A stark, treeless ridge stretches across the foreground, leading the eye toward the jagged peaks of the Fairweather Range in the distance, their snow-capped summits glinting in the light. This dramatic landscape reflects the dynamic geology of Glacier Bay, shaped over millennia by the advance and retreat of massive glaciers that carved deep U-shaped valleys and fjords into the bedrock. The exposed ridge reveals rocky soils and sparse vegetation, typical of areas recently scoured by ice, while the Fairweather Range itself is part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, formed by tectonic uplift and ongoing fault activity. Together, the ridge and mountains provide a striking visual record of both glacial sculpting and the tectonic forces that continue to shape this rugged Alaskan wilderness. Photographer: Sean Neilson