Photo Journal: Summer 2013

My summer had a fantastic start: a cruise to Alaska with my whole family! This is the ship we embarked on out of Seattle.
Alaska Cruise Seattle summer
Seattle's beautiful skyline from the ship.
Alaska Cruise Seattle summer
Ghost Ship
A fishing vessel cloaked in fog lit by the sunset on the eerie waters of the Straight of Juan de Fuca.
alaska cruise seattle summer
Being that we were in Alaska, we had quite a bit of rain...
Alaska Cruise Juneau glacier mendenhall watching whale summer
Arriving in Juneau.
Alaska Cruise Juneau glacier mendenhall watching whale summer
The tail of a humpback whale slips into the ocean.
Alaska Cruise Juneau glacier mendenhall watching whale summer
I took this photo in an absolute downpour! Luckily my camera an lens are weatherproof...
Alaska Cruise Juneau glacier mendenhall watching whale summer
The Mendenhall glacier outside of Juneau.
Alaska Cruise Juneau glacier mendenhall watching whale summer
Glacier Bay National Park
Alaska Bay Cruise glacier national park summer
Alaska Bay Cruise glacier national park summer
Glacial Splash
A chunk of ice from the Margerie Glacier calves into Glacier Bay. Margerie Glacier is approximately 21 miles long and its face is 350 feet tall, with 100 feet of it submerged in the tide-waters of Glacier Bay National Park. Like a conveyer belt, ice from Margerie Glacier flows down from the Fairweather Range at a rate of 2,000 feet per year! While most glaciers in the park are retreating, the Margerie Glacier is actually considered to be stable.
alaska bay cruise glacier national park summer
A group of people in a zodiac are dwarfed by a glacier terminating into the bay.
Alaska Bay Cruise glacier national park summer
Humpback whales bubble-net feeding
Alaska Bay Cruise glacier national park summer
Being that we were on a cruise ship, we had to play shuffle board!
summer
Salmon berry on an island in Sitka, AK
Alaska Cruise kayak sitka summer
Kayaking around Sitka, AK
Alaska Cruise kayak sitka summer
We ended the cruise in Vancouver, BC.
summer
After my trip to Alaska, I did a great overnight backpack on the Superior Trail on the north shore of Lake Superior.
Raymaker SHT backpack cross minnesota national forest overnight park river state superior superior hiking trail temperance summer
Raymaker SHT backpack cross minnesota national forest overnight park river state superior superior hiking trail temperance summer
Raymaker SHT backpack cross minnesota national forest overnight park river state superior superior hiking trail temperance summer
Rapids on the Cross River next to our campsite.
Raymaker SHT backpack cross minnesota national forest overnight park river state superior superior hiking trail temperance summer
Raymaker SHT backpack cross minnesota national forest overnight park river state superior superior hiking trail temperance summer
Raymaker SHT backpack cross minnesota national forest overnight park river state superior superior hiking trail temperance summer
minnesota SHT water river cross stream rapids rushing blur horizontal landscape superior hiking trail summer
Raymaker SHT backpack cross minnesota national forest overnight park river state superior superior hiking trail temperance summer
My wife and I bought our first house in May of this year, which was awesome. There is a ton of parkland around the neighborhood, and I spent some time this summer getting to know the area.
Anderson Lakes Raymaker minnesota park sunset three rivers summer
Anderson Lakes Raymaker minnesota park sunset three rivers summer
Also got the chance to take some photos of a big summer storm that ripped through the Minneapolis metro area.
Raymaker Storm Thunder Warning eden prairie minnesota tornado watch summer
Raymaker Storm Thunder Warning eden prairie minnesota tornado watch summer
Raymaker Storm Thunder Warning eden prairie minnesota tornado watch summer
Of course, my favorite thing to do in Minnesota (and Wisconsin) is to spend weekends at cabins up north.
Hayward Raymaker Round kayak lake wisconsin summer
Hayward Raymaker Round kayak lake wisconsin summer
Raymaker cabin kayak lake little bearskin lake morning wisconsin summer
Purple Pickerel Rush blooms with beautiful purple flowers.
raymaker cabin kayak lake little bearskin lake morning wisconsin summer
Raymaker cabin kayak lake little bearskin lake morning wisconsin summer
Raymaker cabin kayak lake little bearskin lake morning wisconsin summer
A blue heron glides by my Kayak.
Raymaker cabin kayak lake little bearskin lake morning wisconsin summer
brooks cabin lake minnesota summer
brooks cabin lake minnesota summer
brooks cabin lake minnesota summer
brooks cabin lake minnesota summer
brooks cabin lake minnesota summer
Summer on the Lake
There's nothing like a summer morning out on a lake in the North Woods; absolutely quiet, except for the occasional loon tremolo; the mirror-like water, warm and crystal clear. I love being up for sunrise (unless its for work), but enjoying sunrise at a cabin Up North is really amazing.
brooks cabin lake minnesota summer
brooks cabin lake minnesota summer
brooks cabin lake minnesota summer
Raymaker cabin kayak lake summer
These two snapping turtles were apparently mating... When I kayaked by them, they looked like they wanted to be left alone. I gave them their space. These things freak me out...
Raymaker cabin kayak lake little bearskin lake morning wisconsin summer
Raymaker cabin kayak lake summer