Denali National Park

Tuesday 11th June 2013
Cloudy - cool 50F
Alarms 5.20am breakfast in our cabin as it is larger and has a table and chairs. Leave at 6.25am for the Denali Park Centre at the Park entry to board our Bus for a 7am departure. Moose on the side of the road on our way in this morning no time to stop for photo's. You can't drive into the park more than 15 miles to Savage River so we must take a bus. Many wildlife sightings Grizzly Mum & 2 cubs up the mountain, Caribou in the riverbeds,  Golden Eagle and Dall Sheep and another Grizzly Bear. A couple of quick loo stops along the way and arrived at Eielson Visitor Centre at 11.10am - 66 miles from the entrance. It is a long narrow gravel road with a long drop off on one side. The bus drivers do a great job stopping for wildlife sightings.

Caribou in River Bed

Grizzly & Cubs - way upo on the Mountain side

Grizzly closer to the bus

View from Eielson Visitor Center

Quilt on wall at Eielson Visitor Centre

Sunrise - Sunset times

Mt Mc Kinley - just peaking though the cloud - not sure if you will see it! You need to know where to look.

The sun is starting to shine through and it is warming up with Mt Mc Kinley still covered in cloud, don't think we will get to see it today either. Short walk on the trail around the centre and then watched a film in their theatre on climbing Mt Mc Kinley. Lunch inside the visitor centre, we had to bring all our own food and drinks as there is none available up here. Joined the 1pm free Ranger led walk across the tundra with Ranger Matt who explained the Permafrost, pointed out flowers and while on this walk hte cloud lifted ever so slightly over Mt Mc Kinley put not the top. Managed to get back on the 2.30pm bus back to the Park entry no seats together this time. A couple of wildlife sightings on the way back, Grizzly Bears & Sheep, Arrived back at 6pm coffees for Deb & Pete and back to our cabin and Moose on the roadside on the way back.

Carlo Creek - behind our cabins

Mc Kinley Creekside Cafe

Sunny and 68F. Walked to dinner again at the Mc Kinley Creek Cafe. Another lovely home cooked meal and deserts once again. Walked around the grounds to the Beaver Pond trail and fish in the ponds. Mosquitoes everywhere and so are much larger than at home. Bed at 10.30pm still bright Sunshine outside.

Beaver Lake