Day 2-3: Denali National Park

After one night stay at a hostel, I flew from Anchorage to Fairbanks, where I was able to rent a car. I hit on the highway heading Denali National Park. The three-hour drive was nothing but a great experience. I had to make an effort to keep myself concentrating on driving instead of sightseeing. I got to the park in the afternoon. After checking in the camping site I reserved, I drove around the entrance area. It started to rain without any warning. Somebody pointed out a moose wondering in the woods, eating bushes.

Denali means "the great", is the Indian name ( and a more proper name) for Mount McKinley, the highest mountain in North America.

Trees grow very slowly and are small in size.	The park entrance	Mount Mckinley on the horizon	Weather changes unexpectedly in the mountain.	In front of my tent. Later I managed to lightup a bonfire in the rain.	My camping site was right above this creek.

Next morning, I took the shuttle bus going deep into the park. We moved slowly, everybody was excited, having two things in mind, "the mountain" and wild animals. We were indeed lucky that day to see Mount McKinley since two thirds of time you don't see it for the weather. People on the bus, often our driver would spot some animals. Then we would stop to watch with binoculars and take pictures.

I got off the bus about two thirds into the park at a place called sunset glacier. I tried to reached the river bed which didn't seem to be very far. But I quickly found out that I was wrong and lost in the willows. I panicked and crawled my way back.

Our bus traveled along side of a glacier river for a while.	The mighty Mount McKinley	Snow covered mountain.	A few raindrops came down when we reached a reat area.	A grizzly bear eating wild berries.
Alaska Range	Ground squirrel	The tundra	The river is drying up.	A lemming

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