Anchorage Market

Took Pop and D to the market yesterday.  A nice refreshing drizzle so the crowds were not too thick.  Lots of neat stuff to look at, and lots of fair food to drool over.  After careful consideration, we settled on homemade corny dogs. 

Company

Denali from Mary's Mckinley View Lodge

Dad made it Monday night right on schedule.  Always good to see my family.  Its his third visit since I've lived here.  Tuesday we loaded up and hit the road for Denali National Park.  Weather was clear and sunny and the mountain was out.  Lunch at Mary's McKinley View where we ate and enjoyed the view. 

Got to the park about 3 pm. leaving Pop plenty of time to stretch his legs before he headed to Cabin Night for some Alaskan dinner theatre.  The story of Hattie and the rest of the Kantishna gang, as well as barbq ribs with al the sides.  Thanks Aramark.

Wise Old Men of the Mountain

Wednesday we took the bus to Eielson.  Bears, sheep and lots of tundra cattle aka caribou.  One severely obese ground squirrel was particularly photogenic at the visitor center.  An interesting fact about Dall Sheep, the males spend the summer separate from the ewes and lambs.  Kind of like a guys night out that lasts all summer.   From the looks on these fellows faces, the fun has worn off.

ANCHORAGE

Thursday afternoon we packed the truck and headed south for a few days at the condo in Anchorage.  Friday morning we attended the swearing in ceremony for our friend Craig Pester.  Very moving event as over 60 individuals from 31 different countries were given the oath.  Sen. Lisa Murkowski was the speaker.

Lots of errands and house cleaning consumed the weekend.  Place is spic and span and ready for Pop;s visit this week.  Even found time to clean the trucks.

By the way, the rainy weather Anchorage has endured the majority of the summer was not to be seen.  We had clear sunny skies the entire weekend.

SUNSET OVER KNIK ARM OF COOK INLET

Little Creatures

Artic Ground (Parka) Squirrel

Most visitors who come to Denali National Park want to see the mountain, and the "big four" of the park's inhabitants: bears, moose, sheep and wolves.  All worthy subjects of desire for sure.  I'm the same way and I still get excited by the site of any of those.  Being here all summer, however, has turned me onto the coolness of some of the smaller guys who live here.  I now count myself a fan of the porcupine, marmot, squirrels and hares who share the park with the big four.  And to be fair, some of the little guys have a bit more personality than their larger counterparts. 

Snowshoe hare

Walking through Riley Campground last night we ran into one squirrel who thought it would be funny to follow along just behind the dog.  Champ knows he is not to chase the little guys, a lesson learned only this summer.  "But gee whiz Boss, he isn't supposed to tempt me like this."

Red Squirrel

NORTH POLE

Santa stands tall

Our weekend camping trip down the Denali Highway led us unexpectedly to North Pole, Alaska.  Thats right sportsfans, jolly old St. Nick hails from the 49th state.  He and the missus have a pretty nice set up with their own village and lots of Santa related stuff.  On a sad note, I checked his list while we were there and all my friends are on the naughty side of the ledger.  Coals and sticks again this year but hey, you all are used to it by now, right?

Always thought his home was more icy

DENALI HIGHWAY

Friday the 13th found us driving the Denali Highway for a weekend of car camping.  Completed in 1957 to provide motorists with access to Denali National Park, the Denali Highway found itself virtually abandoned in 1972 when the paved George Parks Highway opened, linking Anchorage and Fairbanks directly with the park. Since then the Denali Highway has served mainly as a passage into the back country for hunters and fishermen and as a byway for those seeking a peek at the way all of Alaska used to look, with wilderness in every direction.  And now that the once-rugged Alaska Highway, linking Alaska with the Lower 48, has been paved, the Denali Highway is one of the last accessible roads in Alaska that can provide that rustic, nostalgic glimpse.

Our trip began with a view of an afternoon rainbow just before we reached Brushkana Creek at mile 30.  We had camped here before so we decided to press on down the road for a more isolated spot.  Wound up driving all the way to Clearwater Creek.  A nice spot to camp next to the water.  The noise of the creek was just the tonic for one of the better nights sleep I've had in a long while. Even managed to snag some sourdough pancakes with birch syrup for breakfast

Continuing on the next day we were treated to the sight of a tundra swan family: Mom Dad and four Cygnets swimming across a small duck filled lake.  After taking a few pics we headed east again taking in the views of Maclaren Glacier, an area we hiked last summer.  Beautiful scenery and at 4200 feet Maclaren Summit is the second highest highway summit in Alaska. 

Pushing still eastward we hit new territory that we hadn't explored last summer including  Landmark Gap, a glacially-scoured cut in the mountains that formed during an Ice Age more than 10,000 years ago. The Gap was a caribou migration route and a favorite Indian hunting area in centuries past. The Nelchina caribou herd still migrates through this area. The mountain peaks visible through the Gap are McGinnis Peak (11,400') and Mt. Moffit (13,020').

Next up was the Tangle Lakes area.  The lakes are connected by the Tangle River and form the headwaters of the Delta River.   Unfortunately our luck left us just east of the lakes as we started to notice adisturbing noise coming from the right front wheel.  Didn't know what it was but it didn't sound good.  We limped the next 70 miles into Delta Junction where our problem was diagnosed as blown wheel bearings.  We were very thankful that we  made it to somewhere that repair was possible.

So repairs complete, we inspect the town of Delta Junction.  This is the official end of the Alaska Highway although many never make it this far as there is an alternative route to Anchorage via the Tok cutoff.  Nice visitors center with free coffee and some interesting statutes of mosquitos.  From Delta Junction we drive northwest to North Pole Alaska for some replenishing of supplies and then backtrack just a bit to Chena Lake State Recreation Area.  Temps are hitting mid 80s so we make like Champ and take a dip in the water.  First time for me to go swimming since I've been here.  Very refreshing!

FALL?

Air Denali

A nip in the air this morning.  Plus the colors suddenly starting to show up make me wonder if we are going to get shortchanged on summer this year.

PARTY ANIMALS

SANCTUARY RIVER

HUBBA HUBBA HP TENT

Have been wanting to spend the night at the camp on the Sanctuary River 22 miles into Denali along the park road.  At an elevation of 2466 feet, this is a very small tents only site with just seven spots.  Went in Saturday after dropping the dog at Denali Dog Daycare in Healy. 

Gnomeville

Camp was really nice with good tent sites (Site #1)  and the weather was just slightly wet. We explored the river both north and south of the bridge but a nagging head cold put a damper on my activity level.  Oh well, there will be other times.  Had hoped to hear wolves or even see them but no luck.  Lots of animal signs including moose and caribou, and a couple of persistent Camp Robbers who showed up for handouts Sunday morning.  Lots of mushrooms in the area.

DENALI

Treated to a view of Denali on the way out Sunday afternoon.  Always a pleasure to see the mountain as I know people do visit the Park and never see it. Rescued Champ Sunday.  He did not have a good time at the kennel.  He refused to say anything else.