmer for our morning hike along the Gold Mint Trail. Since the trees were not fully leafed out, I should have a good opportunity to photograph the landscape along the way for inclusion in future original paintings.
More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

There is a sign at each junction in the Crevasse Moraine Trail System, showing where you are on a complete map of the area. It is very user friendly and fun to plan as you go. Another post shows the difficulty level of each segment. Some loops are very hilly and others are nearly flat. This is a great place to hike and explore and find material for original paintings, and I was delighted to find some beautiful Lady Slipper wildflowers growing alongside the trail!
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

One of the best hiking/skiing trail systems in the Matanuska Valley, Alaska, is the Crevasse Moraine. The scenery is lush, topography varied, and maps are available at the trailhead. Walking is easy and you can custom build your trip as you go by consulting the markers at each junction. We hiked over four miles, the entire perimiter, on our first day. The trail is in good condition and very enjoyable. I saw lots of subject matter that I can use for original paintings.
More tomorrow,

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist