Tag: Denali National Park

• Alaska in May

  

  In May you can see the beautiful snow in interior Alaska while enjoying long days that are often sunny. Value train tickets are available on some scenic rail routes including Anchorage to Denali. Hotels, campgrounds and tours will be gearing up throughout the month with nearly full offerings on Memorial Day weekend and beyond. The…

  Melissa Rudacille

  January 29, 2024

  Alaska Activities, When to travel to Alaska

  Alaska weather, break-up, Denali National Park, Harlequin ducks on Savage River, when to visit Alaska

• Alaska in August

  

  C and I think August is the best month for sportfishing as we enjoy fishing for silver salmon (coho).  https://roaming-nature.com/2023/08/15/long-weekend-with-coho-count/  If you want to fish and visit Denali National Park, spend several days (or more) in Southern Alaska to fish, then head north for several days (or more) in Denali. We ate a lot of salmon…

  Melissa Rudacille

  January 20, 2024

  Alaska Activities, Alaska Wildlife, Camping in Alaska, Fishing in Alaska, When to travel to Alaska

  alaska, Alaska weather, Alaska Wildlife, coho salmon, Denali National Park, fishing, foraging, moose photos, when to visit Alaska

• Day One, Healy to Palmer

  

  It was snowing in Healy our last morning.   The night before we saw the above bull moose in Denali National Park. What an awesome Alaskan summer we have had!  Now it is time to meander back to Virginia,  by way of Valdez for one last fishing trip. The mountains were beautiful with their fresh snow,…

  Melissa Rudacille

  September 22, 2023

  Alaska Wildlife, Travel to and from Alaska

  Alaska Wildlife, Denali National Park, fall road trip, moose photos

• Perky Pikas

  

  I worked hard to see my first pika back in July. The two this week were much more cooperative! I was even able to quietly run get C who was looking for sheep, come back, and watch one who was still busily harvesting and eating vegetation. These little rabbit relatives are so cute as they…

  Melissa Rudacille

  September 9, 2023

  Alaska Activities, Alaska Wildlife, Life in Alaska

  Alaska Wildlife, Denali National Park

• Termination Dust, Weather, Week 25 in Healy

  

  Yesterday and today we had a dusting of snow at elevation. Summer is over! Low of 39 degrees and high of 58 (we hear Virginia is sweltering at 98). Saturday was a rare sunny day so we went into the park. Hard to believe we only have a few weeks left before we start the…

  Melissa Rudacille

  September 3, 2023

  Alaska Wildlife, Life in Alaska

  Alaska weather, Denali, Denali National Park, moose photos

• Denali on a Clear Day, Week 18 in Healy

  

  “That big, white mountain is Denali, this is my best view in 4 1/2 months!” While I wasn’t as verbal, I was impressed as well. This was my best view in just over 4 months, and probably my second best of all time. My lovely husband, who constantly checks the weather and visibility for his…

  Melissa Rudacille

  July 28, 2023

  Alaska Activities, Life in Alaska

  Denali, Denali National Park

• Teklanika Campground and the Tek Pass

  If you have read many of my posts, you know I like the Denali National Park transit bus system. During the summer I usually ride the free bus to Savage River once a week. To go further into the Park via the East Fork Transit Bus, it costs about $35 for the day (plus an…

  Melissa Rudacille

  July 25, 2023

  Alaska Activities, Alaska Wildlife, Camping in Alaska

  Alaska Wildlife, Denali National Park, East Fork Transit Bus, Tek Pass, Teklanika Campground

• Wildlife Count, 3 Nights at Teklanika Campground

  On our drive to Teklanika Campground we saw 11 Ptarmigan dust bathing and getting digestive gravel for their crops.  Mom and Dad work together raising the 9 chicks. It was the start of a wonderful 4-day/3-night experience. For the Denali Big Five seen during our 3 night stay: around 50 Dall sheep sitings, 16 Caribou,…

  Melissa Rudacille

  July 24, 2023

  Alaska Activities, Alaska Wildlife, Camping in Alaska

  Alaska Wildlife, Arctic ground squirrels, Denali National Park, East Fork Transit Bus, Ptarmigan, Teklanika Campground

• Caribou, Moose, and Dall Sheep

  

  My parents and I took at least 7 transit bus rides during our 3 nights at Teklanika Campground (love the Tek Pass). We saw all of the Denali Big Five, including lots of caribou, lots of Dall sheep, and one moose. I was thrilled to see so many caribou and see some caribou females and…

  Melissa Rudacille

  July 23, 2023

  Alaska Activities, Alaska Wildlife, Camping in Alaska

  Alaska Wildlife, Caribou, Denali National Park, Teklanika Campground

• Grizzlies, Cubs, and Tracks

  

  While taking the East Fork Transit Buses from Teklanika Campground, my parents and I saw 5 or 6 grizzly bears. We had gone hiking at Tattlers Creek our second day, not knowing what we would see there 2 days later. In retrospect the bear prints on the side of the road were a clue! We…

  Melissa Rudacille

  July 23, 2023

  Alaska Activities, Alaska Wildlife, Camping in Alaska

  Alaska Wildlife, Denali National Park, East Fork Transit Bus, Grizzly Bear, Teklanika Campground, Teklanika River