My first trip up north in Alaska, up to see the highest point in North America. To see Denali. Also known as Mount McKinley, although Alaskans rarely call it that. The journey there to see this monumental peak turned out to be on of my best experiences in Alaska, not just because I saw the mountain (which is rare), but because of the journey in itself. I joined a group of young ladies that all just graduated from college like me and wanted a great adventure. We all joined together to make our plans and secure all the equipment we needed then we were off. We mud bogged down a long dirt road in the rain, backpacked the Kasugi Ridge, found out what hospitality means in rough situations, got banged around in an old retired school bus, and camped out in an old rock quary.
On the last day of work at Trailside Discovery Camp I spoke with my friend Emily about her plans for after the season. She told me of her friends coming up to visit her from all over the country as a last kick from college graduation, and how they were planing on going up to visit Denali National park. Well I was planning the same thing and after traveling all the way up from the lower 48 I was eager to have company, if they wanted it. It turned out that they needed a little advice anyway, so they asked me along.
The next day we all loaded up and prepared to head out of Anchorage: Coutney, Kate, Kendal, Danielle, Emily, and myself. They had rented a white subaru forester and I had Babe (my beautiful baby blue truck). It was of course raining on this morning, but trips have atendency to start this way. Our drive was to be 2 hours on the highway (a big Alaskan road) North, and another 2 on dirt roads to get to Peter's Hills. The three hours on dirt roads were not because it was far, but because it was rough. The Peter's Hills Road was paved for about two miles and then it was a series of interconnected ponds that once resembled a gravel road. The gravel was hard and the water not too deep so it was not all that bad, Babe actuall liked it. After we splashed around for some time we arrived at what we believed to be Peter's Hills, but it was so cloudy out that we could see little of the hills and nothing of the spectacular views of Denali. After a short group conference we decided that it would be best not to begin our trip this way. So we sought out refuge at a nearby campground and switched to plan B: The Kasugi Ridge.
The next morning we got all geared up and headed out on the trail. Danielle took on the role of trainer on this trip and had us all stretch properly beforehand. Now that we were on the trail it did not matter so much that it was raining out or that it was cloudy. We had the trees for company and hiked to stay warm. Along the trail were a bunch of blueberries hat we would forage on as we went. We challenged each other with riddles as we went and before we knew it we were on top of the ridge and peering out at the foothils of Denali. The clouds covered the peak itself, as it aparently does 90% of the time. Denali creates its own weather and that tends to be rain. So the best thing to do is just go and enjoy the scenery as you see it with little expectations.
We hiked another five miles on the ridge to a beautiful lake sheltered in a bowl below a small peak. As we rested, played, and stretched the clouds thined away. I turned around and looked to see this awesome peak rise high above the clouds to dominate the sky and foothils below. As sunset grew close the sky grew clear. We could see the sun set perfectly behind the tallest point in North America. The fall colors of the tundra were exemplified by the burnng orb into a surreal landscape that inspires wonder and admiration.
In the morning we awoke to crystal clear blue skies and a massive white peak. we prepared breakfast and broke camp constantly stealing glances at the beautiful mountainous vista. We hiked along the ridge and as the day wore on a haze began to develope and slowly enclose the peak that was the center of my thoughts and attention. Later on that day our window of opportunity had passed and Denali was once again hidden from our eyes.
That evening we were tired from a long hike out and found a quaint resterraunt/ hotel/gas station/giftshop to eat in. I inquired about a cabin to slee in from the cook. He replied that he had a little shack that he lent out to people that looked waylaid, and that was us. That evening he fed us ice cream for free too! The following morning we went to the park and took the bus tour. With clouds and rain we saw very little except some grizzlies wondering around. That evening the bus driver bought us pizza and told us of an abandoned rock quary to stay in for free. We were very grateful and fortunate to have all these nice people help us. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
