Travels of Pauline and Chuck: Denali, part two about June 22nd, 2013

In the last post we showed the first day (and night) at Denali NP&P. This post will continue the adventure. The name of the Campground we stayed was Riley Creek CG, near to all the buildings ( Park HQ's, Visitor center, Sled Dog Kennels, Wilderness Access Center, Murie Science and Learning Center, and Train Station).

On the way back from the "Alpine-glow"and ride out to the end of the road, for us anyway, we stopped for a Dog sled demonstration at the area set off for them. These are not the small racing (comparatively) dogs like we have seen before. These are larger working dogs, but they both have one thing in common, other than being dogs: They love to run! It is in the high 70's at least and when the rangers were hooking up the teams for the demo, they all wanted to go, go, go.

Hooking to the sled

They want to run so they have to stop them and tie them down.

Stopped, tied, drink of water, and a chew bone

Now she told us how the dogs work during the winter. In fact it is easier to work here in the winter. No bear problems, ice roads and snow are easier to travel on anywhere in the park. These dogs were used to transport all the supplies when a nearby bridge was built, which was over 37 tons.

There are several teams here and they are exercised the year round. There are volunteers among the employees who come out every day and walk the dogs on the trails and beside the roads.

the next generation

And there is the future dog teams. They are all trying to stay cool.

On the way back to the CG we saw a moose in the trees.

Then it came out of the trees right in front of us. Needless to say, we were not moving.

Looking for a ride maybe?

Really is quite a road block, then, when no one would give her a ride, she went back into the trees.

Probably a good idea.
That was most of the exciting part of the day. We went into the tourist trap and got presents and supper and headed back to the RV. It was getting to be a long, long day.

The next morning bright and early (at least early), we went to the Wilderness Access Center for our bus tour. Before we left home we got a Alaskan Tour Saver booklet. It was full of 2 for 1 tours, accommodations (hotel rooms etc), train, airplane, helicopter, boat rides (of all kinds) and so forth. You get the idea.) This was one of the tours. We take this school bus out to Kantishna (end of the road), 92 miles ride down the only road in the park. It will be a twelve hour ride. Bring your own food and drinks and potty box. No, the last one just joking. There will be a few rest stops along the way. And we will see much wildlife, enjoy vistas of the ranges and rivers, etc, etc, etc. ..And "maybe" see Denali up closer, just 40 Miles away.

The idea was that if anyone see something they yell and say the "time direction" where the critter is. Well, the first yell was for this bear at 2:15.

The bear turned into a Red Fox, and it ran straight for the bus. Under the road thru a culvert and around a hill.

So much for our first "bear". The young Japanese boy who called got a razing from his family until the driver asked who else saw the fox. I don't think I will be able to take all the excitement.

These are some of the pictures we took of the road and you say, "Ah, that's not so bad"

Then we add this.

And this.

straight down, yep, that's the edge of the road

The driver would not answer the question "How many buses go over this in a year? and we were not talking about the road.

This is the map of the Park Road. We did see vistas.

That is the Teklanika River. You probably noticed right off that it is a braided river as are most of them around here. What is a braided river, you say? Let's show you a better picture of it.

That is a braided river and it is a long way down. Rivers like we have in Oregon erode the bed as it flows over it, but a braided river is coming off glaciers, most of the time more than one. And when they do they carry silt, or glacier powder. All the way from real fine dirt to good size rocks. So this silt adds to the river bed and it changes all time. Making new channels and making the bed very flat. And the water is gray, very seldom blue, You will see more of this.

This is a closer view of the river.

At one of the rest stops they had these Caribou antlers. You could pick them up and pretend you were a big bad bull. They were heavier that I thought. Nice racks.

Denali kept getting closer

And the vistas kept us busy looking.
Oh yeah, the wildlife. We saw some. Remember it was a hot day and they are cool weather critters so not too much luck.

We saw this caribou in a patch of snow trying to keep cool and keep the bugs off. He was still there when we came back 9 hours later.

Dalls sheep

There were a few Dalls sheep on the hillsides.

We did see quite a few Caribou. After a while on the bus it was "Just another Caribou".

We also saw at least three Grizzly bears, all a long ways off. Too hot for them. Did you know a Brown bear and a Grizzly bears are the same animal? One lives inland and is smaller due to eating less fish. While they a getting ready for winter they eat 40,000 calories a day! That is a lot of cheeseburgers.

And there were flowers.

And another grizzly.

We got to Eielson Visitor Center. NO cars come out this way nor does electric, water lines, etc. 62 miles over the only road in over 6 Million acres--Or so they say. The park doubled in size when it was made a National Park and a lot of people who had resorts, camping areas, etc lost their property, but maybe made money. We did not hear their side of the story. This is a picture made by My Dear Bride of the view at the center. Memorable!