In exploring the Alaska coast in an effort to find a Northwest Passage between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, Captain James Cook sailed up into the inlet now named after him, but was forced to turn around (i.e., turn again) as the arm (now named, of course, Turnagain Arm) became narrower and shallower and then ended not far from what is now called Portage Glacier. Cook Inlet is an entertaining and lively body of water, channeled between the Chugach Mountains near Anchorage. The Seward Highway runs along the Inlet and gives motorists a choice view of the Inlet and the mountains on each side of the Inlet. This view, depending on the weather, ranges from stunningly dramatic and beautiful to gray and dark, even when snow is on the ground. The view constantly changes. And so does the water, given the great tidal range (about 33 feet) and the possibility of strong winds that  create vicious waves.

These images were all taken in early January 2025, and give a sense of the Inlet at its dramatic best in good light and relatively calm conditions. But in the interest of full disclosure, in between the days when these photos were taken, there were also days when taking photos was too challenging, in wind and rain, for little aesthetic reward.  There is nothing inherently bad about photos taken in wind and rain or snow; they can be very dramatic, but light contrasts tend to be low in those conditions, offering only a range of grays, and in any event, it can be a challenge to open a car door to take a photo if the wind is strong. As it was on some of those days.   

All of these photos were taken from the Seward Highway, not far from Girdwood. The first looks toward the head of Cook Inlet, and the Portage valley.

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