Denali, Deenaalee, Dinadhi, Denaze, Dghelaay Ce’e, Dghelay Ka’a, McKinley????

Day 14, August 28th

All the many ways this beautiful mountain has been identified by the native people.

Woke up to a light rain and clouds but decided to stick to our plan to hike the Tsenesdghaass Na Trail (Or Three Lakes trail) as we are hoping to do the Savage River Trail and Alpine Ridge Trail when the weather will be potentially better. Had a nice quiet walk with a few surprises as we kept flushing something out of the trees as we walked. Finally saw what was making all the racket! I believe it’s a Willow Ptarmigan. These birds are barely visible with their brown feathers in the summer/fall but then turn white in winter. Though there were moments when I swear I smelled something musky – it reminded me of the time when I was hiking with my friends in the Enchantments and I commented it really smelled musky and seconds later a goat came crashing out of the bush and knocked my friend Kelly down the hill! I wondered what was lurking in the undergrowth! The only bears we saw today “walked” with us :).

We did encounter a hiker coming from the lakes who showed us amazing pictures of a moose eating in the middle of one of the lakes. I hoped we’d get to see a moose but sadly the trail to the lake was an out and back of over 9 miles one way! Though we did later find out that you can drive to another trailhead off of the George Parks Highway and walk about a mile to the same lakes we were hiking to! Next time.

Fall is here and the leaves are starting to turn colors. When we did finally get a glimpse of Dead Mountain there was new snow dusting the top.

This poop was all along the trail and we kept waiting to come upon the perpetrator….

Actually saw three males with velvet still hanging from their antlers and one cow off by herself. I’ve only seen one other moose and it was a smaller male standing on the side of I84 as we came west from Idaho – rather odd placement. Happy to see these guys all enjoying their breakfast down in the willows and birch.

Day 15, August 30th

Denali Denied!

We were told that only 30% of the visitors to Denali actually get to see the mountain! There are even stickers, pins etc for the 70 percenters that don’t ever get to see the mountain. Currently visitors are only allowed to go 15 miles into the park as the Wonder Lake Campground is currently closed due to a landslide at mile 43. There are bus tours that you can take that will allow you to travel deeper into the park but those tickets sell out months in advance AND there is no way I’m getting Ronaldo on bus tour. So, we decided we’d hike to our best potential view point of Denali. And we were denied! It was still beautiful up on the Alpine Ridge but the wind was howling (it almost took Ron right off the ridge) and damn cold too. We had many cloud breaks, rain curtains or virgas (loved learning that term) in the distance but sadly the cloud cover sucked up against Denali and we could only imagine it was there.

Started the hike along the Savage River which is a glacial river canyon and then headed up to the Alpine Ridge to hike the 4 miles or so along the ridge. Did get to see several Dall Sheep, a huge black billed magpie and maybe marmots – still no bears. The Alpine Ridge trail was closed yesterday due to bear activity, the blueberries are ripe and tasty, but the bear moved on and allowed us to hike the trail today.

Heading out tomorrow for the Kenai Peninsula and thankful we are traveling in our trusty van, Merry Prankster, as the weather is frightful in Denali the next few days!