Such beautiful peaks across the Cook Inlet from Ninilchik, Alaska. As you head south toward Homer on the Seward Highway, the snow-covered mountains to the west garner your attention and beg to have their picture taken.

While beautiful, you can’t help but be mindful of the danger that lurks within them.

The 10,197 foot high Mount Redoubt is the more famous of the two as it has erupted multiple times in the last century, most recently in 2009. It is considered a ‘very high threat’ by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) ranking in the top five volcanic threats in the United States.

Mount Iliamna, to me, looked more impressive due to its more rugged face and perhaps mostly because it was actually steaming when we viewed it. The 10,016-foot volcano is slightly smaller than its neighbor and just slightly less of a threat. The USGS ranks it as a ‘high threat’ coming in as the 20th most hazardous volcano in the U.S.

So, this spot is literally called “Panorama Point.” I really am trying to understand how it got its name. 😀

Seriously though, how about that view? Just beautiful on what was a cool, calm Colorado morning.

This was taken just 10 days ago and as you can see, there is still quite a bit of snow up there for this late in the season. No doubt some of it will be there until next year.

Taken in Golden Gate Canyon State Park.

Across the Resurrection River from our campsite near Seward, this mountain provided a ton of awesome pics during our three days in the area. No matter when I looked, it just was cool looking – clouds, no clouds, morning, evening – it always looked nice.

This was taken on our first day, not long after arrival. I had originally done it in color and a friend suggested black and white might be better. I have to say, I would agree.

Goodness! Words cannot begin to describe what an intimidating presence North America’s tallest peak is. At 20,310 feet high, it dwarfs the “little” mountains we have here in Colorado.

On our drive to the national park that bears the mountain’s name, we were afforded a rare, very clear look at it. While our vantage point was 40 miles away, there was no mistaking what we were seeing.

Little did we know that this would be the only time during our four day stay in the area that the weather would allow us a viewing of it. Every other day clouds obscured the mountain from every vantage point.

We used to call it Mount McKinley but in 2015 it was officially given the name used for centuries by the Koyukon, an Alaska Native Athabaskan people.