We have spent the past week in Healy, where my primary focus has been volunteering at Denali National Park.  

We have a good group of volunteers providing Wildlife Safety and Education at Savage River Trailhead.   I am the only returning volunteer in this position and am working regularly until the middle of June.

While I am working,  C has been exploring the area via ATV.  He has found some beautiful spots above treeline!  His head is down in the photo as he flies his drone.

He also found  some tiny ponds.  The below puddle near a pond had an adorable Least Sandpiper.  The White-crowned Sparrow to the left gives some perspective on just how tiny this miniature shorebird is.  We were surprised to find him in on Mount Healy!  He was an exceptionally brave bird as he probed for food. He stayed in the middle of the road and let us get within 5 feet or so before flying a short distance.

One day off, we did laundry and took showers, then went into Savage River in the evening.  We saw 23 Caribou, 9 Dall Sheep, and 2 Porcupine.  

This sheep was so impressive that we hiked over a mile to get close enough for good photos.  

He didn’t mind at all having us 50 yards away with the scope.

By the time we returned to the truck it was after 11 pm.  We got home after midnight, with the sun barely below the horizon.

C is itching to go to an area with better fishing. The photo above is from last week.  We hope to head toward Seward on Thursday when I finish work for the day – we have a good life.