Talkeetna and Mt. McKinley

On July 1st, we traveled from Byers Lake Campground to Talkeetna, but the trip started out a bit rough. As we started up the first little hill in the campground, the truck stopped pulling. Bill checked out various things, and the rig just wouldn't budge. So, he backed us up into a day-use parking area. Within a few minutes, a ranger stopped by, and he went and told the park host, Wayne. Wayne came immediately and happened to have a 2010 Ford pick-up, which he said had done some odd things. For one, the computer would indicate something was wrong, he'd turn the truck off and back on, and everything would be fine - like the computer was learning. True enough, the same thing happened to us. After unhooking the trailer and hooking it back up, all was fine. Our phone had no service, so just in case something went wrong with the truck, Wayne followed us 10 miles down Parks Road to the state park's Denali Viewpoint South. All was well!

Bill and Wayne at Denali Viewpoint South (where it was so cloudy, we only saw a tiny part of Mt. McKinley):


Also at Denali Viewpoint South, Brad Mims from Memphis, Tennessee loved Barkley (and so did his dad, Darrell).


Talkeetna is a cute little town with a general store, restaurants, cafes, arts shops, gift shops, and several places to buy specialty ice cream. We walked around town several times, but it was a bit too rainy to take pictures. An arts and crafts festival was held over the weekend, and the turnout was fairly good, despite the rain. We bought several jars of delicious homemade jam in fireweed, wild blueberry and cranberry, and rhubarb. Mmm mmm good!

Sightseeing trains behind Talkeetna Camper Park, where we stayed:


At 10:30 p.m., a nice RVer told us to get down to the river to see Mt. McKinley, so we high-tailed it down there, and McKinley was out! We finally joined the 30% club, consisting of tourists who get to see the full mountain.

Mt. McKinley from the Susitna River:


Mt. McKinley behind Bill and Barkley:


Sue, in awe of the mountain:


Mts. Foraker, Hunter, and McKinley:


Fortune was with us on July 2nd, as we walked to Talkeetna Airport for our flightseeing tour of Mt. McKinley. The sun was shining!

Sue with the Fly Denali office cat:


Bill meeting the pilot, Dave, and checking out the plane before our flight:


Since we were flying over Mt. McKinley, we had to use oxygen. Here's Sue.


Our first glimpse of Mt. McKinley, which we learned is the federal name for the mountain. Alaska has officially adopted the Native American name for it, which is Mt. Denali. From left to right: Mt. Silverthrone; Mt. McKinley, north peak at 19,470 feet and south peak at 20,320 feet; Mt. Hunter; Mt. Crosson; and Mt. Foraker


Closer in:




Lenticular (flying saucer or lens) clouds, one over the south peak:














Fluting:




Don Sheldon Amphitheater:


Don Sheldon Mountain House and outhouse at 6000 feet:


Hanging glacier above Ruth Glacier:


Ruth Glacier:




















With our pilot and tour guide extraordinaire, Dave (Sue's stooping a little so we could all get in the picture; she's not quite that short):

Denali State Park - We Meet a Lynx!

June 29th: Another rainy day in the neighborhood as we head south on Parks Highway to Denali State Park.




Hurricane Gulch and its bridge:




Cotton Grass near Hurricane Gulch:




Lupine seed pods:




We spent a couple nights dry camping in Denali State Park's Byers Lake Campground. Barkley and Granmaw keeping warm:


The next day we walked around the campground and enjoyed two trails, one to the Alaska Veterans Memorial (where it was so crowded we just turned around and walked back to the campground) and one to Byers Lake.

Wild Geraniums (the ones we have at home are smaller and pink):




Northern Starflower:




Bog Wintergreen, also known as Pink Pyrola, about 10" tall:




Probably a type of rue - possibly the female Western Meadow Rue




Twisted Stalk:






We came upon this mama bird - possibly a willow ptarmigan - frozen in the middle of the trail to the Veterans Memorial. A few babies hopped down off the bank and started walking up the path, but she stayed.




We thought she was trying to keep us away from her babies, but it turns out she was focused on somebody else. A lynx!


The four of us, including Barkley, were thrilled to see this lynx. We had never seen one in the wild before. Barkley wanted to make friends with it - and with the birds - but he keyed off Bill and knew he had to be still and quiet. The lynx was probably not thrilled with us for happening upon his hunting ground, but mama and babies (we think there were 8) were.


On the trail to the lake:










Nagoonberry:






Wild roses and irises:


Beeman's Cabin, which was built in 1959 (we couldn't find out anything about the man or the cabin):


Sue loved this little table in the cabin.


Red Squirrel: