July 8, 2019
Smoke is becoming an unwelcome companion. As much as I whined about the incessant rain on the 21 day drive to Alaska, I’m praying for rain now.
Before we left the north, we went just a bit further north to a informal visitors center - - look at this pretty little stream and the birch trees - -
Just a few hundred feet from - - the pipeline - -
Destination today, Denali. About 100 miles. 100 miles of smoke. Visibility is about 1 mile. Looked as if the scenery was stunning, but could not see it.
I took one photo just to show how bad it was. There must have been a mountain or something out there. We did not stop at the pull offs unless we needed to stretch or use the personal hygiene room (potty). Why bother, the views were all the same - - smoke.
Arrived in Denali and maybe we can see 5 or 10 miles. The smoke is all anyone is talking about.
Seems most of the state is blanketed in smoke. Some areas heavier than others. Thousands and thousands of square miles. It is quite overwhelming to think about. Cannot wrap my imagination around it.
Campsite, ok, it’s gonna rank way up there as most unusual. Water storage tanks behind us and beside us. I’m not sure how we managed to get The Estate in here. This was when we first arrived, later it was even more crowded, cars belonging to peeps renting rooms in the motel were parked right in front of us. It took a two or three point turn to get back in our spot. When I had backed The Estate in for the second time in 6 hours, I needed an adult beverage.
This place has a motel attached, rooms can be about $220.00 and that is if you want or will take a room where you have to use the campground bathrooms!!! Just. Wow!
We did arrive here early enough that we managed a drive through the park. See there is only 15 miles you can take your own vehicle over. And, it was smoky. We could not see the mountains clearly, they looked like the “purple mountain majesty” versions. Barely an outline.
We drove the 15 miles they will allow personal vehicles. We stopped at Savage River, this greeted us:
I took a few steps down the river hike path. Oh, my! If we had known we could run our generator and leave Sir W in The Estate, I would have been on this trail in a heart beat. Level, and runs both sides of the river.
Somewhere out there is the range of mountains that Denali stands in. Somewhere, in the smoke.
We did see moose, two of em, laying down in the grasses, some way off the road, photo poor, not included.
After leaving the park we decided to run back to Healy, about 10 miles, for a few supplies. It gave me the opportunity to try to photo the scenes between Healy and the park entrance/town. When we came through earlier in the day I was driving. Now I was shooting - - photos!!
We were able to sit outside and enjoy an evening with some very friendly fellow RVer’s.
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