ROF= Ring of fire Odyssey MEF-H = Marine Expeditionary Force- Hargus
AK= ALaska RT journey
Saturday July 22, 2017
Denali 3 back country.
The phenomenon of Denali back country, driving, riding 60 miles into the backcountry of Denali is beyond description.
Alaska acrtic Alpine Tundra Mountain range chains is beyond phenomenal.
Snow capped Glacier mountains absolutely beautiful.
Braided river valleys, visibility 20 to 30+ miles, absolutely wonderful.
This was one of the high point of my life to see this Denali Journey.
Riding on a tour bus, disappointing. Getting to see the Denali entrance, the mountain dirt road through the valleys, Rivers snow-capped glacier Mountain change, I would not take anything for it.
If I had to do Alaska experience I would fly to Anchorage and take the Alaska Railroad tour up to Denali. This has been an expedition to drive it and see this.
Past Eielson Center is a waste of time,
At 60 miles into the park we come to the Eielson visitors center.
The Eielson visitors center is a main focal viewpoint for Denali, Mount McKinley, The Majestic highest mountain in North America at 20,310 feet. It is phenomenal to see this valley that leads to Denali.
The only problem is the Denali eco system produces wall clouds/ mountain fog most of the time, and you cannot get a clear view of the Majestic Denali except some years for a few weeks in late September.
For a brief few minutes today we barely saw the south and north Peak of Denali, shrouded/ ringed by wall clouds below, before they moved in and up, and covered the total view.
A Marine buddy who was stationed in Alaska had told me not to expect to see Denali, Mount McKinley, as it was wall clouds most of the year except for a couple of weeks in mid to late September. This is exactly what he explained.
The Eielson center is really the furthest point you should book in your Denali trip.
We took the further bus ride of 30 more miles into the backcountry and it was a waste of time, energy, money, and resources. Eielson is at 60 miles in and you see a lot. And it’s a long day, back in 6 hours.
Past Eielson, the furthest, last 30 miles to the end point was a waste. We did not see Denali any better. In fact we did not see Denali at all. The last 30 miles went to the end of the road where there were commercial lodges for a price, operating for a profit, on roads paved/ dirt roads maintained by the national park system. ? I need to check that out.
There were hiking trails and an airport at the end point lodges but you could not see Denali at all at this end point.
I wondered why the national park system provided a road for a 30 miles to commercial lodges.
The bus ride of another 30 miles was a waste of time and money as you did not see Denali, you just went to the end of the road. ?What was that the end of the road,? Some commercial lodges. some hiking trails for people at the lodges. A cabin or two of the pioneers.
The Eielson Center is the last point you should book to see Denali in my opinion.
Take pictures of the Alaska arctic Alpine wilderness it is phenomenal but don't waste going on past Eielson Center.
You never drink twice from the same stream.
Just because you wander doesn't mean you're lost.
by Uncle Hargus: Last of the Independents
Have Bear,
Will Travel
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