DENALI

I just returned to Yakutat yesterday after a helluva trip up to Denali National Park. I was able to schedule 6 straight days off from the beginning of the season, took my time and thought a lot about where i should go, and now, as I reminisce, very happy with my decision!

I rushed to the airport Tuesday after work to make my flight. Thankfully, Joe, our captain on the Survey Point was down to put the pedal to the metal and got me back from the ship in plenty of time! I made it to a hostel in Anchorage, met 4 of the nicest Irish ladies you can imagine, who just happened to be on a bus to Denali early the next morning. 2 Teachers, a pharmacist/botonist, and even a beaver in one of the games we played on the bus! They were so much fun! So, I made it to the park, got my backcountry permit, and was dropped off by a bus (the only way in) on the 85 mile gravel road into the park. Here's how it all played out:

The rain got worse as the day went on. Around 30 degrees, sideways sleet, and wind at about 40mph by 10 when i needed to set up camp. I waited patiently, but after about an hour and a half i was thinking something like; "pleeease stop raining!" Even with rain gear it gets in by the end of the day, one way or another, so i was a bit chilly. Finally caught a break so I got the tent up and into my sleeping bag. The weather was supposed to clear up the next morning so I camped at about 4k hoping to catch a great view of Denali, the highest mountain in North America (20,320ft). They say about 30% of visitors to the park actually get to see it.

That was a pretty bigun!

By about 4am the rain had finally ceased!

and I woke up to this! Ha!

Mt. Mickinley (real name Denali, in Athabaskan, or "The high one")

Now you see why I endured the weather to set up camp here!

The brown mountains at the base are about 6-7,000 ft. Mt. Mitchell, the highest in the Appalachians, is 6,684ft. Denali makes them look like foothills!

The entire landscape was breathtaking!

Arctic ground squirrels everywhere on the grassy hillsides.


Bears try to dig them up!
I'll bet my Irish botanist friend might know what this is?




Mamma and her 2 first-year cubs



"what is that weird animal over their mamma?"

....."damn humans!" lol

This is the farthest I hiked to the West. Overlooking the valley leading out to Wonder Lake, where I would camp that night.

View from Wonder Lake campground

As the sun sets

Sunset on the top of North America

I was definitely a lucky man to see all of this! I caught the bus back out the road the next morning, and ran into some hikers I met near that last overlook toward Wonder Lake. Charlie and Sarah. Had pizza, great conversation, and a few beers with them at Prospectors-really good! My Irish friends had sent me a message so i hoped to meet up with them once in Anchorage the next day. I Hopped on the Alaska RR in the am and had a really nice ride back to Anchorage. The train Host, who kinda did interpretation along the ride, as i do on the ships was cool, so I made another friend there. Samantha. She gonna teach me ballroom dancing!

So, I made it back to Anchorage, got me a bed in a hostel and went to see if I was lucky enough to find The Irish platypus, beaver, sea otter ,and cougar, I'd met on the bus. Sure enough, I was still feeling lucky, and there they were when i walked in the door!

We ate, drank, and had a great night! I haven't had that much fun, and laughed so much for quite a while! Thanks to my Irish lassies! I'll have to get a pic of us all from them.

My trip was complete!

Now I'm back in Yak and about halfway through the season. Time is flying by faster than ever, but life is good! Its still raining here, ha! Sardius (the other interp. ranger), and I do about 3-4 programs and 1-3 ships per week so we are staying busy. I still can't really believe I get paid for most of the things i do here. Working on the ships, hell, even riding out to the ship is fun!, making all the kids in the town Jr. Birders and Jr. rangers, and helping others see and realize the beauty of it all!

Speaking of, I have a ferry coming in at 6:30am and I'll be greeting them at the dock so i need to get to bed!

Peace