Day 4 Denali National Park

Day 4

INTO THE ALASKAN WILDERNESS

The Denali National Park covers a huge area, some 9,420 sq. miles. It is a fascinating glimpse into a sub-arctic landscape found throughout this latitude around the world but only really accessible to 'ordinary' people here. Just one road ventures into the wilderness and is only accessible by the official shuttle bus service.  

The only other way to see the park is from the air.

Courtesy of this Eurocopter AS 350 B2 built in 1999 I was able to fly amongst the peaks of the Alaska Range.

From the heliport on the east bank of the Nenana River we were soon passing over the lower heights of the Range.

The lower non-snow covered peaks exhibited a range of coloured rocks like this part of Polychrome Mountain.

As the peaks became higher so the snow cover increased.

Typical glacial features were in abundance not the least of which were the glaciers.

We flew between frost shattered peaks the names of which I can't remember.

Until we came within reach of Mt. McKinley reaching up 19,470 ft into the clouds.

With only the lower north slope visible we turned to make for home.

The return journey was to the south of our outward trip.

Coming into the heliport at bottom of photo and with our hotel on the bluff, top left.

In the afternoon we took an 8hr 'safari' style trip into the Park on one of the Park Shuttle buses. The long trip took us late into the evening and during the early stages we saw very few animals but after about 30 miles we reached the Teklanika River where the taiga (boreal forest of conifers) began to give way to the open tundra.

After some 40 miles we edged slowly round the bends of Polychrome Pass....

.......to reach Polychrome Overlook with its multicoloured landscape rising out of the open tundra, a fascinating world of dwarfed shrubs and miniaturised wildflowers.

Looking south from the Overlook the Alaska Range stretched before us from east to west.

It seemed a good place to have our picture taken.....

........ with Mount Pendleton 7,840ft behind.

We did eventually start to see the wildlife that we were promised but usually only at great distance from the road, like Dall Sheep,

berry picking grizzly bears,

and perhaps rarest of all, an alpha male wolf and his mate starting to cross the Toklat River East Fork. 

Both these wolves had collars on and are largely responsible for one of the Park's more famous wolf packs. Apparently they are seldom seen by visitors. Probably the highlight of the trip was to be able to see Mt. McKinley clearly.

Like the wolves, this is a rare treat being visible like this for only 2 or 3 days a month. 

Seen here from Stony Hill, it made up for the mornings disappointment. 

The mountain is some 45 miles away.

Lingering at the viewpoint until the last possible moment we then had to begin our 60 mile bus ride back along the narrow twisting road through the park. Even as we travelled the pale shades of evening sunlight lit up the surrounding mountains with a pink glow.