FYI this is the first we have had internet since we entered Denali SO we are posting FOUR Days within a few hours. Don't miss any entries! Thanks again for riding along and making comments. Will and Marge

Miles to go today: 156

Time Leaving: 9:09 a.m. Temp: 40 degrees High 54

States Today: Alaska

Accrued miles to Date: 4,993

Saying for the day: Never be a prisoner of your past, it was just a lesson, not a life sentence.

Off to Denali (Mt. McKinley) Denali is an Athabascan word which means "the Great One." Denali is actually it's original name. It is not a volcanic mountain and it stands a proud 20,310 feet tall.

41,976 climbers have attempted the summit, 52% reached the summit, where there can be 100 mph winds and MINUS 35 degrees in summer at the higher elevations.

Arrive the town of Denali at 10:50 a.m. We are 40 miles from the entrance to the park. Into the wilderness we go! We have a little more driving. Slowly and glad we did, we spotted a large grizzly walking in a stream by the side of the road - Wow!

Stop at the Registration Center, get our park pass and our Shuttle pass so we can go farther into the interior of the park.

Make a stop at the Visitor's Center and see a large display of stuffed wild animals (moose, lynx, wolf, snowshoe hare) and a video of the "Seasons of Alaska." Now we have 30 additional miles to drive to the actual campground. We spot a family of Caribou a bit far off of the road, but visible.

Arrive the campground at 2:30 pm; nice site and WHOA!! MOOSE scat on the site! Souvenir, LOL Great campground, next to a gravel bed for glacier runoff.

Eat some dinner and then sit in on a Ranger Talk and take a walk to the river. BRRR, 44 degrees and windy. Soooo cold! We didn't tarry long.

Denali NP and Preserve

How long staying: 3 nights

Next stop: Talkeetna