|
July 5, 2009
We started our adventure deeper into the park via the park bus
The one-laned roads were windy and unpaved.
Personal vehicles are prohibited inside the park.
There was a sheer drop off out the left side of the bus
This is a view of the road we traveled
The views were breathtaking
We rode school bus #535 for 66 miles (3+ hours) stopping for wildlife sightings
We were fortunate to have such a clear day
Jonna and Darby enjoying the tundra
Golden Eagle
Our first grizzly bear sighting with three cubs
A cute little Arctic Ground Squirrel
The scenery was spectacular
The wildflowers were in bright bloom everywhere we looked!
Darby and a wildflower field guide on a ranger-led walk
at the Eielson Visitors Center
Bill was our ranger on the hike (holding a bear skull)
The Eielson Visitor Center was completed in 2008
and runs entirely on solar and hydro power
Grayson and Darby relaxing at the center
This bear just walked straight down the road in front of the visitors center!
Jonna and Grayson hiking up the Alpine Trail. The trail ascended 1,000 feet over the course of 1.5 miles from 3,700 ft at the Visitor Center to 4,700 feet!
Jonna resting on the way up the Alpine Trail
This cute little Pika makes a big noise!
The road into Denali can be seen on the left - the visitors center is a long way down!
There is a colorful and beautiful array of life living on the tundra
Grayson at the summit of Alpine Trail
It was a great hike
Mark and Darby were busy tracking bear and having some fun
around the Eielson Visitor Center while Jonna and Grayson hiked
On the ride back we saw a young, female caribou along side of the road
We saw another bear ambling along side the road - he crossed right in front of us!
Grayson and Darby stretched their legs at a rest stop during our return to camp
This giant caribou walked straight down the road toward our bus!
...and crossed the street to head for an ice patch
We finally spotted some Dall Sheep up on the mountainside
We couldn't get enough of the fantastic scenery
The evergreens were Jonna's favorites
This squirrel returned to our site
after swiping an unattended graham cracker earlier
The mossy forest floor at our campsite
Darby looks totally relaxed!
|
