Denali National Park Alaska-2

One of the main reasons to visit Denali was to see Alaskan wildlife in their natural habitats. Denali National Park and Preserve is very lightly maintained so as to be as natural as possible. Mostly that means the rangers prevent poaching and occasionally close areas to any human traffic to keep it as wild as they can.

 

Access to the backcountry in Denali is carefully controlled. Only a certain number of vehicles are allowed each day. Campground stays at Teklanika require a minimum of a 3 day stay with no driving allowed during your stay. This cuts down on vehicle traffic on the road.

The dirt roads in Denali are best driven just after the road grader has smoothed out the ever-present washboard sections.

A Golden Eagle flying by the bus

A caribou taking a rest break.

Dahl sheep climbing along the steep cliffside.

More caribou

The road stretches off into the distance

A herd of caribou

We were told Denali creates it’s own weather. Since rain was forecast for our entire stay, but it was dry the whole time, we are believers.

Wonder lake.

A glimpse of Denali

A moose.

The animals don’t seem to mind the bus.

And, of course, the grizzly bear. We were surprised at how brown bears are really more blond. They start out black as yearling cubs and then turn brown and then blond. Of course, black bears come in all sorts of colors including white. It’s the shape of the head and the hump on the back that really distinguishes between black and brown bears.

Willow Ptarmigan

Unusual plant…

Each year Polychrome pass, so named because of all the colors from the rich minerals, settles a bit. The dark line under the road is last years road surface, now about 15-20 feet below this years road surface. Our driver said that he is always one earthquake away from losing his job. We think his job is the least of his worries. Given that there is an earthquake somewhere in Alaska about every 15 minutes…

Sure footed.

Fascinating to think that they shed these antlers each year and then grown them back the next year. Both male and female caribou have antlers although the females tend to shed them a little later than the males.

The combination of the fireweed along the road, the mountains and the clouds makes for dramatic scenes.

A very blond brown bear

Rangers tag animals with tracking collars to better understand their range and feeding habits.

 

But if not…