Yard Moose

After a week of intense moose searching, Abby's sister Kelsey and her friend finally headed back to Ohio.
Naturally, the following week has been non-stop moose sightings. Today was the first time I have seen a moose from the new house. There were two, in fact, in the next door neighbor's yard. This was a perfect situation, since I could look over the 6 ft privacy fence and get close up shots without too much risk...never did see mama though

Denali NP

Abby near Polychrome Pass 

Our fall bus trip through Denali National Park was a long, relaxing ride that offered continual scenic views. 

There are two ways to take a bus ride through the park. One is the bus tour and the other is the bus shuttle. The tour runs about $170 per person and the shuttle about $60. The difference is the tour includes a narrator, a coach seat and a sack lunch. The shuttle is an old school bus with small seats, lots of people, and numerous stops. We opted for the shuttle.

Caribee on the Toklat River 

Eielson Visitor Center

The park shuttle system is designed to allow people on and off the bus wherever they like. Many people choose to simply ride out and back as a cheap yet effective way to see everything possible from the road. The road is about 90 miles long and takes about 6 hours each way. The shuttle bus stops every hour or so for bathrooms, and they will stop any time there is wildlife near the road. Additionally, they will stop to pick up or drop off backpackers.

Denali being elusive above the park road

Abby and I boarded the bus at 7:30am and were back at our car about 7:30pm. We saw moose, grizzly bears, eagles, and caribou. It was sunny when we started, raining and sleeting when we got to the end of the road, and everything was covered in snow on our way back out. We enjoyed all the fall colors that are possible, and lots of wildlife. Not surprisingly, the big mountain never came out for a picture.

Great fall colors

Blueberries were just right

We took a couple of backpacks with clothes and a small cooler for snack food. The trip was a great time, and I believe we will do it again when everything is green, just to see the contrast and hope for a great photo opp of the mountain.

More caribou

Wonder Lake

Great Grizzly picture - taken with my cell phone camera

Many wildlife pics with bits of people

Caribou - they know you want to shoot a photograph

Eielson Center on the way back

The only grizzly on our side of the bus!

Morning sun, mid day rain, afternoon snowfall. All of it beautiful

Caribou on the side of the Parks Highway

Fall Colors

That's Denali behind us!