We'll spend a total of 4 nights in the park and each day has had something different to offer. When we made our reservations we had that clerk double check the weather pattern and as Saturday, June 7th was supposed to be the only "sunny" day with no precipitation, we booked our "sight-seeing bus trip" for that morning. And the first bus of the day at that! Mt Mckinley is the highest peak from it's base to it's summit, in the world. There are a couple of others whose base starts at a higher elevation, making them "taller" however there is a much more dramatic rise at McKinley. It "makes it's own weather" and even when the sky is blue and mostly clear it can be obliterated in clouds by mid morning and only barely visible then at that. Such a day was Friday, but we patiently awaited todays beautiful views by taking in some hikes in the park. On Thursday, we started out and met fellow campers eager to share a glimpse of the white tipped cross-bill feeding its young one. (It was a dapper red and black bird with white bars on it's feathers, it's fluffy youngster was in drab colors) They also shared the tip that a mother moose and her calf have been bedding down near site #49. We headed right over and soon spotted them as well. Then we hiked on up to the Visitor's Center to check out the information available and the dioramas. There was a beautiful movie to watch too! Next we hiked over to the Wilderness Access Center (WAC) where we would have to meet our bus (Sat morning). And onward we hiked to Horseshoe Lake, which appears to have been made by beaver dams, and intricate ones at that.
On Friday morning we did chores waiting for the weather to clear, and it didn't on the mountain, but it did become sunnier everywhere else so we drove out to the 14 mile marker. It is as far as a private vehicle may travel without a special permit. There at Savage River are two trails an easy to do loop along the river and a foot bridge, or the more strenuous Savage Alpine Trail, 4 miles long with steep 25% grade the first 1 1/2 miles if you travel from the river back. I could tell Bob really wanted to do that one, but my knee would give me trouble. I started up with him but had to turn back. He said he would go up to the top and return. I did enjoy the 2 mile River loop trail. I met a nice man from Ohio at the end. He had spotted my Findlay Equestrian T-shirt and started a conversation. When his bus arrived to return him to his campground I walked over the bridge back to the truck/camper and was greeted by a couple from Mt. Dora, Florida. They had met Bob as they were just descending the steep portion of the trail and it was giving their knees some trouble. (they did the whole 4 miles in the reverse direction that Bob had started.) They convinced him (it didn't take much) to continue in the direction in which he was heading and they would notify me. (which they did) I drove the 2 miles by roadway to where he would come out. I parked at the lot for the trailhead of Mountain Vista Trail. It's name called to me and I knew I had just enough time to check it out, and possibly Mt. McKinley would be seen from it. It was so deep in the white clouds it was invisible! I walked back out to the road and met up with Bob. He was so happy to have done the whole trail! Though he was a bit nervous with the last 2 1/2 mile portion. After cresting on a mountain top, he went along the edge of the alpine tundra and shrubs. The path was only 2 feet wide and there was fresh bear scat on it! The shrubs were 2 to 5 feet high and could easily hide a mother grizzly and her cub(s). We actually saw 2 females on Saturday each with twins! The first group were newborns this winter, and the second were yearlings.)
You can see the difference in the size here in these two pictures. We've gotten to see lots of wildlife! Several moose, caribou, Dall Sheep, Grizzly Bears, and even a Golden Eagle. There are Mews too nesting on the gravel beds of the "braided" rivers here. They are a smaller inland version of Sea Gulls. They really work for their suppers, not like the "beggars" at the beaches in Florida. I was able to take lots of photos. Except for the Eagle which quickly soared over into the sun and I could no longer see it. Today we were able to see a grouping of the sheep that doesn't usually occur! The batchelors (male rams) were laying in the sun in a grassy section of hillside near the road, and the ewes with 2 new lambs were grazing very nearby. They are usually at a much higher and rockier altitude, but today apparently they wanted to get out of the stiff wind.
They are usually so high that they look like tiny white specks on the stone face of the mountains. We were blessed today with these near the road. I even saw one of the caribou in the afternoon as it warmed to 53 degrees, take a cool break sitting in the snow drifts that hadn't yet melted. He was trying to evade the pesky flies and mosquitos.
The only "big" animal we didn't see today was the wolf. Today was just a wonderful day in that we realized our dream and were able to see McKinley in the clear! It is a rare day when you can and it makes it all the more special. We will never forget our days in Denali!
On Friday morning we did chores waiting for the weather to clear, and it didn't on the mountain, but it did become sunnier everywhere else so we drove out to the 14 mile marker. It is as far as a private vehicle may travel without a special permit. There at Savage River are two trails an easy to do loop along the river and a foot bridge, or the more strenuous Savage Alpine Trail, 4 miles long with steep 25% grade the first 1 1/2 miles if you travel from the river back. I could tell Bob really wanted to do that one, but my knee would give me trouble. I started up with him but had to turn back. He said he would go up to the top and return. I did enjoy the 2 mile River loop trail. I met a nice man from Ohio at the end. He had spotted my Findlay Equestrian T-shirt and started a conversation. When his bus arrived to return him to his campground I walked over the bridge back to the truck/camper and was greeted by a couple from Mt. Dora, Florida. They had met Bob as they were just descending the steep portion of the trail and it was giving their knees some trouble. (they did the whole 4 miles in the reverse direction that Bob had started.) They convinced him (it didn't take much) to continue in the direction in which he was heading and they would notify me. (which they did) I drove the 2 miles by roadway to where he would come out. I parked at the lot for the trailhead of Mountain Vista Trail. It's name called to me and I knew I had just enough time to check it out, and possibly Mt. McKinley would be seen from it. It was so deep in the white clouds it was invisible! I walked back out to the road and met up with Bob. He was so happy to have done the whole trail! Though he was a bit nervous with the last 2 1/2 mile portion. After cresting on a mountain top, he went along the edge of the alpine tundra and shrubs. The path was only 2 feet wide and there was fresh bear scat on it! The shrubs were 2 to 5 feet high and could easily hide a mother grizzly and her cub(s). We actually saw 2 females on Saturday each with twins! The first group were newborns this winter, and the second were yearlings.)
You can see the difference in the size here in these two pictures. We've gotten to see lots of wildlife! Several moose, caribou, Dall Sheep, Grizzly Bears, and even a Golden Eagle. There are Mews too nesting on the gravel beds of the "braided" rivers here. They are a smaller inland version of Sea Gulls. They really work for their suppers, not like the "beggars" at the beaches in Florida. I was able to take lots of photos. Except for the Eagle which quickly soared over into the sun and I could no longer see it. Today we were able to see a grouping of the sheep that doesn't usually occur! The batchelors (male rams) were laying in the sun in a grassy section of hillside near the road, and the ewes with 2 new lambs were grazing very nearby. They are usually at a much higher and rockier altitude, but today apparently they wanted to get out of the stiff wind.
They are usually so high that they look like tiny white specks on the stone face of the mountains. We were blessed today with these near the road. I even saw one of the caribou in the afternoon as it warmed to 53 degrees, take a cool break sitting in the snow drifts that hadn't yet melted. He was trying to evade the pesky flies and mosquitos.
The only "big" animal we didn't see today was the wolf. Today was just a wonderful day in that we realized our dream and were able to see McKinley in the clear! It is a rare day when you can and it makes it all the more special. We will never forget our days in Denali!
It sounds like you guys are living the adventure! I still think of our trek into Denali and the things that we did. Your travels diffidently help refresh the memories! Keep blogging...stay safe!
ReplyDelete