Experience of a Lifetime

Roger and I had the opportunity to fly Mt. McKinley yesterday.  The highlight of the trip was landing on the Ruth Glacier which is 5500' up and 3000' thick.  We arrived at the Talkeetna Air Taxi office about a half hour before our flight was to leave.  Our party consisted of 6 adults and 1 child who was 2 1/2 and our pilot; Trevor.  Trevor has 6 years experience landing on the glacier and flying the mountains of Alaska.  When winter hits, he heads for Hawaii where he pilots plane tours of the islands.

Talkeetna Air Taxi Office

Our plane - DHC-2 DeHavilland Beaver - holds 7 passengers & pilot

Roger - Ready to Fly

Sue - Ready to Fly

Trevor, our pilot

We took off in our DHC-2 DeHavilland Beaver at 100 miles an hour.  We rose to 10,000' and flew between Mt. Foraker which stands at 17,400' and Mt. Hunter; which stands at 14,573'.  We flew over the Tokositna Glacier which is the longest glaciers in Alaska.  We then flew around Mt. McKinley and proceeded to land on the Ruth Glacier.  What a view!

Tokositna Glacier

North Face of Mt. McKinley

North & South Face of Mt. McKinley looking from West

Median of Tokositna Glacier

Mt. Hunter 14,573'

Sheer side of the Great Gorge

Coming into Ruth Glacier

Ruth Glacier

Roger & Sue standing on the Ruth Glacier

Sue in front of the sheer side of the Great Gorge on Ruth Glacier

K2 plane taking off from the glacier

Trevor, our pilot, & Roger

Glacier Ice

Glacier Lake with Glacier Ice floating in the lake

Denali Highway

This morning Roger and I decided to drive the Denali Highway.  The highway is 135 miles long from Cantwell RV Park to Glenallen.  The first 5 miles of the road on the Cantwell end are paved then it's gravel for 110 miles.  The last 20 miles on the Glenallen end are again paved.  What a trip we had!  On the entire trip, we only saw a porcupine, two eagles, a whole lot of arctic squirrels, and two robins.  Not a large four legged animal to be seen.

View of Denali Highway with Alaska Range in background

Our Car After 110 miles of gravel

I'll post more pictures of the Denali Highway trip tomorrow.  After we drove the highway, we continued on the Richardson Highway and when we arrived in Glenallen we turned onto the Glen Highway.  We spent the night at a very cute and very clean 5 room motel named the Nelchina Lodge.  Henry, the owner, recommended that we got to Lake Louise and eat at the Lake Louise Lodge that overlooks the lake.  What a great suggestion, we had wonderful food and what a view!  The owners of the Lodge are from Alexandria, MN.  They came to Alaska in the early 70's and never wanted to leave.

Lake Louise

Lake Louise Lodge

After dinner, we drove the 17 mile Lake Louise road back to the Glen Highway.  On the way, we were able to see the Wrangell Mountain Range.  One of the most beautiful ranges and part of the largest National Parks in North America. 

Just a glimpse of the Wrangell Mountain Range

Then we came upon the Tazlina Glacier - it left us speechless.

Tazlina Glacier and Tazlina Lake

Nenana Trip

We were invited to our good friends Jeannie and Dean Theel's 40th Anniversary party at their home in Nenana.  It was a surprise to them if we could come, so after our shift at the RV Park we took off for Nenana.  It's about 105 miles to their place from Cantwell, but a very beautiful ride.  Jeannie and Dean were very surprised to see us!  What a meal they put together for those of us who were there.  They served caribou shish-ka-bobs, potato salad, salmon salad, jello salad, layered salad, baked beans, veggies & dip, nuts, mints, banana bread and Jeannie's famous blueberry dessert and Dean's homemade Raspberry and Blueberry Wine.  We laughed, told stories and just all and out had a great time, as usual.  They are such wonderful hosts and people, if you don't have a good time with them it's your own fault.  Happy Anniversary Dean & Jeannie!

Sue, Jeannie & Dean

On our way home, we saw a huge bull moose just South of Nenana and two moose - one was about a year old and the other was probably it's mother near Cantwell.  Keep in mind that this picture was taken around 11:00 at night on a very overcast night.  It's so weird here being in the land of the midnight sun, you lose all track of time.

2 Moose Near Cantwell

2 Moose Near Cantwell

Walk in Denali National Park

 Roger and I decided to take in some of Denali National Park.  You are able to drive to Mile 15, the Savage River.  After that point, you must be on a tour or shuttle bus.  We first stopped at the Wilderness Center to find out about the tours and shuttle buses for future use and took in a short film about the "early days".  Then we headed to the Visitors Center where we were able to see another short film about the wildlife and see a great topographical map of the park and some wonderful displays of the plants and wildlife in the park.

Stuffed Moose in the Visitors Center

Before we went on our drive to the Savage River, we decided to have lunch in Morino's Grill at the Park.  Great food and not bad prices for Alaska.

View from Morino Grill at Visitor Center

After our great lunch, we headed for the Savage River and trail.  What beautiful sites on the way!

Road to Savage River

On the Road to the Savage River and Trail in Denali

After a beautiful 15 mile ride, we arrived at the Savage River and trail.  Off we went on our 2 mile hike.  What beautiful sites we saw including wildlife and wildflowers.

Savage River - Elevation 2780'

Start of the Savage River Trail

Snow along the trail

Artic Poppy

View along the River Trail

White Tundra Rose

Wildflowers

 

Wooly Caterpillar

Common Larkspur

Lessing Arnica

Arctic Lupine

Arctic Ground Squirrel

Can you spot the 2 Dall Sheep?

 

Forget-Me-Not

Moss Campion

Purple Cress

Big rock along the trail

Roger along the trail

Roger on the footbridge

 

Sue on the footbridge

On our drive back from the Savage River, we saw a moose.  She appeared to be very old and just wanted to get across the road.

Moose

Crossing the road

Moose crossing the road