Day 24 – Denali National Park
September 16, 2010 6 Comments
Day 24 – Denali National Park 09/13/10 Mileage: 0
The morning was coldest of the trip so far and there was a heavy frost on the tent. Fortunately, the skies were clear and the forecast was for it to remain clear and slightly warmer than normal….so I’ll take it! I caught the 8:30 bus out to the Eielson visitor’s center…an 8 hour round trip! There are no personal vehicles allowed…so the bus (aside from a 4 day hike) is the only way to get deep into the park and close to Mount McKinley. Normally I’m not one for guided tours or being led around by the nose, but I learned more and saw more wild life than I would have ever seen on my own…so it was well worth it. For the first time on the trip, I felt my point and shoot camera was wholly inadequate for the scale of the scenery and task at hand. Others on the bus with SLR camera’s and big telephoto and wide-angle lenses were getting much better shots of the landscape and of the wild life in particular. The power and grandeur of the scenery in the park and elsewhere in Alaska is not so much in the limited view of the camera lens, but in the scale of the scenery that goes uninterrupted from horizon to horizon. So, what you are seeing in the photos below is Denali as seen through a soda straw. That being said, I’ll let the pictures to the talking…
Denali, Mount McKinley in the background...
Looking across the Teklanika River
Doll sheep
Polychrome Pass
View of the Alaska Range from Polychrome Pass
View of the Alaska Range from Polychrome Pass
Mommy grizzly and 2 cubs!
Looking towards Mount McKinley
Grizzly on the run!
Mount McKinley from Eielson visitors center
Mount McKinley from the trail above Eielson
Me with the Alaska Range in the background
McKinley from the ridge above Eielson
Alaska Range from above Eielson
Me with McKinley in the background from the ridge above Eielson
From Deadhorse Down 
Lenny, you are truly blessed with good friends and family. As your mother, I love reading the blog and reading the offers and concerns your friends have for you. I am not the only worrier, ha, ha, ha.
It is really so wonderful that Scott and his wife invited you and you had a good day on the bus tour and a chance to relax and catch up. The pictures were beautiful. The memories will be in your head for a long time to come.
Enjoy, again, you are in my thoughts and prayers and Dad sends his love also. Mom
First of all – how did you learn to write so well! Who are you?? The pics are amazing. I have been talking about Denali with my students . So much fun! love ya and stay warm, lisa
Lenny. Where were you when I needed someone to copy off of in High School. Oh yeh you were drinking beer. Great writing and inspiration.
My family was there in August 2009. Absolutely MAJESTIC!! Took a plane to the top of a glacier (7,500 ft) and my daughter built a snowman. We were lucky enough to belong to the 30% club. I see you’re a member now!! Everyone should see Alaska at least once in their lifetime!!
It is so exciting to see these pictures and read your comments each day. It truly is a trip of a lifetime. Love seeing the pictures of Danali since Todd raved about it so. Thanks again for “taking me on this trip” too.
Seeing these pictures of Denali brings back lots of memories. We didn’t get to see the wildlife that you got to see (must have been due to the season). But the views are spectacular! Can’t wait to share stories some day with you when you return. Enjoy every minute!