The Denali Leg of Our Trip North
In the name of God, most Gracious, most Merciful
To continue sharing from our trip north, let me start by telling you this trip has been a great blessing — one more gift from our most Merciful Creator.
I especially enjoyed our time in Denali. The Denali Park buses stopped right at the entrance to our campground. So (in my KN95 mask) I road up the highway on the bus almost every day that we camped near the Teklanika River.
Because a huge landslide closed the Denali Park Highway about half way up, bus riders usually can’t see as much wildlife as in the past. Most animals prefer the higher elevations where far fewer people encroach on them and the cool breeze helps keep the mosquitoes at bay.
Even with less visible wildlife, on every trip we saw Caribou and Arctic Ground Squirrels. Most days we also spotted Dhal Sheep herds — either of rams or of ewes with their lambs. And frequently a Grizzly Bear and/or Moose. Once both a bull Moose and his mate made appearances.
After riding about 19 miles, we got to 3 Forks, where the buses turn around for their return trip. There many people decided to hike the two and a half miles up the highway to the landslide.
The first three days I just walked around in the bridge area. Then I hiked the whole way to the landslide three times and about half way two other days.
Each day I rode up to 3 Forks was a blessing from God because I met wonderful people from all over the world and I saw the awesome beauty of the Creator’s work — including glorious scenery, beautiful wildflowers and amazing wildlife. But the days I hiked up toward the landslide outshone the others.
On those days God blessed me to see Hoary Marmots, Ptarmigan (birds similar in shape to grouse), Orange-crowned and Wilson’s Warblers, and more Arctic Ground Squirrels. But the most wonderful of all was getting to see a pair of Golden Eagles and their nest on a cliff overlooking the landslide.
Those days were amazing and, God willing, will live on as treasured memories for the rest of my days on Earth.
I pray you have similar treasures to remember!
Peace for now until I can share more of our trip north.
