Brandt Couple Travel Blog: Days 10-11 -- Denali National Park -- July 20-21, 2014

Day 10 (Sunday) Healy and Denali National Park (Scroll down for Day 11)

Before we left Fairbanks, we stopped at the Large Animal Research Center (LARS). Since LARS was not open on Sunday, we took a few pictures of the musk ox and caribou from outside the fence. The Tatlanika Trading Company & RV Campground on the George Parks Highway was our next stop. It was almost like a museum with historical displays both inside and out. As we were driving, we passed a kennel of sled dogs, so we turned around to ask if we could take a few pictures of the dogs.

We arrived to Healy early, so we drove 13 miles south to Denali National Park. On our drive, along the road was a small pond with a bull moose. He didn't seem to mind all the people stopping to take his picture.

When we got to Denali, we were able to look around in the Eielson visitor center and the gift shop. The first 15 miles of the park are accessible to the public to drive. Arlen, Justin and I hiked part of the Savage Alpine trail. The trail was very wooded with many small birds.

On the way to check in at the White Moose Lodge, we ate at the 49th State Brewing Company in Healy. I ordered the yak burger. It was quite tasty and tasted like buffalo.

The magic bus used for the movie, "Into the Wild," was displayed outside the restaurant. The 2007 movie was based on Christopher McCandless's life. He had ventured into the Alaskan wilderness in 1992 with little food and equipment to live simply. He had lived in the converted bus near Denali.

Musk Ox and Caribou at the LARS Center in Fairbanks

Blue -- Fairbanks to Healy route
Green -- Denali shuttle bus route

Sled Dogs

Alaska Native Veterans' Honor Bridge over the Tanana River

Tatlanika Trading Company & RV Park near Clear, AK

Fish Wheel

Moose eating in a pond near Denali

Eielson Visitor Center at Denali

Hand-made quilt of the park displayed in the visitor center

Postcard view

Justin and I walk along the Savage Alpine Trail

The trail near the water

Bird in the tree along the trail

Justin by the stream

Beautiful colors

Arlen and I stop to have our picture taken by the stream

Rainbow seen from the parking lot of our motel

49th State Brewing Company in Healy

Justin stands in front of the bus used in the movie, "Into the Wild"

Inside of the bus

Sign outside the restaurant

Day 11 (Monday) Healy and Denali National Park

The next day we boarded the green Denali shuttle bus at 7:45 a.m. to ride the entire 92-mile length of the park to the Kantishna stop. This was a 12-hour trip. I don't know if I can accurately describe the beauty that I saw in Denali. We had a bright, sunny day. The mountains and valleys were enormous. Even though it was clear out, Mt. McKinley had it's own weather. The very tip of the mountain was covered with clouds. Luckily, we were able to see it in it's entirety the next day on our drive to Anchorage. On the distant mountain sides, dall sheep were grazing. Five grizzly bears were counted on the round trip. We saw lots of caribou and four moose.