Day 6 Wildlife viewing on the Denali Highway is disappointing. We see a trumpeter swan and arctic terns. We expected much more. The scenery is another story. The Alaska Range sits across a broad valley with lakes and the West Fork and Susitna glaciers to add excitement. MacLauren Pass is the 2nd highest highway pass in Alaska. There's time to enjoy the tundra. Amazing that there is such variety in lichen and low berry bushes. Kettle ponds dot the countryside. And, of course, there's fireweed, the most adaptive plant we found in Alaska. |
The mosquitos are thick; this area may have inspired the Legend of the Giant Cannibal. The area is pockmarked with ground squirrel holes and they fuss at us as we pass. They have distinct little trails 2 - 3" wide running all about. The cutest, tiniest animal trails I've ever seen. Vegetation is low-growing alpine tundra with abundant wildflowers. |
We've chosen the MacLauren Summit Trail in the Tangle Lakes area for our backpack. As level as any trail can be, it begins above timberline at 4,000 feet and follows a ridge line overlooking the MacLauren River, numerous lakes, Crazy Notch (a glacial cut through a lateral moraine) and a stretch where the Denali highway is built upon an esker. Kettle ponds are scattered across the plain to our East. Mt. Hayes and Mt. Shand emerge from the clouds behind the MacLauren Glacier. |
Alaskan Sampler - Denali Highway |
We've chosen the MacLauren Summit Trail in the Tangle Lakes area for our backpack. As level as any trail can be, it begins above timberline at 4,000 feet and follows a ridge line overlooking the MacLauren River, numerous lakes, Crazy Notch (a glacial cut through a lateral moraine) and a stretch where the Denali highway is built upon an esker. Kettle ponds are scattered across the plain to our East. Mt. Hayes and Mt. Shand emerge from the clouds behind the MacLauren Glacier. |
We've packed a bear proof canister and bear spray, but see no bears or even sign until the hike out. Still we follow protocol and pitch our tent away from the food canister and our cook site. I can't go back to Colorado without Kevin, and I'm taking no chances. Kevin spots a moose feeding in a lake near the river. A couple of trumpeter swans appear to be nesting in another lake. We're hungry enough to enjoy the freeze dried stew and blueberry cheesecake that we've brought. And we just have time to clean up, stow our food canister and crawl into the tent before the rain starts. Again. |
The mosquitos are thick; this area may have inspired the Legend of the Giant Cannibal. The area is pockmarked with ground squirrel holes and they fuss at us as we pass. They have distinct little trails 2 - 3" wide running all about. The cutest, tiniest animal trails I've ever seen. Vegetation is low-growing alpine tundra with abundant wildflowers. |
Day 7 Today it is Kevin who's up early. We hike further up the ridge towards MacLauren Glacier, and he spots a moose in another lake in the valley below. We break camp and hike out, spotting more moose scat and some bear scat along the trail. The ground squirrels must be happy to see us leave. They're still fussing. |
I sketch and paint a little before sleeping. When I wake up at 2 a.m. the wind has died and rain stopped. It is just barely light enough to read without a light even inside the tent on a cloudy night. |
Photo by Kevin McBryde |
Photo by Kevin McBryde |
Brief cloud partings give us views of distant snow capped mega-mountains. Closer we scan the wide valley for wild life while dodging potholes in the gravel road. We pass up the campground for a pull off with views of Mt. Deborah, Mt. Hess and the Susitna River valley. Kevin trudges thru deep mud to scope the higher slope. We crash. |
Day 6 Wildlife viewing on the Denali Highway is disappointing. We see a trumpeter swan and arctic terns. We expected much more. The scenery is another story. The Alaska Range sits across a broad valley with lakes and the West Fork and Susitna glaciers to add excitement. MacLauren Pass is the 2nd highest highway pass in Alaska. There's time to enjoy the tundra. Amazing that there is such variety in lichen and low berry bushes. Kettle ponds dot the countryside. And, of course, there's fireweed, the most adaptive plant we found in Alaska. |
© Regina M. McMullan, 2000 |
