Alders, alders, everywhere.
Alders, alders, everywhere.
When you follow scientists in the Alaska wilderness, you’ll almost certainly get alder-snagged.
In November, near Homer, alders grew considerately on Grewingk Glacier till, with space to maneuver ourselves and our heavy packs.
A few days later, on Kodiak Island, the alders were a bit more rude. My fieldwork companion, University of Alaska Fairbanks doctoral student Cade Quigley, burst through yet another alder thicket and announced that we had arrived: "Here's the last mud pie."
Read More: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Image: Ice covers the lake at Grewingk Glacier near Homer in November 2025. (Credit: Photo by Sara Wilbur)
