GlacierBear, 6 months ago to Alaska

The calm before the storm. This November 2023 image of the Mendenhall Glacier from the West side of the lake. (when compared to the perspective of my other recent post of same glacier). Note the stunning mirror like reflection in the lake. The rock formation protruding from middle the left side of this image was entirely engulfed by glacial ice just a few decades ago.
#Tongass
#Alaska
#silentSunday
#nature
#glacier

GlacierBear, 8 months ago to Alaska

From a recent September stroll in the nearby forest. This is a national park system trail and the Autumn brings numerous mushrooms that caught my eye. On this trip I saw a huge pile of purple bear scat, so I know the bears were recently nearby and eating the remains of berries.
#fungiFriday
#Tongass
#alaska
#nature
#forest

An image of delicate creamy whitish mushrooms that have spikes protruding from the perimeter of the mushroom head. These caught my eye because to the white spikes around the edges I had not seen before. There were several in patch in this area along the trail.
Another image of the same white mushroom patch. They look like they could be edible, but I don't know if they are. Many wild mushroom could be poisonous, so I was not feeling too experimental.
This image is of a fungi that grows upward in spike like spires. I saw several patches of these on this particular forest walk. They spring up from the beds of moss that surrounds them and they they are reddish brown and very delicate. The patches of these fungi invoke images of sea urchins on land and were very prolific in this area of the Tongass National Forest. There is a glacial lake a couple hundred yards from this trail.

GlacierBear, 10 months ago to nature

From a July 2023 walk in the #Tongass National forest. These images from the West Glacier Trail, which runs along the perimeter the Mendenhall Lake.
#nature
#mosstadon
#forest
#Alaska

This is an image of a small babbling brook through the forest. This stream trickles its way toward the Mendenhall Lake which is just a couple hundred yards away. Spruce and Alder trees line the moss covered bank.
This image shows the carpet of thick green moss that covers the majority of the forest floor, and the moss also grows on the trees and clings to branches.

GlacierBear, 10 months ago to random

A few pictures from a recent black bear visit to our neighborhood, and also a walk in the #Tongass, It is berry season here and that bear was snacking on salmon berries growing in the neighbor's yard.

This is a fern grove, that was pleasing to look at. The ferns are at their peak and carpet the entire forest floor in this area between all the evergreen trees towering above. A shady cool and pleasing area to walk near. Feeling blessed.
White Fungi or mushrooms growing along the trail so I snapped a photo to share. I have no idea if they are edible or not. Odds are good that they are not edible.

GlacierBear, 10 months ago to Alaska

Living in a rain forest has its benefits. One can go for a walk and forget all the crazy crap going on in the rest of the world. These images from a recent morning walk after a gentle summer rainfall.
#tongass
#Alaska
#nature
#forest
#FungiFriday
#mosstadon

A small patch of about 3-4 mushrooms growing on the forest floor amongst a bed of green moss, an outstretched fern leaf reaches toward the mushrooms nearby, and the ground is covered with other tiny green plants.
This is a patch of lime green feather looking lichen growing on a big granite rock that is also nearly completed moss covered.
A green plant with pointed leaves, and a cluster of Bright Red non edible berries. This plant reminds one of Holly that you would see at Christmas time, but it is not that. The leaves are soft and delicate.

GlacierBear, 11 months ago to Alaska

A great way to spend a rainy day in the #Tongass rain forest. I was on the lookout for bears, but none visible today. The Devil's Club plants were taller than me. The skunk cabbage also huge and green. Feeling blessed.
#Alaska
#Nature
#hike

The picture is of a gravel pathway traveling upwards in the the Tongass national forest. Many beautiful green plants and evergreen Sitka spruce trees.
A wide view taken from the hiker's perspective standing on the dirt pathway of the green of the forest. Many of the spruce trees have growths of lush lime green moss on the tree trunks, and many ferns and wild huckleberry bushes abound. Berry bushes have set fruit but all still very green hard little berries for at least another 45 days. This photo taken the afternoon of June 29, 2003
This is a closeup photo of a plant called Skunk Cabbage, that has huge dark green leaves about 12 inches in width, and a length of some 24 to 36 inches, these plants invoke the feeling you are in a prehistoric forest. There is a big dark green stamen blooming from the center of the plant. These plants are about 3-4 feet tall at least. surrounded by many other green forest fauna and other plants.

GlacierBear, 11 months ago to Alaska

A friend of mine captured this photo July 2021 taken near #Juneau. It is somewhat rare to see this type of jump let alone capture it with a camera.
#Tongass
#Alaska
#Whales
#nature

GlacierBear, 11 months ago to Alaska

This is my new #introduction. I have been exploring Mastodon since late 2022. Just migrated here from ThePettingZoo as it is closing down and over there I was previously know as Alaskan49. My politics lean "liberal", probably less flame than some, but I strongly believe in #equality and there is plenty of work we can all do to help on that.

I am a mature gay man who believes in democracy and working towards a more verdant world for all. I married my husband in 2008, but we have been together over 40 years. I live on sacred lands of the Auke Kwaan and Taku Kwaan of the Tlingit peoples in present-day #Alaska.

I am not a big social media person, but so far Mastodon has been more fun than most I have tried.

I like to post pictures of #nature #flowers #glaciers and images from the #Tongass National Forest. I enjoy #Travel, #PersonalFinance and the study of #economics. I also enjoy #reading, #gardening, #outdoors, #hiking, #cooking, #baking, #massage, #bears, #birds, and I have a thing for pictures of #squirrels.