Destination Denali

Denali is referred to as the jewel in the crown of Alaska's national parks. Not only does it have the tallest; and most beautiful; mountain in North America, but it also holds thousands of the many amazing animals that make Alaska so famous. Grizzly Bears, Moose, Wolves, Carabou, Mountain Goats, Pika, Marmots, Beaver, Lynx, Fox, Dall Sheep and a multitude of smaller more scurrying and scampering creatures.

We navigated the tourist information and set up our tiny wee WalMart tent once again in the campsite near the entrance, setting the alarm for some silly hour the next morning when we would catch the camp bus that runs deep into the park. Another rather too chilly night later, we plunged into the park.

Our first wildlife sighting was not especially impressive, Dall Sheep climbing high up on a cliff several kilometres from the road, which I could barely see even with the aid of squinting, but Brad assured me that those tiny blotchy white rocks had faces, so I ticked of Dall Sheep from my mental 'To See in Alaska' list, though it felt like cheating.

From then on we seemed to be stopping ever few minutes for some new sighting - A big male Moose, A herd of Carabou and then two beautiful chocolate coloured grizzlies grazing happily on grass and berries. We were hoping to see Mt Mckinley (Also know as 'Denali' or 'Bloody Hell Thats Big') in all its towering glory, but we knew that the odds were not good, only upon 20% of the year do the clouds part long enough for the mountain to be visible and today was definately not going to be one of those days, the clouds were hanging so low over the plains that we could hardly tell where the mountains were hiding.

That night we bedded down at the furthest campsite in the park, in which they had a shed set up for you to store your food so the bears did not get attracted to the scent of Chef Boyardee floating out from under the canvas.

We went on a wee hike up a nearby hill and munched on the bear berries that had managed to survive the poor growing conditions, and then, as we walked back into camp with stained fingers, miracle of miracles the clouds parted and there towering in front of us, so much higher than we were expecting - The Big Kahuna..... Mt McKinley.

Zooming north from Denali, the signs of end of season were everywhere, 70% off sales in the tacky tourist shops, 'Closed for season signs' springing up outside Motels and the colours of the trees becoming if possible, an even more vibrant yellow, glowing in the sunlight and enhancing the rugged beauty of the mountains. Every kilometre, we fell more in love with Alaska.

In the northern city of Fairbanks we were upon the 64 degrees latitude, only 2 degrees from the Arctic Circle, tantilisingly close, yet still several hundered dollars of fuel away and sadly it was not money we had to spare. So at 64.82N 147.87W we turned back south - who knows how long before I am so far North again, I am hoping for soon.