While visiting Kennecott Alaska back in 2000 I was able to get wondrous landscape shots almost everywhere we went (you can see other images from the trip here and here). Everything is not mountain vistas however. Alaska does seem to have the problem of folks abandoning their vehicles in the most remote spots.
While wandering around the edges of the town of
McCarthy, AK we came upon a picturesque river and decided to make some
images. Walking along the river I saw
this abandoned, very old, military ambulance (look close to see it). Not a very pretty picture but it did make me
wonder how and why it got there. After
all we were in a town with a population of 42 and the nearest hospital is
hundreds of miles away.
This is a mystery I’ll never solve but I’m glad I
got the shot to keep me wondering.
Thanks to Debbie of Delicious Baby for
organizing Photo Friday and spreading such wonderful images across the Web.
© 2009 Tim Marks all rights reserved
I love the detail of the water here. Some of my favorite shots I've ever taken were in Alaska--everywhere you turn, there seems to be another photo opp! So beautiful.
Posted by: Camels & Chocolate | August 21, 2009 at 10:59 AM
I would love to know the story behind this! How did it get there? Why was it left?
Posted by: Jen | August 21, 2009 at 12:42 PM
interesting - it is always amazing to me to find abandoned things. reminds me of WALL-E, somehow.
Posted by: jessiev | August 21, 2009 at 01:11 PM
Nothing like a good mystery! Did you ask anyone in the town about it?
Posted by: Caitlin - Roaming Tales | August 21, 2009 at 02:12 PM
A great shot! Alaska is on my list of places to visit SOON! So much rugged beauty (and unexpected finds) :-)
Posted by: Lisa Chavis | August 21, 2009 at 02:29 PM
The motion of the water and the total abandonment of the dead vehicle is ironic. And I, too, would love to know how it got there!
Posted by: Wanderluster | August 21, 2009 at 02:34 PM
That's actually kind of creepy! It reminds me of the book In the Wild!
Posted by: marina k. villatoro | August 21, 2009 at 09:18 PM
Thanks everyone.
Stupid me, didn't think to ask anyone about it. It is a mystery. Alaska is well worth the visit, I wish we hadn't waited as long as we did.
Posted by: Tim | August 21, 2009 at 09:30 PM
It was strange seeing this ambulance in the middle of nowhere. We actually saw lots of abandoned cars on the trip...and a lot of the cars that were still running in McCarthy were really old beater cars 'coz I figure they were the vehicles people would chance driving over the ice the few months they could to get them out there.
Remember that old Studabaker truck we kept seeing out there?
Posted by: Dominique | August 21, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Too bad abandoned cars aren't like shipwrecks, where new life can grow on them. Glad you posted this, it reminds us of the footprints we leave behind.
Posted by: Lorraine | August 23, 2009 at 04:45 AM
Wonder how long that jeep may have been sitting there! Really lets the imagination run wild. I like your idea of a MASH unit coming through.
Posted by: Lora | August 23, 2009 at 10:19 AM
So much going on in that photo - it's really dynamic.
Posted by: Corinne @ Have Baby Will Travel | August 23, 2009 at 10:07 PM
Certainly a photo with a story open to interpretation! I also love the other photos from the trip, the scenery look so unspoilt.
Posted by: maria | August 24, 2009 at 05:50 AM