LOCALadk Magazine
Issue link: https://localadkmagazine.uberflip.com/i/830178
Summer 2017 LOCALadk Magazine 47 LOCALadk What strikes a visitor first experiencing Alaska is that it is vast. I mean, really vast. The sky seems endless and the mountain ranges surround you in a jagged snow capped circle. On the outskirts of Anchorage there are stunning views in every direction. One morning early in our trip we left Anchorage (af- ter enjoying a sinful breakfast at the popular down- town eatery, Snow City) and headed towards our destination, Talkeetna. Driving north in our rental van through this incredible landscape, I noticed miles of beautifully maintained paved bike trails. I made a promise to myself to come back and ride them some- day. Talkeetna is situated along the confluence of three major rivers and is host to mountaineers who intend to summit Denali, North America's highest peak. It is a funky little town with fewer than a thousand inhab- itants. Main street is only a few blocks long but offers hand-tossed pizzas, fresh raspberry cinnamon buns, local art, and several saloons filled with great music and local beers. We enjoyed an evening checking out the town under the rays of a midnight sun. The town has a small airport where the planes keep busy flying hikers to the base camp of Denali. The airport also operates a very popular flightseeing ride for the visi- tors who want to see Denali up close. The odds of being one of the lucky ones to get a clear view of Denali are about 33 percent. Due to the weather pattern around Denali it is common for the summit to be cloaked in a thick bank of puffy white clouds. Often it seems like there is no mountain at all. I was lucky enough to be there on a clear sunny day and was awestruck by the beauty of Denali reach- ing up 20,310 feet into a deep blue sky. I readied the camera quickly and snapped some shots in fear it might disappear. Weather can change in a moment and I had been warned to get the shot when you can. Denali National Park (DNP) allows for backcountry camping with a permit. This type of camping requires quite a bit of gear and extensive planning. If you only have a day or two and want to see as much as possible, then day hikes or a tour on the 'Green Bus' are the way to go. The park does not allow visitors to drive their own vehicles beyond the designated campsites. Instead, they operate a narrated, full-day bus ride to and from a small visitor center and trail- head. This was not my favorite way to experience the park, but it is designed to protect DNP, so I acqui- esced and hopped aboard. The Green Busses are old school, with low seats, so you can keep an eye out for the wildlife. Our bus was rewarded with many wild- life encounters, including a sow and male grizzly bear coming right alongside our stopped bus. The driver yelled, "Please keep your hands inside the bus at all times!" No kidding! We also saw mountain goats, moose, elk, and in the distance, a wolf. By Anne Brewer By Anne Brewer