Saturday, July 11, 2009

Alaska Trip - Denali Part 1

Ahhhh Alaska....

Last time Jill and I ventured to Alaska, it was the start of a chain of events that would forever change our lives. A week after coming home from a series of great adventures, we had decided to leave Solarc and move to Colorado. No idea if anything life altering will come out of our latest trip to Seward's Folly but it was great nonetheless.

Here starts a series of blogs that will go through our days, starting with our trip 85 miles into Denali National Park to Wonder Lake for a night of camping and hiking.

After stuffing our bellies, we headed out for our 6 hour bus ride.
From Alaska Trip 2009 - Day 1


The colors in Denali are stunning, and never get old.
From Alaska Trip 2009 - Day 1


We got to see an incredible sequence on our way out. Here a grizzly sow and cub are chasing a wolf who had a caribou kill. The cub was running all out after the wolf, and the sow was in hot pursuit of the cub.
From Alaska Trip 2009 - Day 1


The wolf at least got away with a caribou hind leg.
From Alaska Trip 2009 - Day 1


Sow and cub a little closer.
From Alaska Trip 2009 - Day 1


Jill posing near the Eilson visitor center, rain and thick clouds coated the sky.
From Alaska Trip 2009 - Day 1


Jill and I after hiking down the trails near Eilson.
From Alaska Trip 2009 - Day 1


A good mantra to live by...
From Alaska Trip 2009 - Day 1


Bullwinkle and his buddy relaxing as we made our way to Wonder Lake.
From Alaska Trip 2009 - Day 1


Jill hanging out at our campsite.
From Alaska Trip 2009 - Day 1


Mt. McKinley / Denali is so big it creates its own weather and is rather bashful about showing itself. We were worried we would not get a clear view in the 24 hours we'd be at Wonder Lake.
From Alaska Trip 2009 - Day 1


The about 11pm (notice how bright the sky is for 11pm), the clouds started to part and the big beast appeared.
From Alaska Trip 2009 - Day 1


A little closer look at the 20,000+ feet peak. Regardless how many times I saw it, I was constantly taken back with its sheer size. Absolutely mammoth.
From Alaska Trip 2009 - Day 1

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