Anchorage’s Backyard

I’m often asked, “What’s it like to live in Anchorage?” “It’s urban and modern,” I explain, “but lies on the edge of a wilderness where you could get lost for months without seeing another soul.” This image captures the seemingly endless, untouched wilderness of the Chugach Mountains. I’ve flown and hiked these mountains countless times. But on this particular evening, everything comes together: Mystical light bathes the hills. Snow blankets the deep valleys while the warming February sun has exposes the south-facing rock, creating contrast. I position the helicopter a mile and a half above the terrain to reveal the sea of wilderness that is the Chugach. And I wait until after the sunset to capture a world of quiet and mystery, seldom experienced from this vantage point.