The Denali Experience

Riley Campground, Denali National Park – July 2 thru 6, 2014

EJ got us up early, 5:30AM to be exact. After a quick breakfast,  we were barreling down the Parks highway in the fog by 6:40. The construction delays we experienced yesterday were gone today, but the torn up spots were still there. We stopped in Healy to fuel up Big guy and the Element as it was 55 cents a gallon cheaper than in Denali.

By 7:30 EJ was cruising the campground waiting for someone to leave one of our 4 preferred sites. In the meantime, I took care of making sure Big Guys tanks were appropriately empty and full in anticipation of our 5 day dry camping experience.

Luckily our number 1 spot was vacated first and we pounced on it, leaving the Element parked there while we walked back to the Mercantile Store to get Big Guy. By 9AM we were set up and relaxing. Whew, we beat the hoards!

It had been raining but appeared to be quitting so we made a beeline for the visitor center and some coffee. A view over the Element reveals the clouds are still hanging around.

Finished with the visitor center we went into town to get the tourist thing over with. As we expected, same t-shirt designs, different attraction name. All the stores carried very similar items and we left with no purchases. However, squirrels were every where. The store owners had taken to trapping them and driving them 20 miles away to relocate them. This little fella is feasting on the remains of the bait used to capture his buddy. The buddy ended up participating in the relocation program.

Later in the afternoon we sat around with the Loosey Gooseys (part of the hoards that arrived) swapping stories while Indy looked on with fascination.

In the evening we played “Fast Track”.

On July 3rd our big experience was going on an ATV adventure. Since Denali was so crowded and the tour busses and the trains were spitting out tourists right and left, we expected our ATV experience would include numerous participants as well.

When we arrived there were about 30 people milling around and we thought they were going to be in our group. But as soon as we were off the bus, they all crowded on, the bus took off and we were left all by ourselves. Can this be? An ATV tour for two? Turns out it was.

After a brief driving test which consisted of maneuvering the ATV through two straight parallel lines of old tires we were on our way.

At our first stopping point…

Then it was EJs turn to drive.

I think she was having fun. What do you think?

This is where she got me muddy. Didn’t get a spot on her!

Now she’s going to try and wash it off.

We had a lead guide, telling stories here, and a guide who followed the lead guide. The follower is hanging his head in embarrassment.

Here we are standing in front of the “Sand Castle” along with our guides in the second picture.

EJ lets me drive back to the starting point. What a great trip. We’ll probably want to do this again!

We went back to the campground and got cleaned up and convinced some other folks we needed to go to the 49th State Brewery back in Healy.

We had some beer so good, the Golden Dahl, that we bought a half gallon to take home with us. More gatherings and games ensued and the beer didn’t last the evening.

Ah! The Fourth of July, and it’s a great day. We decide to drive as far into the park as we are allowed to see if we can find Mt. McKinley, Denali (The High One), the highest peak in North America.

Naturally we stop at the visitor center for some coffee first and see this guy trying to hitch a ride.

We drive to the end of the paved road, our allowed limit, where we get lucky and see the The High One.

Afterwards we gather for our Fourth of July pot luck, which was a roaring success.

And we even had entertainment.

It was a good day to be thankful for those who sacrificed for our freedom.

The fifth of July held another new adventure for us. A float trip down the Nenana River. After giving Mark a hard time about getting old, he and his wife Wendy decided to join us on a 2 hour float trip down the river. It was supposed to be a fairly tame trip, but remember, it has been raining a lot over the last week.

We get suited up for the ride.

Then as we are sitting in the bus that’s taking us to the launch point, sweltering in those suits by the way, all traffic comes to a halt as we wait for this huge thing to get by us.

We finally reach the launching site.

Outfitted with our life vests and eyeglass retainers we are on our way! EJ checking out the rough waters.

Mark and Wendy Pitts enjoying the ride.

We spot a moose. Apparently we snuck up on it because when we got closer it ran off.

Our Raft Master and intrepid oarsman.

Our float starts off innocently enough.

And then it got interesting.

Uh, Mr. Raft Master? Isn’t that rock wall getting a little close!?

Whoa! That’s a big rock!

And there’s another one!

Frank doesn’t look worried at all. Mr cool, calm and collected.

In a brief calm water area, our Raft Master jokingly asks if any one wants to take a dip? He previously mentioned the water was thirty-four degrees. Mark, it turns out, is just a little crazy and he jumps right in. We are all so surprised, no one thinks to take a picture until they are hauling him back into the raft like a wet sack of potatoes. Did I mention Mark is just a little bit crazy?

Our Raft Master appears to be bored and makes a phone call going down the river. Actually he’s calling to see  where our take out spot will be. Since the river is high and flowing fast they have to check the areas each run.

All too soon the float trip is over. It really was a fun spectacular adventure. EJ and I head over to the pizza place for some beer and food. It’s been another good day.

July 6th, our last full day in Denali NP. A perfect day for a hike. But first we drive out to see if we can find Denali one more time. And there it is.

Our hike takes place at the Mountain View Trailhead. Here Frank is counting to 10 as he waits for EJ.

Checking out a snow melt stream. Yep, it’s cold.

A magpie checking us out.

This is what happens when a show melt stream or river meets a glacial melt body of water. Snow melt is clear and glacial melt is full of ground up rocks and boulders.

Cabin used by the winter park patrols.

A parting view of the Denali park landscape. Tomorrow we begin moving towards Talkeetna. Rumor has it this is the town that “Northern Exposure” was based on.