Alaska 2004 -- Days 6-7
Day 6, Friday June 4 ~ Seward to Wasilla via Anchorage and Palmer
We packed up and left Seward early on a cool (50-55 degrees) morning and drove north to the town of Wasilla. En route we had several rest stops. First we walked the boardwalk in the Potter Marsh and watched numerous birds. We spent an hour changing vans in Anchorage. In Palmer we visited a supermarket. A stop at the Independence Mine State Historical Park, a gold mine that was most active from 1936-1943, was most interesting. For dinner and overnight we stayed at the Best Western in Wasilla on Lake Lucille. It was 76 degrees when we arrived at 5pm and some of us spent some time watching a pair of Red-necked Grebes tend to their nest just offshore.
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Potter Marsh where Rabbit Creek flows into Turnagain Arm |
Independence Mine and buildings |
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On a path above the mine  |
Walking around some of the mine buildings  |
Red-necked Grebe |
Supper on the deck  |
Day 7, Saturday June 5 ~ En route to Denali and the Backcountry Lodge
After an early start, we drove north on the Parks Highway. We stopped a couple of times for outstanding open and clear views of Denali (Mt. McKinley). We arrived at the Denali Cabins at noon. We munched on our lunches while we waited for the bus that would take us to the Backcountry Lodge on the 90-mile Denali Park Road. This six-hour ride included several rest stops and stops to view the wildlife. We saw Dall Sheep, Moose, Caribou, Grizzly Bears and cubs, Beaver, and several kinds of birds. Throughout, our bus driver, Mark, kept up a continuous spiel that was incredibly informative. In the evening there was a slide show about Alaska.
Denali with South and
North Peaks Visible |
Denali South Peak as viewed from the south |
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Waiting for the bus  |
On the bus  |
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A braided river bed  |
Hillside covered with Dall sheep (the white dots)  |
View from Polychrome Mountain
Dall sheep |
Mt. Brooks from the Eielson Visitor Center |
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Arriving at the Backcountry Lodge  |
After dinner we get instructions about tomorrow  |
Day 9 Days 10-11 Day 12 Day 13 Day 14 Days 15-17
Last updated: July 18, 2004