In Denali National Park

We arrived in Denali Park and got our camping permit.  We had to make a reservation for three nights at the Teklanika campground, which is 29 miles into the National Park.  There is only one road in the park, and it is
92 miles long.  At mile 15, all private vehicles except those with reservations have to turn back.   The road is unpaved and DUSTY.  In fact, that is what strikes me about Alaska in general.  The entire soil seems to be silicate dust, which is like Ajax or Comet, only light brown.  It is what we always called "pummie dust", the material in pumice stone.   At mile 15, we are stopped by Park Rangers at a guard post, and then given our final pass to go in.

This is indeed a vast wilderness.  The vegetation, called Taiga, which means low growth in Russian, is about 2 feet high.  It is the only growth.  The mountains are bare and look like loose dirt for the most part.  The tree line is low.  It seems totally barren.  Off in the distance are mountains, including Mt. McKinley.  Some are hazy, some are very sharp and clear, and others, like McKinley are cloud covered.  John says the way to find McKinley is to look for the highest bank of clouds.

It takes a long time to get to the campground, which is simply a stand of cottonwood trees along the Teklanika River.  For those who read or saw "Into the Wild' the Teklanika River, raging with Spring runoff, is what kept Chris McCandless from getting back to civilization. From where  we are, the river is wide, shallow, and braided. John and I take a walk, but the wind is so fierce and cold, it doesn't last long.  Here are pictures of the riverbed, including a print - I'm not sure of what animal.