Another great day on the road, with scenery and colors ablaze all around us.
Yesterday was spent in Denali National Park – a truly vast, forbidding yet stunningly beautiful place. Again, we totally lucked out with the weather, awakening at 6 am to a full moon and cloudless sky at our campsite on Otto Lake in Healy, just outside the park. Then our luck got even better. On our arrival at the park, I asked to renew my annual national parks pass, which had expired in August. We then learned that despite the park’s closed lottery for private vehicles for the two week period after Labor Day (before which only bus tours are allowed on the park’s 92 mile road), we were offered a day pass to drive the entire road. Amazing, and we didn’t ask questions. Off we went in Burning Girl, into Denali’s wonders.
The landscape entering the park from the northeast was more stark than I’d expected. Last time I visited, five years ago, I entered Denali from the south, through Talkeetna by air, landing on the Ruth Glacier and spending nine days skiing and camping. That approach was forested and glaciated. Here, it was almost a desert for 40 miles. Denali kept herself hidden until mile 10, then appeared, looming far behind another range that dwarfed her a bit.
At 20,320′ Denali towers over all the mountains around it. From our perch, 40 miles away, it was hard to grasp its size and enormity. Nonetheless, visibility was perfect, and we were fairly blown away, knowing that North America’s highest peak lay before us.
More driving and we ended up heading south to Anchorage, where Marvin flies out at 2 am tomorrow. Heading to Girdwood and Alyeska Ski resort on Turnagain Arm today, then to Seward on the Kenai Peninsula, before he leaves. Marvin has been the perfect traveling companion the past two plus weeks. We’ve gotten along fabulously – not easy in a van the size of Burning Girl’s – and have experienced countless breathtaking sites and adventures together. A million thanks, Marvin. See you in Park City in the coming weeks.
Burning Girl Chronicles 
To say you got lucky on the weather is an understatement, Richard. I went to Denali Nat’l Park eight times before I saw Denali. (She makes her own weather and most often it’s clouds and/or mist.) So glad you caught a lucky break! Late September was my favorite time of year to visit. Great Northern Lights, fall foliage, no crowds.
Views from Alyeska are great, Richard. I suspect Girdwood has not changed much from the 1980s. Last time I was there my roommate and I went sky diving. Landing on the tundra was sweet — like landing on sponge!
Alyeska hadn’t changed at all in five years since my last visit. Kenai was again spectacular. Fall colors and snow high up made for mesmerizing views. Do you miss living here?