Kantishna, Denali National Park, Alaska

Vehicles are restricted in nearly all of Denali National Park so my sister and I took a bus journey to Katnishna, some 93 miles into the park. On the way we had another surprise view of Mt. McKinley. The weather deteriorated as the day went on.

It was on this bus trip that I really gathered a sense of the vastness of the park. It was a twelve hour adventure (speed limit 25 mph with various stops).

The park is larger than Massachusetts.

There are a few lodges within the park as those properties were privately owned before that territory was added.

We saw glaciers.

We saw rivers.

At the Eielson Visitor Center, the chances of seeing Mt. McKinley are so slim its location is etched in a view window so you know what you are missing.

The vastness of the park was evident as we neared the end of the road.

And quite a road it is.

Broad Pass, Alaska

Nearing the end of our journey on the Denali Star, we crossed Broad Pass. At 2,300 feet, it is the lowest pass along the Alaska Range.

We caught one last glimpse of McKinley.

The summit is at 2,363 feet and is the highest point of our rail journey. It is also the summit of the Continental Divide.

This last photo is one I took through the glass of our rail road car, hence some unusual color. All the other photos I took at an open deck at the rear of our car.

Mt. McKinley Closest Views

As we continued north, the clouds cleared a little.

This would be my closest view of the mountain from land, about 40 miles.

Hurricane Gulch, Alaska

As the Denali Star continued north, we came to Hurricane Gulch. The bridge across the gulch was built in 1921 and is 914 feet long.

The bridge is 296 feet above Hurricane Creek.












I got a glimpse of that independent Alaska spirit.

Denali Star Views (Alaska Railroad)

The views from the Denali Star as it heads north to Denali Park are amazing.

There are frequent scenes of rivers and mountains.

The route parallels Highway 3, passing through Wasilla and Talkeetna.

As we continued north, the landscape began to look more like tundra with spruce. 

There were many breath taking scenes.

Mt. McKinley First Views

I flew to Anchorage on June 16 and boarded the Denali Star RR the next morning. My sister and I were heading to Denali Park. These were the first views I had of McKinley, the south side.

I was excited. Some people spend a week in the area and never see the mountain at all. Little did I know I would have many amazing views of the mountain in the following days.

Ferry House

San Juan Islands Sunset

Rhodes River Ranch

These are photos from a recent trip to the Rhodes River Ranch near Oso, Washington.

They train and breed horses.

There is a great restaurant that overlooks the indoor training and show arena. 

Oso Slide

I was with a group yesterday that drove through the Oso slide area. The extent of slide was breathtaking. 

Highway 530 is open through this area with one lane, gravel, and delays.

Pastel Sunset

Sometime the sunsets are not spectacular, with blazing color, but are just peaceful. The San Juan Islands are on the horizon.

Cascade Mountain Views

I was looking through photo files and came across these taken in February a couple of years ago.

No matter where you are in Oak Harbor, it is just a few blocks to a view of mountains.

Driving on Whidbey Island

Driving along West Beach Road on Whidbey Island provides sneak views of the Olympics. I have to remind myself to keep my eyes on the road.

Color Scheme

I'm not so sure I wouldn't have picked a different color.

Eagles at Oak Harbor

Two eagles kept watch at the Flintstone Park in Oak Harbor. The Olympics are seen over Scenic Heights.

Olympic Peninsula at Dusk

Olympic Mountains

A robin and I enjoy the view from Fort Ebey State Park on the west side of Whidbey Island.

Moss

A patch of moss catches the morning sun.

San Juan Islands Sunset

This is a recent view from the west side of Whidbey Island. A high pressure system stilled the air and made the Salish Sea like glass.

Olympics from Whidbey Island

This little county park is at the end of Hastie Lake Road. It is an easy bicycle ride from my childhood home so I spent many hours here in my youth. The bench is new but the awesome Olympics are the same.

Chives

The chives are in full bloom and the bees love them.