We departed Cooper Landing on June 24 and headed north to Denali National Park. We stopped in Anchorage to restock supplies, you learn quickly the smaller towns have limited supplies with supply / demand prices!
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Heading north from Anchorage we traveled through Wasilla. Wanted to stop and visit Sarah Palin but found out she was traveling. Wasilla is known (besides Sarah's hometown) for its vegetable farms, they hold records for size of cabbage and pumpkins. Growing season is short but with 20 hours of daylight plants thrive! |
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| Yes, the road is still paved but you can see the wave. |
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Our first few days at Denali included some more rain and wind. As you can see the flags were standing proud! |
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But then the clouds broke and the sun shined! Time is AM, had to witness sun-up at least one day. |
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| This was sun-set! Sometime around midnight. |
A few day hikes in the park.
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Volcanic rock formations along the Savage River Loop 15 miles into the park. This is as far as you can drive into the park. |
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| Savage River valley between the cliff mountains |
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| Savage River being fed from the mountain glaciers. |
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| Black-billed Magpie |
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Savage Cabin trail - Typical historical log cabin used used by the back country Rangers. Surroundings included dog houses for their sled team. |
Savage Alpine Trail - 4 miles with an elevation gain of 1500 ft.
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| Views along the trail are rewarding. |
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Willow Ptarigan hen - Alaska State Bird. Bird turns white in the winter. |
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| Still more hill to climb |
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| Villous cinguefoil growing out of the rock cracks |
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So, I took my pack off and someone decided it was time for a "free" lunch. Arctic ground squirrel, as usual more visitors are bitten by this animal then any other. They are cute but can be very persistent when food is involved! He did not get my energy bar!!! |
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Looking down on the Savage River Valley and yes, the trail goes through the rock formation. |
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| Another treat, Mt. McKinley at a distance. |
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| Trail is hidden among the rocks, this was the exit. |
Mt. Healy Overlook Trail - 4.5 miles with an elevation of 1700 ft. Trail head began at the visitor center.
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1st stream crossing still had ice on its bank. This is early July. |
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| Top of the trail |
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Overlooking the Denali NP visitor center into the valley |
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| Looking, east, down on Nenana Canyon. This area has all the "souvenir" shops and hotels. River is the Nenana which is flowing high do to all the rain. It's gray color is formed by the glacier fed streams. |
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Looking southwest from the top, capturing the valley and mountains. |
Nenana Valley
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| Walking trail along the river |
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This guys has his hands-full padding around the hidden boulders |
Road-trip on side road.
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Mother Moose and twins crossing the pond. Young guys had to swim while Mom was able to walk. |
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| They made it! |
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| Another young moose eating along the road |
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