Mt. McKinley and Denali National Park-Aug 27-29

We agreed the trip's highlight was seeing all of the tallest mountain in North America and we all took several pictures of the mountain and the park. I took a park ranger guided climb while my friends continued on their bus ride deeper into the park and closer to the Mt. This was a fabulous view and within sight of a feeding grizzly. (I will be posting on shutterfly 50 photos with captions soon, if you want them e-mailed to you put a comment below.

Skagway to Prince Rupert 430 miles

We are enjoying the Alaskan Ferry with a 3 bed state room with private hot water shower and bathroom. As Wayne said "yes, this is a pleasant surprise." Frank lost his LLBean weather predictor for a few days but that showed up today again registering temps 20 degrees too high. Ed took a Dramamine in case he got sea sickness and had to go to bed at 8 pm. Mr Dozy. We have seen porpoises along the ships side and many inlets and villages along the way. we are now in Ketchikan Alaska, a major port of call for the ships. Lots to look at and spend the 7 hours we have for stopover. We arrive at Prince Rupert BC at 6:15am and am planning on a motel as we then board the BC ferry very early before dawn. For those interested in celiac I'm eating ricecakes and peanut butter for lunches on the ferry. tonight going to a thai restauart in town

Up Close to a Glacier

Monday, August 31, we drove from Seward to Anchorage a short 150 miles. Just outside of Seward in Kenai National Park we hiked to Exit Glacier and stood at the edge of a beautiful and large ice mass. Glacier are defined as moving by gravitation pull. Above the glacier, higher up the mountain is Hardy icefield which to cross takes 6 days to hike and camp. We spotted a couple of Tundra swan, who seem to mate for life and migrate to Venezuela.

Last night we slept at Ft. Richardson BOQ and watched Monday Night Football. This is the signal we have left the Last Frontier, as Alaska is nicknamed, and are now driving east and south on a two day trip to Skagway and the Alaskan Ferry. It has been miles and smiles of fun and memories. Ed and Wayne continue to grow their beards. Wayne says Ed looks like a homeless man especially before he did his laundry here at the BOQ. All he needs is a shopping cart.

Our fill of fish and fishing

Saturday morning we packed the van after a rainy night and headed out through Anchorage and onto Seward 375 miles away. Seward is where many of the cruise ships dock and vacationers will take the Alaskan train to Anchorage or on to Denali National Park. We reserved a campsite at Millers Landing, which is really a fishing lodge with campsites and cabins. As the tents and the ground were wet and the cabin was only marginally more we took a bunk house with heater for 2 nights. Oh it was so nice sleeping on a bed mattress last night. We scouted out the place and the boys lined up a guide for some silver salmon fishing in the morning. Dinner was fresh halibut and salmon at the lodge, where on Saturday nights there is a big fish feed for $7/plate. Its popular, I guess about 25 locals and guests chowed down either on the porch or around the warm stove. This was a real treat.
Ed and Wayne returned from successful fishing with enough fish to feed us for weeks. Ed's arms and shoulders were so sore pulling in the big salmon that he cried uncle. Good pictures coming later when I get to Vancouver on Sept 9.

Denali National Park and Mt. McKinley 20,300ft

We were at about 4000 ft with the tallest mountain in North America lumming about 8 miles away as clear as crystal. Guide said this was one of the best viewing days this summer. Have seen all the wild animals except the wolf. Many excellent photos, but must warn you the animals don't get as close as in the Kenyan safari. Neither is the bedding as luxurious as we had it then.

Since my last posting we have driven down from Fairbanks, lunched at an excellent Thai restuarant and have seen Hot Licks, one of the world's 10 best ice creams. No licks as it opens at 3pm and it was noon with a lot of road ahead of us.

My mother-in-law knit me 2 pairs of wool socks for the trip. She is a God send for doing it. Much warmer than cotton.
Okay send comments and emails we love hearing news from either the provinces or the lower 48.

Restpit in Fairbanks and on to Denalhi NP

8/25 Tuesday Last night we camped at a tremendous well run privately owned campground outside of Tok. Empty sites were plentiful and we were the only tenters. We're getting very proficient at putting the tents up before it starts raining. Every night we're becoming better campers, learning better ways to unload and load the van, set up tents and cook meals. We're even getting better at enjoying our time after we finished the dinner dishes. Last night we did the NYT crossword. Ed buys any daily newspaper to keep abreast of world and national events. We entered Alaska at about 2 pm. Now we will spend 8 days in the 49th state and the weather is dicey. Temps in the low 50s and at day break its about 40 degrees. One traveler bought and wore to bed a one piece Stanfield brand long johns in Whitehorse and then a bought a toouk the next chance he had.
We did not see any large animals today. Certainly they must be in the woods after all this is Alaska. We go to Denalhi National Park tomorrow and for sure we will see and photo several big bucks, bears and I hope Dull Sheep.
A couple morning ago as we were breaking camp a couple younger men came up and started talking with Ed and Wayne. It surprised us when they asked if we are prospectors. In the early 20th century there were many prospectors in this area, but we're not that old!

Bath in Hot Springs feels fantastic

Hot Springs was great-hot and clean. ALCAN soldiers in 1942 used it as an R&R spot when building the highway. Met couple from Whisler BC heading to Maritimes. (sorry no pics downloaded as using public library computers.)
Rained all night-all okay as rain began once we were horizontal.
Wayne saw mother bear and 2 cubs up a tree. Ranger had sit. under control. This was 200 yards from our tents. (Food is in van at night).

8/23 Sunday Dr0ve 420 miles to Whitehorse Yukon. Very good road with little traffic. Photos of buffalo herd.
One of us couldn't find his new phone card and said to himself " I'm not having a good trip finding shit."
Scenery consists of several rivers and lakes, mountains and valleys. White spruce trees for millions of acres. Only 23 to 66 ft at maturity. No logging, no gas pipes and no commerce except rare gas station and lodging. Temps in 60s at day low 50s at night lite rain today. Going for steak dinner probably at Earls. All of us in good spirits and having a great time.