Left Denali at 6am-only us on the bus so “personal tour”. More good viewings of moose, large herd of caribou, Dall sheep, a Daylight White Owl, several bear including mum and two cute little cubs, snowshoe hare, various birds and numerous ground squirrels. No wolves/ fox seen by us. We did see the remains of a caribou been finally cleaned up by the ravens. Apparently a wolf had killed it yesterday and had then been driven off by a mother bear and cubs who capitalised on the kill. Many of the tourist buses accessing the Park had been able to observe the proceedings at various stages. Such is wild life. 92 mile drive out took 5 hours today.
The Park is largely closed in winter and patrolled rangers and by dog sled teams. Kennels are located just into the Park and many people living or working in the area volunteer to exercise the dogs in the summer months.
Observed some homesteaders – people who are living remotely and off the grid, some with no running water and who have no transport. They use the Hurricane Turn Train – they can flag down or hang a flag out for. Train will pick them up and take to services and return. Interesting bit of unique Akaskan history and to see train at Talkeetna.
Anchorage sits between the Chugach Mountains and the Cook Inlet (named by Captain Cook!). More than 50 glaciers of the many in Alaska can be found within 50 miles of Anchorage. One around every corner here it seems.
