pic: Greg Perkins (0000)

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Denali National Park is about 1-2 hour drive southwest of Fairbanks. It is a nice couple of hours by train and I highly recommend that mode. Denali is the Native word for Mt. McKinley, I think the highest peak in the US, Mt. Ranier is the highest in the lower 48. Unlike most of the national parks, you may not drive through in your own vehicle. There are several methods of travel, one is by bus with a guide who explains the sights as you drive through the park and points out wildlife and vegetation. The roundtrip is about 10 hours depending on the wildlife stops. No need to worry in summer, the sun doesn't set until after 10 PM. Because of the permafrost at higher elevations, there is very little vegetation taller than 1-2 feet once you get away from the entrance of the park. While there, we saw moose, Dahl sheep, bear, ptarmigan (the state bird) elk in small numbers, eagle, the list just goes on and on. We were not able to see Denali while in the park because the mountain makes it's own weather. The next day however, we had a clear view for the entire day. We took a driving tour on the state road and by train and viewed it from both. A rare occasion we could even see it from Anchorage when we got there. What is amazing in Anchorage is the 24 foot tides that take place. Part of the day there is water and part of the day there is mud and when the tide comes back in watch out. A mixing of the fresh water from the glaciers running against the incoming saltwater produces a 2-3 ft "boar tide". We actually saw people trying to surf it although it is really cold.