First Trip into Denali National Park

June 4, 2011: With our first day off together, we decide to go to DNP. www.nps.gov/dena
At 2:00PM we choose to go on the shuttle to the Eilson Center, the farthest into the park you can at this time of the season.  The descriptive word is:  VAST
Its 4 hours out, 4 hours back....remember it does not get dark here!
We will make only a few stops, but no food or water stops, so its bring your own.
We get a 6pak ticket (6 trips into the park for $57, this trip alone would cost $31).
We are briefed by the bus driver, including yell out loud STOP, when you see an animal.

We see unbelievable mountain ranges, wide open valleys, and "braided" rivers with water from glaciers.

 A female moose crosses our path....they are huge!!

Many areas, even at ground level still has snow and ice

We road to the Eilson Visitor Cnter which was pretty new. It was a beautiful building , with unbelievable scenery. (We heard a few weeks later, they had video tapes of bears peering in the windows, when it was closed)

 Dahl Sheep, we call them mountain goats..an entire family

Herd of Dahl Sheep on a riverbed

 A Red Fox strolling down the road...he got lots of attention.

We stopped at a small visitors center. It was actually, a vinyl tent-like building. It had some neat displays, including"

                                                             A Grizzly Bear hide

                                                                    A Wolf hide

                                                                            Caribou antlers

We reach the Eilson Center, with views of glaciers. Can't see Mt MccKinley, but only 16% who visit see it clearly.

                                            Wow, what a view. Outside of the Center

                                                     Looking the other direction

From the inside viewing window. A panaromic view points out the mountains you are looking at.

                                                          Stats board in the center

Two Bull Moose fought. Their antlers locked. They died together.

 On the way back we see Caribou, known to us as Reindeer....

It was 10 pm when we arrived back at the Wilderness Access Center. Time for some pizza!