Denali

We survived the night in our cell / cabin and were up at 6AM. No breakfast around here at that time of day, so we ate a nutritious chocolate chip muffin each!

Today was the day for a bus tour around Denali National Park. To see the interior of the park you have to take a shuttle (aka school) bus tour as cars are only allowed a short way into the park.

We met up with our friends at the park  and boarded the shuttle. The trip was 66 miles each way and would last 8 hours! Much of the “road” was single track gravel with a few hair pin bends and sheer drop offs thrown in for good measure.

We evidently were lucky as we had a clear view of Mt. McKinley, which only happens, on average, 4 times in June.

Mt. McKinley

We also saw a wolverine, which is a very rare sighting. It was the first time our bus driver had seen one in his 5 years at the park.

Wolverine

Other sightings included caribou, you may need to zoom in!!!!

Caribou

as well as grizzly bears, dall sheep, a fox and  moose (including one that almost became an ex-moose as it jumped out right in front of the bus. Talking of ex-mooses (ex-meece?), the picture below shows what remains of two male moose who fought each other for dominance of the herd.

Futile Battle

Their antlers got permanently locked together, and both eventually died together.

At the far end of the trip was a visitor centre where Lyn managed to spot a captured quilt.

The Ever Present Quilt

I have to admit, whoever quilted it did an amazing job.

The trip back was a little quieter as many of the passengers were so exhausted by all the sight seeing they fell asleep.

Meal time tonight will be at another Princess lodge, last night was at a micro brewery, which had good food, but a noise level way above any safety limits I know.

Tomorrow we have to do battle with the wild fire, about 22 miles of the highway are affected and when it is open, traffic is led through by a pilot vehicle, so we could be held up for some time. The alternate route will add about 300 miles to the trip.