2004-08-29 Eklutna Lake 2004-08-30 Matanuska Glacier 2004-08-31 Tangle Lakes 2004-09-01 Tangle Lakes to Denali 2004-09-02 Denali NP 2004-09-03 Jen's Denali Adventure 2004-09-03 Snow Hike 2004-09-04 Denali to Anchorage 2004-09-05 Kenai Fjords 2004-09-06 Sealife Center and Exit Glacier 2004-09-07 Glaciers and Game Refuge

Day 5 (Thursday, 9/2/2004)

The ominous clouds of the previous evening had settled into the mountains, virtually guaranteeing that Mt. Denali wouldn't be visible this morning.  But what's bad for mountain watching tends to be good for wildlife watching, and we had been told that the wildlife is the real attraction of Denali NP.  Jen could hardly contain herself.

Denali NP is one of the most pristine wildernesses left in North America, and it is unique in that it doesn't allow private vehicles, trails, or guides.  The only mode of transportation into the park is by bus, which takes a leisurely 4 hours to get from the Park Headquarters to Eielson Visitor Center 66 miles in.  The wildlife are accustomed to the bus and will often come within 100 feet of it, so the riders act as spotters, and the driver stops whenever there is good wildlife to be seen.  And on this particular day, we saw a lot of it.  Hikers can get off the bus and hike at any point along the route (except in special areas set aside for wildlife management.)  But forming trails is discouraged, and formal guiding is strictly prohibited.

The moose, caribou, bears, and Dall sheep were out in force, easily visible against the parti-colored foliage.  Matt had encouraged us to get off the bus and hike, but by the time we started back from Eielson, it was getting quite chilly, and most of the group (minus Limor, our resident member of the Polar Bear Club) decided to stay on the bus.  We arrived back at the Visitor's Center and took a walk over to the Riley Creek store to souvenir shop.  By the time we got back, Limor had returned, and we headed back to the cabins for dinner.