Check out this video clip from the PBS television show Equitrekking on trail riding in Seward, Alaska.
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My horse stood still as I watched a bald eagle soar above me. I was in awe as one flew from the branch of a spruce tree with wings widespread in all his majesty. He was circling the nest, where his mate was perched.
Bree Bardarson, my local riding guide, joked that she’d paid them off in fish to do that for our cameras, and we laughed as we listened to their squeaky, shrill cries. With three-day-old babies inside their nest, the two eagles were well-aware of their surroundings and us.
A bald eagle stands watch under Alaska’s arctic sun. Also in the region are Arctic Terns, which migrate from Antarctica. | Photo By Chip Ward
Bardarson, of Bardy’s Trail Rides (907/224-7863; www.sewardhorses.com), was born and raised in Alaska. She grew up riding around Seward and is the kind of guide you want for treks, because she’s both an adept horsewoman and loves local history.
Filming a travel television series on horseback, you never know what you’re going to encounter. We were pleasantly surprised to find so much wildlife riding just outside of the town of Seward in Alaska.
Our production team was filming for Equitrekking, our Emmy-winning PBS travel series. In each episode, I take off with a local to ride in natural areas, ancient villages, and all sorts of off-the-beaten path, stunning, and unusual locations.
Alaska was no exception. Everywhere we rode, we were immersed in nature and found diverse wildlife.
For more on trail riding in Seward, Alaska, see The Trail Rider, April 2011.
Darley Newman is the host and producer of the Emmy-winning Equitrekking television show on PBS, the author of the award-winning Equitrekking: Travel Adventures on Horseback book, and the founder of EquitrekkingTravel.com, featuring exceptional equestrian vacations. Learn more at www.equitrekking.com and www.equitrekkingtravel.com.
