Sunday, August 3 - Bussing into Denali

Denali

We got up at 6 AM to totally unexpected partly cloudy skies and went back to the Creekside Café to split an enormous cinnamon roll and pick up a bag lunch.  Then we drove back to the Park and the bus terminal at the Wilderness Access Center.  Several weeks ago Bob had reserved spaces on the 8:30AM bus that goes to Eielson Visitor Center 66 miles away.

We climbed on board and took off, past Savage River where we had parked yesterday for a drizzly walk.   Our bus driver, who, as he informed us, is retiring in two days after working in Denali for 20 years,  said he has only seen clear views of Denali three times since May.  Somehow we lucked out and, as our driver came around a bend, he stopped so we could all marvel at the sight of this magnificent snow-covered mountain!  Groups speaking Italian in front of us and French behind were all exclaiming at the sight!
Half an hour later clouds were already starting to swirl around the mountain and it was soon enveloped.

The other task of our bus driver was to show us Grizzlies, Caribou, Moose, and Dall Sheep.  As Bob and I had had good views of Caribou and Moose yesterday. we were mostly concerned about the Griz.  The bus came to a screeching halt a couple of times and we saw large bears walking across river beds and foraging in meadows, but they were pretty far away.  We stopped at a couple of rest stops as the drive takes four hours each way, and got a good, but distant, view of some sheep and Bob pointed out a ram with big horns.  We continued on, passing little traffic, most of which is other tour buses, permitted Rvs, researchers and photographers and vans from the few lodges within the park.

Trail closure due to Griz!

We finally got to Eielson 12:20.  Bob and I went to look for the nature trail we wanted to hike, but it was closed because of a bear sighting…and there was the big Grizzly, peacefully grazing on the next ridge!  We found a spot inside and split our bag lunch and then saw that the bear had wandered away and the trail was open again.

Mountain Harebell

Whitish Gentians

Arctic Ground Squirrel

 We walked through the tundra for a mile spotting several new flowers, and then  returned to the Center to catch a bus back as it was already 2 PM.  Our new driver was chattier and more enthusiastic about animal sightings, or maybe she was just luckier, as we stopped for several bears that were considerably closer to the bus. We also saw some more caribou - the poor critters are really tortured by flies and will be much happier when winter comes!

Caribou

We got back to our car at 5:30, tired but happy after seeing 8 Grizzlies, 10 Caribou, about a dozen sheep, 2 Collared Pika (small rabbit-like mammals with round ears),

and several Alaskan Ground Squirrels.  Bob also spotted four Willow Ptarmigans from the bus - a new bird for him.

We cleaned up and went back to the Creekside Café for pork and hominy chili for me and a lovely chicken pot pie for Bob.  Quite a day!

Warning!  Alaskan Mosquitos!