Deeper into Denali Park 7/7 Sunday

The paved portion of the park road ended long ago, and the gravel portion continues to narrow as we bump along. The bus stops at a popular viewing point where we can go up a path to an ever higher location. A new friend takes our picture.

About three hours into the park at another scheduled stop, we spot a caribou strolling around in the riverbed, close enough to identify but far away. (See the brown blob.) I watch him through binoculars until I drift toward the sound of moving water, a channel of another braided river. Hurry to visit the restrooms and board the bus!

By the time we reach Stoney Hill, we have passed several points where Denali could be visible on a perfect day, but perfect this day is not. Most of our group's cameras click away at the base as though our combined efforts might blow away the cloud cover. Even locals rarely see the mountain out but marvel when they do. Without other choices, the bus turns around and heads back the way it came on the narrow gravel road.