A day in Denali

July 5, 2012  ON TO DENALI

We said farewell to Fairbanks this morning and headed south for Denali National Park.   On the way Steve had to stop to take a picture of this sign, but I have no further comment on it.

We stopped for a short hike at the Nenana River Bridge then checked into the Denali Rainbow RV Park which has full hook-ups but otherwise is very basic---small sites, and gravel.   After setting up, we went into the park and toured the Visitor's Center, which was very informative.

Dall sheep in the Visitor's Center

Nenana River Bridge

Next on the agenda was a ride on the Park Road for about 15 miles up to the Savage River.  This is as far into the park as you can go in a private vehicle.  We had hopes of seeing bear or moose, and sure enough a female moose crossed the road right in front of us on the way back!   We also had hopes of seeing Denali, and I think we did but we can't be sure because it is so big that it creates its own weather system and there were clouds all around it.

Female moose crossing the road. 

Denali may or may not be in this picture which was taken at 10:45 pm

Going on the assumption that animals are more active in the evening, we decided to drive back up to Savage River about 10 pm.  Again we think we saw some parts of Denali, but it is hard to be sure.  We briefly saw a porcupine on the way up the road, but thought we were going to draw a blank on the way back.   Much to our surprise, we spotted a huge bull moose in a pond near the road.   We were so excited!   We got out of the car for pictures, and he was magnificent.  He wasn't disturbed at all by our being there.  Then, Barb noticed some movement at the far end of the pond, and there was ANOTHER bull moose--a much younger and smaller one!   Double excitement.  We stayed there quite a while watching them as there was still plenty of light even though it was almost midnight.

Beautiful big moose!

Younger, smaller moose.  

 Then on the way back, we saw another porcupine (or maybe the same one) waddling down the side of the road.  He was so comical moving along that we were all laughing.   It was a good animal day.  We got home after midnight, and it was still light outside!

Picture taken in the campground at 12:14 a.m.