Friday, September 11
Although 9/11 brings many unhappy memories to many people, it will be a date that brings back marvelous memories to us - memories of the most vibrant colour palette, the brightest white snow, the most majestic mountains, tundra grasses, spruces, willows, glacial rivers and huge bull moose. All things Alaska really!
Amazing colours and huge mountains
After a quick breakfast, we set off on a 5 hour guided Natural History tour that took us right into the National Park. Our transport was renovated school buses, adapted to burn less fuel and therefore have less of an impact on the vegetation and wildlife. This sort of bus is the only public transport allowed in the park.
Our driver Monty, was a wealth of information and so passionate about everything in the Park. He encouraged us to really interact and use all our senses as we moved throughout the Park. First stop was the Visitors Centre where we were shown a short film on the history of the Park and the first rangers, visitors, etc. back in the 1920's. Wow, am I glad I'm travelling today - not in dresses, high heels, stockings, etc and Al in shirt, tie and jacket. I'm also very glad to be staying at the Lodge and not the tents they used back then. Monty slowed the bus down whenever possible to allow us to take pics and ooh and aah. It really was the most breathtaking scenery - and we couldn't believe the colours we saw.
Norma outside the vintage hut
Next stop was to a vintage hut used as a cache and later a ranger's hut where a professional storyteller - Norma - dressed in 1920's clothes - welcomed us and, staying in the period, told us of life in the Park in the '20's.
Snow covered Mt McKinley makes an appearance below cloud - in the background
We then drove on and were thrilled to see Mt McKinley/Denali out from under the cloud it so often hides under and what a magnificent sight it was with the sun streaming down on it. It is the tallest mountain in North America so really was very impressive!
Our guide Monty with Janice, the Athabaskan woman
Next stop was to hear an Athabaskan woman - one of the original native people of Alaska - talk on how her people have lived in the park area over the centuries and it reminded us of our visit to Uluru and hearing how the aboriginals lived and cared for the land.
From there we slowly made our way out of the Park and, once again were thrilled, this time to spot two huge bull moose with antlers glistening in the sun. Although a distance away from us, they were easy to see as they stand 7 feet tall and weigh up to 2000 pounds. As I said before, everything is huge in Alaska.
Denali National Park Ranger welcomes our bus
We spotted bear poop on the road - identifiable by its purple colour from their diet at this time of the year - blueberries. Moose poop, we were reliably informed by Monty, is brown so there you have it - it was a natural history tour after all. Sadly, the bears remained elusive today.
Moose sculpture at the Lodge for those who didn't get up close and personal to the real thing
We returned to the Lodge, checked out our videoing from the day, went for a coffee and cake then returned to our rooms to get ready for tonight's entertainment - the Music of Denali Dinner Show - described by earlier patrons as full of corny jokes, audience participation and the all-you-can-eat buffet only lasted about 45 minutes until our waiters had to go and perform in the show! As soon as the show finished the actors rushed to the back door to farewell everyone with buckets for the tips and to the music of "Hit the Road Jack", as they do a second show about 30 minutes after clearing the theatre. It was a fun way to end the day.
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