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Late March. Forest Wagner and Michael Gibson, where Skolai Creek meets Nizina Glacier. This was the final image from my Nikon Coolpix before an ice bridge broke and my camera—and half my body—was soaking in Skolai Creek. Forest pulled me out of the water. Michael set up the tent and boiled water for dinner while I dried off in my sleeping bag. I like the looks on these guys' faces after a tough day of squeaking through the canyons of Skolai Creek, and how my new friends handled a day that was soon to become tougher—deciding to stop moving and set up camp right by the glacier, when they could have gone farther without me. A great feeling on a trip that was for me a catharsis after running out of food on the Nabesna to McCarthy route two times before. I like this shot of two competent outdoor dudes with whom I spent some great hours in the magnificence of the Wrangells, place of awe, despair and a fine way to live.

Subarctic Ethic, July. My friend Chris Garber-Slaght's mom Joan took this photo when she visited in July. Moose ribs from neighbor Tom on the grill, girl on shoulders, scab on knee from softball. God, if you read the Internet, thank you for a fine year.