Denali to Mat Su (Post # 23)

June 29

After leaving our park this morning we went back into Denali to see a few more things at the Visitors' Center and to watch the dog sled demonstration.  We didn't have time for these on Wednesday--our bus ride was too long.  

*(Make sure to read the important message at the bottom of the page!)

 Denali has the only working dog sled team in the United States.  Because Denali is wilderness, commercial vehicles are not permitted anywhere in the park except on the roads.  The dogs are used for hauling construction supplies, research equipment and researchers, and other needs in and out of the park. All the dogs were very friendly and several were available to be petted.

 Up until the time for the demonstration, the dogs were very laid back and serene.  The park ranger doing the show told us the dogs knew when it was time for them to go to work and all we had to do was clap.  When we did that they all became very excited and began barking and jumping around.  It was like they were all saying, "Pick me!"  But they only use five for the demonstration.

It was amazing to see how fast these dogs can run!

We saw on huge moose and her baby in Denali this morning and then this one on our way to Mat Su.

The only "igloo" we've seen. At least that what the sign says it is.

The flowers are SO plentiful in Alaska!

We stopped at Trapper Creek to visit Wal-Mike's, a famous stop along the Parks Highway, and to see a friend we made at McKinley B&B where we stayed in 2015.

 We missed this last time so we wanted to make sure we stopped.  Paul even got propane there, and I found a couple of little bags to hold knitting supplies.

This is the Bed and Breakfast.  They've made a few updates since we were here.

 Rene and Rodney have a beautiful place!

Rene's flowers.

 One of the last things we saw before getting to our park in Mat Su--a great reminder that Jesus is our Rock on whom we stand.  I need Him all the time, but especially during this hard time of grief.

*An important note on the More Photos link!  Paul has rearranged the pictures so that you don't have to scroll through all of them to get to the current date's photos. (Do I hear some applause out there?)  Now, the current pictures are at the top when you open the link. Hope you enjoy!

A Day in Denali National Park (Post # 22)

June 27-28

Our day to go 85 miles into Denali National Park and Preserve was as beautiful as it could get.  Our bus driver called it a stellar day, meaning Denali was putting on its best performance for us.  

                 We saw our first moose not long after we left the visitor's center. 

Denali (which used to be called Mt. McKinley) was "booming".  Our driver said that's what they say when there is no cloud cover and all of Denali is visible.  I guess that's a good word because it surely is "booming" above the other mountains, especially all covered with snow.

 Look closely at the narrow strip of white about middle way of this picture.  That's the road we're on.  And, yes, that is a steep drop off!  The road was like this much of the way.

Caribou! (I always think of Polar Express when I say that word.)

I love this one!

This is a quilt hanging in the Eielson Visitor Center at mile 66.  Right beside this display was a whiteboard that read, "If you could title a book from your experience in Denali, what would it be?"  There were several sticky notes on the board already and one person had put "God is so good."  So I added my sticky note to those already there.  I put "Our God is an Awesome God"!  And YES HE IS!

It is very windy and cold here at this visitors' center but at least it has nice bathrooms.

There were only a few restroom stops along this 85 mile trek and I visited every one of them, even if they were just port-a-johns!  The RV has certainly spoiled me by not having to use public restrooms, but when you gotta, you gotta!

The clouds rolling in over the tops of these mountains look like waterfalls.

Another moose.

I'm squishing the soft tundra.  That's what our bus driver told us to do!  And it was very squishy!

Our 85 miles ended here.  They need to rename it "Mosquito Lake"!

The south side of Denali.  We drove a long way to see this side of it.

A mama grizzly and her two cubs.

Two more grizzlies.  We saw a total of six.  We also saw some wolves off in the distance.

A red fox right beside the road.

Today has been a rest day for us here at Denali RV Park.  It's been cloudy most of the day and cool. Yesterday was a long day--twelve hours in Denali and most of it was riding with a bus full of people. I was glad for the solitude today.

Our view out the front of the RV.

Our view out the left side of the RV.  We can see this from our window if there's no RV right beside us.  I had to take this one from outside, though.  This RV park stays close to full all the time.  

This is the view out the right side of the RV, looking up over the other RVs. 

 We've enjoyed our four days here, but it's time to hit the road again tomorrow.  We're going to stop at the Denali Visitors' Center first and watch their dog sled show.  

Then it's on to Talkeetna and and Mat Su Valley.