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.

Inside Denali Park 7/7 Sunday

This morning our group boards an early bus at 7:30 for the Tundra Wilderness Tour. Deciding to pick up snacks first, we find the lobby bustling with folks stocking up for their day ahead.

Our driver tells us stories and factoids faster then they can soak in, and I start to think he is rather proud of himself. One tidbit I am pleased to know is that Alaskan rivers are called braided rivers for the way they have multiple channels weaving together and apart, always changing patterns as the river changes depth and flow. We see distant mountains in and wonder if McKinley/Denali will push its head out on this cloudy day.

About an hour and a half in, we have our first rest stop. I use part of the time to photo flowers and the info signs. On the road again, views include running water and more mountains. Ideally, we want to sight wild game as well as Denali, but there are no guarantees.

We come a feature called Pretty Rock because of its large vein of surprising red color, which doesn't look very red at all in my iPhone photo.

Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre 7/6 Saturday

Feeling fortunate to have booked this event, we don't mind waiting in line for a few minutes and chatting with new friends.

Dinner is served family style, and our table's server, who happens to play the lead role of Fannie, keeps food coming to our table, thanks to a couple of big eaters (not us). The menu is a version of what cabin food might have been back in the day.

We start with salad and toasted biscuits. Then servers bring out large dishes of baked beans, corn, potatoes, baby-back ribs, and roasted salmon. To notify Fannie that we request more of anything, we must all wave our red napkins above our heads in a circular pattern and call her name. Cheesy, I know, but we play along in the spirit of loud fun, and those two big guys give us plenty of opportunities. Dessert is four-berry cobbler from an iron skillet and whipped cream. I focus on the salmon and salad and skip most of the other food. Tasty!

During the meal, servers take turns singing on the stage and around the room. They are individually miked, very professional, and totally talented for music theatre. After the meal, the show begins, a story told with songs and dialogue about early Alaska. Each cast member represents a historical figure from that period. Several men in the audience were selected to become participants (luckily not Pawpaw), and we all laughed ourselves silly.

Another fun experience in Alaska!

Before the Show 7/6 Saturday

For tonight we have booked Cabin Nite at 7:30, so we have time to unpack, freshen up, and go to the lobby/main building for a drink. Alaskan Amber on tap is still a favorite.

We explore this part of the facility for a self-guided orientation. Soon we head down the hill for the rest of the evening.

Destination Denali 7/6 Saturday

We arrive at Denali Park Depot about 4:00pm, always having plenty of summer daylight in the land of midnight sun. (By the way, the sun hangs around until well after midnight.)

We check in to the McKinley Chalets and find our room on the first floor of a lodge. Our suite has two bedrooms and is rustic as advance info promised, but not as rustic as imagined, and quite comfortable and peaceful.