ALASKA 2009

In the R.V. in Anchorage. Ready to go!!

The following notes come directly from a journal that I kept during the trip (except for some comments on specific pictures). The words are almost verbatim from the journal, I am not a writer, nor did I plan on sharing the journal with everyone, so take it for what it's worth. What I am trying to say nicely is, my writing, grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure etc... sucks! So read it without your red pens!

Aug. 18th 6:05 p.m. Have supplies needed, headed north on Rt.1 to Denali. We Made it to Alaska!

7 (ish) Of course we had to stop at Gorilla Fireworks. (testing the brakes in the R.V.....they work) Dave and Joey bought a few.

11 (ish) Made it to Denali! But had to turn around and camp just outside of park border.

Aug 19th Wake up 6:00am to light, cold rain. - Joey spots first Moose! - I spot a mature female a little while later & went out to photograph it (above). Suddenly I look to my left and an immature moose...

...was crossing the road right at me! He stopped 15 yards from me!

...then took two direct (and swift) steps right at me! I ran down to the edge of the woods 10 yards away to get something between us. He stopped for a second then...

...continued right past me. Once he got to the woodline he started to run, which in turn spooked the mature female as well. Words can not describe the intensity I felt. What a rush! (Of course later I was to be made fun of for almost being attacked by a "baby" moose, but that "baby's" shoulders were taller than me!)

* Last Night never got completely dark. The sky was dark grey & you could see the mountains and silhouettes of trees. * also change of landscape from mile to mile is incredible. Can't describe sufficiently.

7 pm (ish) (no watch or cell phone for exact time) Re-cap we stopped at the rafting place, but reservations were for 2p.m. so we decided to head north & fish some streams as we come across them. However one after another were dry of un-fishable (above pic, {Bear Creek}) We turned around at Nenana River and headed back to Denali.

Scenic stop just outside Denali.

We went to the visitors center & cafeteria. I had salmon bisque bread bowl (very good),Dave: Halibut, Joey: Reindeer chili, Blaze: Salmon.

We then decided to go to Mile 15 into the park "Savage River". This is the farthest point a personal vehicle is allowed to go.

Saw some moose along the way.