Into the Wild

So, at the beginning of the month, I went into Denali National Park on the Tundra Wilderness Tour. I knew it was the right time to go, as fall colors were in full bloom (yes, Fall in Alaska hits at the beginning of September and is very short lived, just a few weeks). The colors did not disappoint. The greens of the spruce trees contrasted very nicely against the yellow birch/aspen trees and the reds of the fireweed. Absolutely gorgeous.

The top of the ridge at Polychrome Pass is the park road, where we drive along. Not a place for those with a fear of heights.

The weather was just absolutely gorgeous, and it came in the middle of a bunch of rainy days (before and after going into the park), so I couldn't have gone in on a better day. In fact, the weather was so clear, we got to see Denali (Mt. McKinley). For those of you who don't know, Denali is the original name given to the mountain we know as Mt. McKinley. One of the problems with the mountain, is that it is so big that it creates it's own weather system, making it often quite cloudy around the mountain, so much so that you can't see it! It's actually the biggest mountain in the world - not the tallest, but the biggest. Mt. Everest, while 29,000 ft above sea level, has it's base start at 17,000 ft in elevation, up on the Tibetan Plateau. Denali's base starts at 1800 ft, with a height of 20,320 ft above sea level (6000 ft more mountain than Everest). So, seeing it in the summer time, especially in it's entirety is quite a treat. Here it is.

Denali, in all it's glory. I'm at Stony Pass, about 38 miles or so from the mountain.

Me and the mountain. I'm staring right into the sun, thus the squinting.

I was also rewarded with sightings of some wildlife - some grizzly bears, a wolf, lots of Dall sheep, and a particularly disturbed caribou who went nuts running down the park road.

Possibly the single most awesome shot I've ever taken!*

This caribou was running like something spooked him.

He came right down the road.

Ultimately, the trip had one huge drawback. 8 hours on a freaking school bus! I went in with my driver, who is about my size and build. Two guys with broad shoulders in a cramped, full school bus? Not fun!

I kid you not about the school bus.

My advice for you? Take one of the green shuttle busses, that go out to Eielson or wherever. THOSE busses are also school busses, but they let you get off and go hiking or whatever, and you just catch the next one in or out, your choice. Would be the more prudent way to go.

*Ok, I didn't actually take this live. It is a picture of a picture. Wouldn't it be awesome though?