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ALL IMAGES ON THIS PAGE ARE COPYRIGHTED AND NOT FOR USE BY ANYONE WITHOUT MY EXPRESS PERMISSION

IMAGES OF ATTU ISLAND
A BIRDING PARADISE

IT WILL NEVER BE DUPLICATED AGAIN BY OUR 3 WEEK TRIPS
No matter how much others may wish or try

Unfortunately those folks going out to Attu for just a few days and not living in the conditions
we slept, ate, and rested in will never have the full experience we did.  Much different
when you cover a great deal more areas and experience spots like Temnac Valley!




A good you tube video of Attu to give you a flavor of what we went thru
for 3 weeks every spring on the island:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inFjuB2MIR4
you may have to copy and paste this URL above into your browser as at times it says it won't connect
This is a great 1 hour 38 minute video of Anchorage to Attu and on the island itself



Now for the pics

On this map Attu is shown as "Navy Town, Alaska"


On this map Attu is shown as "Navy Town, Alaska"
Gives you a 'feel' of how far out from Anchorage
and the Aleutian Islands it is


far western most island is Attu


distances in the Aleutians

ISLANDS GOING WEST TO EAST TOWARD ANCHORAGE
Beginning with Attu Island here are the next few islands

Attu Island (35 mi x 20 mi) - this is the furthest West in the United States and last western most Aleutian Island



moving eastward along the Aleutian Island chain

then Agattu Island


then Alaid Island & Nizki Island


then Shemya Island

then on to Anchorage




On Attu Island







This map shows the South Eastern area of Attu Island



A map of Attu Island birding areas - specifically the area covered in the
following images extending from the lower left corner (base camp)
although we went further west to Temnac Valley and to
Murder Mountain areas to bird (not shown on map)
to the lower right corner (Alexai Point).



Welcome to ATTU Island - A Birder's Paradise!
This is the first thing you'll see getting off the
Reever (Reeve Aleutian Airways) aside
from the pristine beauty of the island!!



after Attu Coast Guard abandonment of the island - what it looks like


The following photos are all taken in 1990 or early 1990's on slide film

Approaching Attu Island, Alaska from the East


East end of Attu Island, Alaska


Coming by Gilbert Ridge west of Alexai Point, Attu Island, Alaska


Gilbert Ridge from Air, Attu Island, Alaska


East Massacre Valley, Attu Island, Alaska


East Massacre Valley, Attu Island, Alaska


West Massacre Valley, Attu Island, Alaska


Temnac Valley from the air, Attu Island, Alaska


West of Temnac Valley, Attu Island, Alaska


West of Temnac Valley, Attu Island, Alaska


Warehouse Beach with Weston Mountain in background, Attu Island, Alaska


Main Runway at Attu Island, Alaska


The "East-West" Runway - Attu Island, Alaska (that structure was removed and not here in 1994)


Lockheed Electra III landing at Attu Island, Alaska
our transportation to and from Attu each year for those of us who stayed the entire 3 week period


US Coast Guard Loran Station with Weston Mountain in background, Attu Island, Alaska


US Coast Guard Loran Station (from runway), Attu Island, Alaska


the Loran Tower at US Coast Guard Station, Attu Island, Alaska


Gilbert Ridge in background and main runway center, Attu Island, Alaska


just some of the War Debris scattered around the island with some 50 gallon oil drums still leaking, Attu Island, Alaska


Piled up Matson Mats (used for temporary runways, etc. - Attu Island, Alaska


Left over war debris - Attu Island, Alaska


Quonset Hut - Attu Island, Alaska


Murder Point - Attu Island, Alaska


Alaid Island in the distance - Loran Station lower left - Attu Island, Alaska


Alexai Point looking east - Attu Island, Alaska


Alexai Point looking south - Attu Island, Alaska


Alexai Point southwest point - Attu Island, Alaska


Casco Cove looking from Upper Base with Gilbert Ridge in the background - Attu Island, Alaska


Casco Cover looking from south of Lower Base with Gilbert Ridge in the background - Attu Island, Alaska


Casco Cove from south of Lower Base - Attu Island, Alaska


Road along Casco Cove leaving Upper Base for areas East - Attu Island, Alaska


View of Casco Cove with Upper Base (left) and Lower Base (right) - Attu Island, Alaska
taken from up on Weston Mountain


