In 1967, at age 51, Dick Proenneke quit his job, built a cabin by hand on Alaska’s Twin Lakes, and lived there alone for 30 years — with no running water or electricity. He braved brutal winters, stored food underground, and left behind more than 250 diaries and films documenting his journey. We watched his documentary in environmental science class. I remember being really blown away by his carpentry skills, and when he says something along the lines of “I’ve come to the conclusion that winter here is easier than summer.”

Winter is here.

Mount McKinley from average base to peak is the tallest mountain in the world. It has with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet (6,190 m) above sea level.

This is hilarious. Photographer Erica Rivera shows this private moment between two moose. She said, "Yesterday, I was able to watch 6 bull moose and 2 cows for around 4 hours. As one bull tried his hardest, he chased the cow for 20 minutes, and she finally gave in. Just when I thought I was going to get the mating shot, I was photobombed by another bull. Needless to say, I guess they needed their privacy."

Nom nom nom🐟🐟

Grizzly bears in the autumn-colored tundra of Denali NP. All grizzly bears are brown bears, but not all brown bears are grizzly bears. Grizzly bears and brown bears are the same species (Ursus arctos) but grizzly bears are currently considered to be a separate subspecies (U. a. horribilis) of brown bear. The difference between a grizzly bear and a brown bear is fairly arbitrary. In North America, brown bears are generally considered to be those of the species that have access to coastal food resources like salmon. They are therefore also called coastal brown bears. Grizzly bears live further inland and typically do not have access to marine-derived food resources. Besides habitat and diet, there are physical and temperamental differences between brown and grizzly bears. Large male brown bears in Katmai can routinely weigh over 1000 pounds (454 kg) in the fall. In contrast, grizzly bears in Denali National Park weigh far less on average. Additionally, grizzly bears seem to react to humans at greater distances than brown bears. Because of their more territorial behavior, they are more aggressive and therefore more dangerous. The grizzly bear is so named because its hair is grizzled, or silver tipped, yet the name is commonly believed to be derived from "grisly," meaning "horrible." 📸 Amy Michael

The Alaska Dream. This is the Alaska Range off the Parks Highway. 📸 Amy Michael

Autumn in Alaska. 🍂

Winter is coming, we know what's coming with it. We can learn to live with the wildlings, or we can add them to the army of the dead. #Alaska ✨️ 🎬 @Alaska0420

Blue Hour Bear. 📸 Amy Michael

Caribou rub their antlers on trees to mark their territory, especially during the breeding season. The rubbing also helps them strengthen their neck muscles in preparation for potential fights with other males.

Common loon calling. #Alaska

Alaska waterskipping.

Heavy traffic on the runway. There had to be a thousand caribou crossing. 📸 Amy Michael

The Alaska moose, also known as the Yukon moose, are the world's largest moose subspecies. Anchorage, Alaska. (Autumn 2025)

Lady Aurora dancing.

The Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) is the tallest owl species in North America, reaching lengths of up to 33 inches, though its fluffy plumage means it usually weighs only about 2 pounds.