Denali National Park

Nice place, this Denali.  The Park Service  maintains one road into the wilderness, which runs 15 miles of pavement, then another 50 miles of gravel.   By arriving early, we scored a nice site in the Riley Campground one mile from the entrance.

Mt. Denali is the principle attraction, at 20,320 feet, it is the highest peak in North America.  All the more impressive, you see it from 1,500 feet elevation, thus view far more of the mountain than peaks even in the Himalayas.  Less impressive, however, clouds typically obscure the view in the summer, particularly in this unusually wet summer of 2010.  Thus our view of Denali on day 1 from 50 miles away, and every day since.

You can see why we drove 3,000 miles to Alaska.

During our first few days, we took a bus tour 15 miles into the Park.  We saw several mooses, as well as a grizzly bear ambling down a dry creek bed.

Another day, we visited the Park sled dog kennels.  The NPS rangers still use sled dogs to patrol and service the backcountry of the park during the winter.

Bruce went on a river rafting excursion on the Nenana River, including some Class 2, 3 and 4 rapids.  A good and wet time was had by all.  Bruce, the (ahem) senior member of the crew, is showing the young blond how to paddle.  You gotta teach 'em everything.

Tomorrow we move our RV to a campground 15 miles into the park.  No phone, no Internet service, no nothin'.  Just the way we like it. 

Don't call us.  We can't call you.

Bruce