Attu Scenery - just a beautiful place (on a nice day!) with who knows what may show up (rain, sleet, snow?) - Attu Island, Alaska



Pratincole Beach - Attu Island, Alaska




"East-West" Runway and Casco Cove in background - Attu Island, Alaska


Peaceful River mouth with Agattu Island in the background - Attu Island, Alaska


The all day trek to Temnac Valley - Attu Island, Alaska


On the way to Temnac Valley - Attu Island, Alaska


The infamous George's Creek crossing on the trek to Temnac Valley - Attu Island, Alaska


Entrance to Temnac Valley and where White-tailed Eagles loom - Attu Island, Alaska


Remains of P-38 crash site in Temnac Valley - Attu Island, Alaska


Temnac Valley (my personal favorite place on Attu) - Attu Island, Alaska

If you are up to a full day's hike over snow covered mountains
and a raging creek, the sight you behold while entering this valley
almost (I said almost!) makes you forget you came here to see the
White-tailed Eagle.  To many, this is the most beautiful place on Earth.



Japanese War Memorial for WWII battle fought here - Attu Island, Alaska


Lower Base sleeping quarters with the only Outhouse on the island to the left - Attu Island, Alaska
(we nicknamed it the "Attu Hilton")


Lower Base with a storm a coming and who knows what with it - Attu Island, Alaska







Birding by Bike - Attu Island, Alaska


Al Driscoll - Attu Island, Alaska


Sandy Komito (left) - Attu Island, Alaska


Sandy Komito - Attu Island, Alaska
one of my very best friends who I speak to on the phone nearly monthly
and visit with nearly each time over to Florida where Sandy lives now.


Jerry Rosenband - Attu Island, Alaska


Benton Basham - years later after many trips to Attu


Lower Base with bicycles (in the days of 3 speed bikes - later finally multi-speed mountain bikes), Attu Island, Alaska
-earlier actually single speed bikes-
Larry Balch standing w/ Coffee Cup near left of photo


Lower Base in the days before the "Pig Heaters" which helped a great deal providing a couple hours of heat daily, Attu Island, Alaska




Me on my bike Attu 1991 - Attu Island, Alaska



Me in my room at the Attu Hilton (Attu Island, Alaska)



Attu, Spring 1991 - a few years ago (Me - Second from left in Blue Jacket)



David Narins, myself, Sandy Komito (Attu Island, Alaska) - Spring 1993



BJ Rose from Sedalia, Missouri at Attu, Alaska circa early 1990's
Was #1 Photographed Bird Species in the ABA for decades
and now retired and enjoying his dog, Patches
(and my life long buddy!)
BJ passed away June 6th, 2019 and will be very sorely missed
as I feel a huge void in my life and soul now.
I will see you in heaven BJ.


Waiting to go back to Anchorage - Attu Island, Alaska


Waiting to go back to Anchorage - Attu Island, Alaska



The Attu Island Patch for those who've 'experienced' (3 full weeks) the emotions / memories / weather / birding of Attu Island, Alaska
These were REAL trips to Attu, not some boat going out and spending a few days zodiac 'ing on and off the island each day
and not at all covering the extent of Attu that we birded on our 3 week trips each year


Attu Island is the most remote, most westward island in Alaska’s Aleutian chain.
Lying at 538N, 1738E, the island is situated with Anchorage, Alaska 1920 km to the
northeast and the city of Petropavlovsk on the lower Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia
nearly 960 km to the west. The island is 67 km long and 26 km across at its widest
point and includes approximately 400 km2 of land area dominated by high mountains
and largely inaccessible wilderness area. The only roads and habitation are in
the southeast corner of the island where there is a small coast guard station and
runway and a rudimentary road system left over from an abandoned military base.
Attu Island has three major claims to fame: 1) its generally miserable weather, 2)
the bloody battle fought by U.S. troops in 1943 to recapture the island in World
War II, and 3) the remarkably rich mix of Eurasian bird species that can be found
on the island during spring (and fall) migrations.

The story of the capture and take-back of the Aleutian Islands of Attu and Kiska during World War II
is not well-known to most Americans, and few veterans of the fierce three-week-long
battle on Attu in May 1943 remain to tell their stories.
The battle ended in the death of nearly 3,000 Japanese and 529 Americans.


ALL IMAGES ON THIS PAGE ARE COPYRIGHTED AND NOT FOR USE BY ANYONE WITHOUT MY EXPRESS PERMISSION