EAGLE LAKE

Just home from a two night trip up the south fork of Eagle River. Backpacked in Friday afternoon about 6 miles to really nice campsite above the southshore of Eagle Lake. Very easy hike except for the boulder field crossing near the very end. Beautiful sunset Friday evening. Weather was very mild with little wind. Saturday morning we hiked about 1400 feet up to a point where we had awesome views of Eagle and Symphony Lakes. Saturday night we feasted on freeze dried chicken and mashed potatoes (or I did, Champ had kibble) before settling down for the night with a new biography of Daniel Boone. Hike out Sunday was nice and quick. Another fine example of the wondrous nature of Chugach State Park, my backyard.

MT MCKINLEY

Adding a climb of Denali to your resume is quite the boon to seasoned climbers. Each year a few thousand people try to summit North America's topmost peak. Most years the success rate hovers just north of 50%. While the climb is not technically difficult, given the extreme northern location, it ranks as one of the most challenging summits around. Icy conditions, extreme cold, and the ever present winds make for an adventure most climbers long for.

Of course there is risk involved in tackling the Great One. Since 1932, 112 climbers have perished in the attempt to summit North America's highest peak. The most deadly year was 1993 when 13 climbers perished. With two more deaths yesterday, 2011 is fast approaching that record. Seven deaths so far with two climbers in critical condition from yesterday's mishap.

Is the risk worth the reward? Only the individual can answer such a querie. Was it worth it today when you narrowly passed another vehicle at 70 mph on a crowded highway, all the while rehashing the latest hollywood hijinks with your bff on your oh so cool iphone. The road seemed clear, right. And the reward? You got to where ever you were going so much quicker than the clods who obey traffic laws. Saved maybe ten minutes. I daresay the climbers memory of Denali will eclipse even the bestest confab on the cell. Of course, dead is dead. So maybe it matters not.

Such is life. Such is death.

MUSINGS

Over the past few years I've been blessed to spend many days and nights in Denali National Park.  A truly scenic place where Mt McKinley soars magically upward and countless sights amaze visitors and residents alike.  But the place really excels at what it was created for...a game preserve.  And like the majority of park visitors, I equate the success or failure of my visit with the number of animal sightings made. We all want to see bears, moose, sheep, caribou, wolves and yes, the elusive lynx. But we view these creatures in a detached way, oftentimes forgetting the very thing that makes our viewing so dramatic, the wildness of Denali.

On a recent trip into the Park, I was witness to two dramas that underscore the primally wild nature of this place.  The first involved the classic battle over whether Bear's menu should include newly born moose calf.  Bear was all in favor.  Mother Moose thought otherwise.  For about thirty minutes we watched the struggle.  Bear would maneuver trying to close the distance and Moose would counter by charging with hooves churning and teeth bared.  As much as Bear wanted the calf, I think he wanted to avoid injury more. By a large margin, we viewers were rooting for Momma and her calf.  Of course we were to a person all well fed and in no danger of starving.  As we drove away knowing the Park gods had smiled on us to allow our viewing this drama, the outcome was as yet unknown.  So we could relax safe in our belief that Bear would move along and Mom and calf would do whatever Moose do, eat willow I suppose.

The next drama unfolded just a few miles from the Park headquarters.  In an area where moose sightings are common, we spotted a days old calf hidden behind a few willow branches.  We didn't see Momma Moose.  Mewling weakly, the young calf approached our bus as if sensing perhaps therein lied safety.  To see this and not want to intervene is impossible.  The calf was so little, so scared, so vulnerable.  As we drove away, many commented that the mom must be somewhere close by and all would be well.  But to a person, I believe we understood that by morning, that poor unprotected little calf was likely to be no more.

Such is nature.  Some live.  Some die.  Such is Denali.

THE ELUSIVE MR. LYNX

Since my arrival in Alaska four years ago, I have wanted to get a shot of a lynx.  I have managed to take several low light, grainy, snapshots of this elusive cat but never anything that did justice to the lynx's sheer regalness.  Until Tuesday. 

INTO THE WILD

Finally made it onto one of the shuttle buses for a ride out to Toklat.   Beautiful sunny day.  Was glad to see the band of sheep at Polychrome.  Last time I saw these gentlemen they were causing quite the traffic jam on the last day of the road lottery.  Also saw the band of females and newborns up high across the Tolkat River from the rest stop.  On the ride back, my fellow riders and I were treated to a display of nature not many have witnessed.  A young grizzly bear stalking a Moose and her newborn calf.  As intent as the bear was to add moose calf to his menu, the mother was determined to protect her little one.  While we watched the bear tried several times to separate the two, but mother moose proved a reliable protector, charging fiercely at Mr. Grizz.   So what does a bear do when he is charged by a 900 pound moose.  He runs.  Not sure how this drama played out as we left after 30 minutes.

MAY

Spent the past three weeks in Denali National Park.  Lots of hiking and enjoying nature's rebirth after a long hard winter.  Things are just starting to green up.  Past few weeks have been rain free so the area is drying out fast.  Snow is almost gone.  Champ is none too pleased with that development. Nancy has worked nonstop with a new financial accounting program so its been me and the dog hiking the area trails.  Mt Healy, Sugarloaf, Monana Creek, and most of the trails near the Park entrance.