Denali

Russell has made 4 trips to Denali this summer. He did several science courses that take place in the park, but also did a pack raft trip with our friend, Jeff Pickett. Just prior to our family trip to Denali he and Jeff rode the bus into the park to float down the Savage River drainage. It was a wet, cold trip, but both Russell and Jeff enjoyed the spectacular scenery.

Jeff at the beginning

Brief blue skies as they camped at the top of a pass.

A cold, wet Jeff before descending down to float the river.

Russell returned to retrieve the kids and I and we went into the park to stay at an established camp at Teklanika. There were canvas wall tents with bunk beds, all our meals were prepared, our own private van, and an incredible naturalist, Martha, who taught us and the kids all variety of things about Denali. We did a great hike up through the tundra and I was really proud of what troopers both kids were. It was cool, overcast, often drizzling, and they were having a wonderful time. It did help, I'm sure, that periodically Martha would pull out some new nature game for them to play or sit down and read them a book.

Liam loves Forget-Me-Nots, our state flower, and gets very enthusiastic when he finds them. Natalie had to break out her own camera and take a few pictures of them as well. We saw four of the "Big Five": Moose, Caribou, Dall Sheep, Bear. No wolves on this trip. Many other animals and birds as well. When Russell recently returned from his 4th trip Liam wanted to know if he had stayed at the camp with the puddles. The puddles and mud were a huge hit with Natalie and Liam.

Admiring the Forget-Me-Nots

Story Break

Spotting the Dall Sheep

Hike on the Teklanika Drainage

Teklanika Mud