21-SEP-2015
We arrived in Anchorage on Sunday, Sep 20, and started our drive north to Fairbanks the next day on the Parks Hiway.
21-SEP-2015
First view of Denali - at his point, the weather was beautiful.
21-SEP-2015
Lots of mountains other than Denali.
21-SEP-2015
Within half an hour of the last shot, the clouds closed in, and this was our best - and really, last view of the mountains.
21-SEP-2015
Once in Denali Park, you can only drive the first 15 miles of the road. Past that, you have to take on of their buses, which quit running the Friday before we got there. This is Savage Creek, end of the paved road.
21-SEP-2015
Another view of Savage Creek.
21-SEP-2015
The Alaska Railroad bridge near the entrance to Denali Nationl Park. There's a train station in the Park.
21-SEP-2015
Just north of the Park, the Netana River.
21-SEP-2015
When the road went up, it was winter.
27-SEP-2015
Down a little lower, most of the snow was gone. We arrived in Fairbanks in the late afternoon after a beautiful drive.
27-SEP-2015
After spending 4 nights north of the Arctic Circle - more about that in the next album - we spent one night in Fairbanks and headed back south.
27-SEP-2015
Bridge over the Tenana River.
27-SEP-2015
Winter has definitely set in.
27-SEP-2015
A smaller river, since we didn't cross it, there were no signs with its name.
27-SEP-2015
Best view of Denali for the day.
28-SEP-2015
Our last day in Alaska - and the weather still wasn't cooperating. We decided to go for a drive anyway, along Turnagain Arm toward Seward.
28-SEP-2015
It's a spectacular drive, right along the water, beautiful even in the rain.
28-SEP-2015
We took a short side trip up the Alyeska Hiway. The mist was hanging low over parts of the road, even though by now it was after lunch.
28-SEP-2015
Near the end of Turnagain Arm.
28-SEP-2015
Another side trip, to Portage Glacier.
28-SEP-2015
Since wildlife was hiding, we broke down and visited the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. he center’s mission is to provide refuge for orphaned, injured, and ill animals—those that can't survive in the wild. This is one of three grizzly bears. We learned that Alaskan grizzlies are smaller than the ones found in place like Yellowstone.
28-SEP-2015
The Center is also home to some black bears.
28-SEP-2015
Then it was time to head back to Anchorage, and say goodbye to Alaska. For now, anyway.