Blogs from Denali, Alaska, United States, North America
May 22nd 2012
We finally got around to setting up our blog so here begins the chronicle of our first few days. Road miles to date: 285 We landed in Anchorage, Alaska at about midnight on Wednesday 16th. After a few hours sleep in a last-resort room above the hotel boiler room (so we were told later on) we awoke to clear blue skies. A brief orientation of downtown Anchorage had us snapping photos like seasoned tourists! The immensity of everything, from the trucks to the food portions and even to the wheel chairs at the airport (double the seat size) made us realise we were a long way from home. It's a cliche but it has felt like we just landed on a film set - they really have the gigantic Coca Cola wagons and say 'have a ... read more
September 21 - Willow to Denali
Published: November 30th 2011North America » United States » Alaska » Denali
September 21st 2011
Vern and Susan have the type of property that I consider a dream come true. In an acre and a half clearing there is a house, Barn/garage, out buildings and a guest house. A garden area and wood shed complete the picture of country living. Surrounding it is wilderness. A less wooded section to the back of the house provides a small vista and the rest offers woods to hike and run through with the pups. When asked how much property he has, even Vern was not sure. Not all of his property is contiguous. He bought up the lots in front of his property so that he would have more privacy and there is a combination of public land and several owners to the rear of his lot leading out to Hatcher pass. Speaking of ... read more
September 2nd 2011
ATTEMPT AT PCITURES, I think we may have this working. Needed to get pictures from camera. These cabins outside Denali have a real computer, so I downloaded to the computer then copied to a flash drive, didn't want to leave on an unknown computer, then copied to this blog site. We 're out of time so we may have to give detail about pictures later, just enjoy! Trisha... read more
August 1st 2011
August 1, 2011 DENALI TO FAIRBANKS Our drive today was relatively short so we took our time to enjoy a leisurely drive into Fairbanks where we will be for the next 5 nights. Our first stop was in the small town of Nenana located at the confluence of the Nenana and Tenana Rivers. Many of the names in this area end with “na” which means “river” in the native language. Nenana boomed during the early 1920s as a construction base for the Alaskan railroad. On July 15, 1923, President Warren G. Harding drove the golden spike at Nenana signifying the completion of the railroad. Today Nenana is the hub of the tugboat/barge shipping industry that traverses the interior rivers providing goods to the many villages. Nenana is best known for the Nenana Ice Classic, an annual ... read more
July 31st 2011
July 30-31, 2011 HOUSTON TO DENALI, AK. Unfortunately the weather was cloudy and rainy today so there was no chance of seeing the vast Alaskan mountain ranges. One of the best views of Mt. McKinley can be seen from Mary’s McKinley View Lodge but we were not able to see the mountain at all because of low cloud. However, Dwain was able to capture a picture of the view on a clear day from the photos on the wall!! This was a good place to stop for a cup of coffee and a delicious pecan roll fresh out of the oven. Then it was on to Denali RV Park and Motel where we parked for the next two nights. This was another short drive so we were able to relax in the afternoon after getting settled ... read more
June 26, 27, and 28--Byers Lake CG to Riley Creek CG, Denali
Published: July 6th 2011North America » United States » Alaska » Denali
July 6th 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011 Byer’s Lake State Park Raining and 55 degrees. Starting mileage 10580. 9:30 Because this area is near a military plane crash site and is equal distance between Fairbanks and Anchorage, a Veteran’s Memorial honoring Alaska’s Vets and their sacrifices, was placed near this State Park. When we got to the Memorial, about 3 tour buses were in the parking lot. I guess they have to give the cruise ship people their money’s worth and this was also a good bathroom break stop. Valerie got out and took pictures. We drove along north and Valerie took pictures of a cottonwood tree and fireweed wild flowers in bloom. Saw a female moose moving from a pond into the woods. As usual now, the animal was too quick for a picture. Arrived in Denali Park ... read more
June 27th 2011
Most people arrive in Denali by train or by bus. We took the McKinley Express north from Anchorage with a glass dome top and scenic views on both sides. Little chance to blog, but lots of time for reading, card playing, napping and picture taking, besides meeting and chatting up everybody in my car. As soon as I arrived at the lodge in Denali, it was time for my fly fishing adventure. Okay, so I wasn’t a pro, but I “got her done” as they say. They didn’t have a full body suit, so I settled for frog tog no camo waders. I don’t think it was a bad look…what do you think? My learning curve wasn’t too bad (mainly because we were on a skinny streambed and the casting was very short). I got the ... read more
June 21st 2011
Took the train to Denali en route to the Arctic. Gorgeous unspoiled terrain. No roads (except one, closed to private vehicles), no condos, no crap to obscure the scenery.... read more
June 14th 2011
Today we boarded the McKinley Explorer train for an all day ride to Denali. We had a large domed carriage which enabled us to experience the spectacular scenery all around us. I spent quite a bit of time on the exterior deck taking lots of photos of course. Early in the trip we passed the Elmendorf Airforce base which had lots of signs saying “no photos’....so who’s going to stop all us tourist on the train taking photos as you travel past ? Didn’t see what was so secret there anyway....lots of F22’s and Hercules parked there but that’s about all we could see – secret indeed ! We enjoyed a lovely lunch in the downstairs dining area of our carriage and then took in the rest of the beautiful scenery on the way to Denali. ... read more
