Denali

MOOSE

SHEEP
DENALI
VALLEY VIEW

DENALI
EAGLE
FOX

CARIBOU CHASING HIKERS

BIG CARIBOU
PTARMIGAN

BEAR CUBS PLAYING

BIG BEAR
CARIBOU

We picked up Stacy and Carrie on Saturday and headed north toward Denali. Sunday we went to Hacther Pass across the mountian. It was a ruff road but a very pretty drive that Louise and I had not been on yet. Monday found us at Denali National park. Our campground reservations wasn't untill Tuesday so we camped in a rest area outside the park after going into the park and setting up our bus rides into the park. You can only drive about 20 miles into the park, the rest of the way you have to take a bus. The road into the park is about 100 miles total. The first bus ride was to the 50 mile post. The second took us to the 80 mile range. We saw a lot of wildlife both days. The second day was a 16 hour ride in and back. Saw lots of Dall sheep and caibou. The highlight of the trip was seeing the 2 cubs playing. The mother and 3 cubs ran across the road in front of the bus. The mother and one cub disappeared over the mountian but the last 2 stopped to play. They stayed where we could see then for about 5 minutes or so, it was great. We saw 4 or 5 other bears on the 2 trips. The moose and fox were the only ones we saw of them. Saw several eagles but only got a couple of good pics of them. I got so many pics of sheep it was hard to choose which to use. I really need a longer lens for the sheep, they are way up on the mountians. It is real hard to get a shot of Denali, the mountian. Most of the time it is hidden in the clouds. The pics I posted were taken a few hours apart but were the best and the most of the mountian I could get. The one picture of the caribou and the hikers was a real thrill to watch. The hikers kept getting closer and closer to the caribou for a better picture. We were setting in the bus on the road watching them. All of a sudden the caribou charged the hikers and they took of running. The caribou stopped and started to walk away. The hikers turned around and started back toward the caribou. The caribou charged them again!!!! This time the hikers got smart and left the caribou alone. That is first time I ever seen anything like that. I'm glad it wasn't me he was chasing. We are in Palmer tonight, heading for the Keni in the morning.

Till next time

Duane and Louise