Dick Proenneke

Lake Clark National Park
Repeat Photography in
the Twin Lakes Area
Dick Proenneke
Alan Bennett
Retaking historic photographs is a valuable means of
assessing landscape change. In the fall of 2010, Alan
Bennett and Monroe Robinson spent several weeks in
Upper Twin Lake reviewing many of Dick Proenneke’s
beautiful photographs and trying to determine from
where they were taken. The following eight photo pairs
are a few that Alan and Monroe were able to relocate
and retake. They provide a means to understand and
appreciate plant successional changes and landscape
changes in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve as a
result of climate change over the last 40 years.
June 2011
Scanning for Big Game
Dick Proenneke, ~ May 1968
Dick Proenneke
stands on a
windswept bench
along the southwest
side of Upper Twin
Lake while scanning
the countryside
for big game (D.
Proenneke 1968).
Although one of the
earliest photographs
taken by Dick, little
change is visible
in the coverage of
arctic willow and
lichens on this dry
gravel bench during
the past 42 years
(A. Bennett 2010).
White spruce in the
foreground is taller
and has increased
in density along a
moister and more
sheltered site down
lake (distant left).
Orientation: Looking west
from south side of Upper
Twin towards Lower Twin
Lake
Location coordinates:
60 ° 37’32’’ N
153 ° 52’55’’ W
Alan Bennett/NPS, August 26, 2010
1
Hope Creek Canyon
A
Dick Proenneke, ~ September 1969
View looking south
up Hope Creek
Canyon from near
the Proenneke Site,
Upper Twin Lake,
(D. Proenneke 1969).
Perhaps Dick’s most
traveled route at
Twin Lakes, this trail
leads to “Teetering
Rock” and a bench
overlooking Hope
Creek Valley. In
2010 (A. Bennett),
taller and thicker
shrubs (A) are visible
on both sides of the
Creek and spruce
appear higher up the
slopes.
A
Orientation: Looking
southeast up Hope Creek
Canyon from near
Proenneke Cabin
Location coordinates:
60°38’42’’ N
153°48’37’’ W
Alan Bennett/NPS, August 22, 2010
2
Emerson Creek Waterfall
A
Dick Proenneke, ~September 1978
Dick Proenneke
pauses below the
upper waterfall on
Emerson Creek,
Upper Twin Lake
(D. Proenneke
1978). In 2010 (A.
Bennett), more white
spruce is visible
and several large
clones of alder have
appeared (A). Also
note the increase in
woody vegetation
covering the slope
above and to the
left of the falls. The
two photographs
were taken at
approximately
same period of leaf
phenology.
A
Orientation: Looking
north-northwest at upper
waterfall of Emerson Creek
Location coordinates:
60 ° 38’55’’ N
153 ° 55’35’’ W
Alan Bennett/NPS, August 25, 2010
3
Following Game Trails
Dick Proenneke, ~June 1982
South side of Upper
Twin Lake looking
northeast toward
Carrithers Point
and the head of the
lake (D. Proenneke
1982). Dick routinely
followed game trails
here while traveling
between his cabin
and the stream that
connects Lower and
Upper Twin Lake. In
2010 (A. Bennett),
patches of bare
ground and game
trails are no long
visible. White spruce,
willow and dwarf
birch have increased
in height and density.
Orientation: Looking
northeast toward
Carrithers Point from south
side of Upper Twin Lake
Location coordinates:
60 ° 37’36’’ N
153 ° 52’12’’ W
Alan Bennett/NPS, August 26, 2010
4
Fox Ponds, South Side
Dick Proenneke, ~June1980
Continuation of Fox
Ponds; polygonal
patterns on the
substrate and sorted
stone circles suggest
that permafrost (not
visible in photos),
present when Dick
first arrived at Twin
Lakes in 1967, has
melted and resulted
in the relatively
rapid drying of
the these ponds
and subsequent
colonization by
grasses and shrubs.
Orientation: Looking northnortheast at Fox Ponds
Location coordinates:
60 ° 37’24’’ N
153 ° 53’33’’ W
Alan Bennett/NPS, August 25, 2010
8
Standing on Teetering Rock
A
Dick Proenneke, ~August 1991
A
View near “Teetering
Rock” looking
across Hope Creek
delta toward Falls
Mountain, Upper
Twin Lake (D.
Proenneke 1991). In
2010 (A. Bennett),
little change is
evident in this
relatively recent
photograph. Dwarf
birch is taller and
more widespread
(A). Note insect
defoliation on dwarf
birch, which was
widespread across
the park in 2010.
Orientation: Looking west
across Hope Creek Delta
from “Teetering Rock”
Location coordinates:
60 ° 38’40’’ N
153 ° 48’15’’ W
Alan Bennett/NPS, August 13, 2010
5
Change in Fox Ponds
B
A
Dick Proenneke, ~July 1987
B
A
The “Fox Ponds” along
the southwest end of
Upper Twin Lakes
were so named by Dick
Proenneke because
they supported
an active fox den
during 1969-80 (D.
Proenneke 1987).
Presumably, breeding
waterbirds provided
a prey resource for
the foxes. In 2010 (A.
Bennett), only 2 of
the 5 ponds contained
surface water and
much of the basins
has been colonized
by herbaceous and
woody vegetation (A).
Also note the decrease
in size of the hanging
glacier in the picture
(B).
Orientation: Looking
northeast at Fox Ponds
Location coordinates:
60 ° 37’26’’ N
153 ° 53’33’’ W
Alan Bennett/NPS, August 25, 2010
6
Fox Ponds, Southwest Side
A
B
Dick Proenneke, ~September 1984
Continuation of the
“Fox Ponds” along
the southwest end of
Upper Twin Lakes
(D. Proenneke 1984).
In 2010 (A. Bennett),
the largest of the
ponds (A) contained
no surface water and
support a thick stand
of grass and seedling
spruce around the
perimeter. Dwarf
birch and spruce
have increased in
height and density
around the perimeter
of the basins. Note
the appearance of a
large alder (B) not
visible in 1984.
A
B
Orientation: Looking
northwest at Fox Ponds
Location coordinates:
60 ° 37’26’’ N
153 ° 53’33’’ W
Alan Bennett/NPS, August 25, 2010
7