This is the 19th in a continuing series about our trip to Alaska
Majestic Mt. McKinley, North America's Highest
On 99 days out of the hundred of summer in Denali National Park, Mt. McKinley – highest peak in North America – is either totally or partially obscured by clouds. We have talked to many people who saw only the base or part of the way up.
Thursday, the day our caravan boarded a bus for Denali, IT WAS THE ONE PERCENT! During our 13 hours on the bus, every glimpse of the Alaskan Range in Denali provided a sparkling view of these snow-covered giants.
If you saw the movie “The Bucket List” you know it means doing the things you wanted to do in life before you kick the bucket. I didn’t know I had a bucket list until yesterday.
We saw, from top, Arctic ground squirrel, moose, trumpeter swan, wolf, Mt. McKinley, Dall sheep and grizzly bear -- plus, eagles, harriers, hikers, bikers, muskrat, caribou, ducks, ptarmigan, gulls and probably more
Today I’m heading for a whitewater rafting trip, so I’ll try to keep this short.
I’ve got to start out by saying, “I’m stoked” with the comments from the “Audience Participation” article [See Part XVIII]. The diversity of thought is, I’m sure, much appreciated by those thinking of traveling here. On our caravan, we have mostly motorhomes, two 5th wheels, a Winnebago View and a Citation in what I would call the in-between class, a Class B and one travel trailer (ours). No one seems to think their rig isn’t appropriate for the difficult trip.
Yesterday we woke up to having no water service in the campground. One day one of our campgrounds had a power outage; another time, it was the entire town. Most of us just say, “Well, that’s Alaska.” As RVers we try to be ready for anything the road throws at us, so I think that the glitches in the experience make it an experience.
It’s no big thing, according to group member Bill Kern and wife Marilyn, who made this same trip10 years ago. “The infrastructure is much better today,” he said. There is far less gravel and far less construction along the way. Ten yeas ago at this RV same park by Denali, there was no communication. No phones and of course no internet. Today, everyone camping here can get on the park’s WiFi (except me). Bill said they are pleasantly surprised by the differences.
Because of the harsh winter conditions, I don’t know if this land will ever lose its sense of adventure. Personally I’m thankful for the improvements; thankful for the opportunity to rough it.
Getting back to yesterday’s Denali visit, the word “spectacular” probably comes closest to summing it up. Larry, our bus driver, reminded us often that he has rarely if ever seen it like that in eight years. A ranger at the visitors center in the park agreed it was a 1 percent day for the summer, although there are a few more clear days in winter.
This is a good time to mention that the density of visitors to Denali is sparse. Personal vehicles are only allowed to go in 15 miles. Most shuttle buses go about 32, and very few do what we did, going all the way to Denali Backcountry Lodge at the end of the road 92 miles from the entrance. We went 184 miles and could only lose interest for a few minutes before something else drew our undivided attention.
We were blessed with perfect weather conditions and the variety of wildlife that came to see us yesterday. We hope you get the same views, but thankfully the powers above knew we were doing this blog and wanted you to have an idea of all there is to see here.
From the “Never-Bored RVers,” We’ll see you on down the road.