Photos of Denali National Park July 13-17, 2010

Denali National Park is a wild, beautiful place. Many animals live there, and humans are not permitted to make much impact there. In the winter, the park is mostly closed, with access by snowmobile and dogsled. The park has it's own team of sled dogs. We enjoyed our visit there, and would like to return in the winter sometime.

Here is a photo of a red fox that caught an arctic squirrel right in front of the bus, the park road, Christian and I at Eilson Visitor Center, and Denali under cloudy skies.

Le parc national de Denali est un endroit fabuleux a visiter. De vastes etendues, des territoires encore vierges, une faune et une flore abondante. Le parc reste ouvert toute l'annee mais en hiver il retrouve toute sa senerite et sa tranquillite sous un manteau de neige. Les gardes du parc continuent a patrouiller en traineau comme dans le passe.

Bears of Denali National Park, Alaska

While in Denali, we saw over thirty grizzly bears - some adults, some mothers with cubs. Many were very close to us - within 100 feet. They are adorable, but very dangerous. They can run 30 miles per hour, weigh up to 1200 lbs, and have teeth and nails 4 inches long. Mothers with cubs are especially protective. To guard against bear attack, one should stand up tall, waive arms over your head, and speak firmly to the bear, as in "I am a human, bear. Don't eat me." Never run or try to bike away from the bear.

Durant notre visite nous avons vu une trentaine d'ours, des adultes males mais surtout des femelles avec leurs petits. Parfois ils etaient en bordure de route ( facile a photographier ) et parfois un peu plus a distance. Les males peuvent atteindre les 5oo kgs avec des dents et des griffes de plus de 10cms. Alors il faut etre extemement prudent, ne jamais se positionner entre la mere et ses petits, ne jamais s'enfuir si confronter par un ours. Que faut-il faire? garder son calme, se faire aussi grand que possible en elevant les bras, parler a l'ours et si cela ne marche pas, se mettre au sol, se couvrir la tete et jouer le mort.

Moose and Caribou of Denali National Park, Alaska 7-13 to 17, 2010

We camped in Denali National Park from July 13 to July 17. We used three campgrounds, the last at Teklanika, 30 miles deep in the park. The park itself is 6.8 million acres - lots of room for tourists, hikers, campers and animals. Here are a few of the wonderful animals we saw on our first bus trip 80 miles into the park. C&C

Nous avons campe 4 jours a l'interieur du parc avec un permis special. Le parc controle et limite

les entrees et les sorties des vehicules afin de minimiser notre impact sur le systeme ecologique. Le parc contient 3 millions d'hectares avec une seule route de terre battue qui se prolonge de 160kms vers l'interieur. Une fois au camping (au km 50) on doit y rester un minimum de 3 jours sans possibilite de resortir. Une fois sur place un systeme se navette/bus vous permet de continuer votre decouverte de la faune, ici elans et caribous.

Flight over Mt McKinley July 11, 2010

On Friday, July 11, 2010, on the clearest, most cloudless, sunny day, we flew in a small 10 person plane from Talkeetna, AK over Mt McKinley. Only approximately 30% of people who come to Alaska even see the mountain - it is usually covered in clouds. We flew across the forests, up the glaciers, around both the north and south peaks of the mountain. We then used the skis on the plane to land on the Ruth glacier, where we stood on the snow in front of the highest peak in North America - 20,300 feet. It was absolutely breathtaking, and certainly the jewel of our trip. Enjoy the photos and the video........Connie and Christian

Survol du Mt McKinley.

Quelle chance! Un jour sans nuage et un charter qui vous emmene survoler la montagne avec atterrissage sur le glacier. Un vol a vous faire serrer les fesses mais c'est maintenant ou jamais. Comme les images l'indiquent, un moment unique qui sera difficile a surpasser. Nous avons pris plusieurs centaines de photos que nous graveront plus tard sur un CD.

Palmer to Denali via Parks Highway, Alaska

Hi, all. On July 11, we headed from Palmer Alaska north toward Denali National Park. We were headed to Talkeetna, for the Moose Dropping Festival, but found it was cancelled this year. The day was crystal clear, no clouds, beautiful blue skies. This happens perhaps once a year here in Alaska. The highest peak on the North American continent, Mount McKinley (also called Denali by the locals), is in the park. The peak is 20,320 feet high, and mostly covered with clouds. But on this clear blue day, we could see the mountain and its range from 200 miles away. Incredible sights! Enjoy...

Bonjour a tous. Le 11 juillet nous avons finalement pris la route vers le nord, direction Parc national de Denali. Un des plus beaux parcs nationaux americains. En chemin nous nous sommes arretes dans le petit village de Talkkeetna ou chaque annee il y a un festival au theme du crotin d'elan. Tout cela dans la bonne humeur evidemment. Malheureusement festival annule cette annee. la journee etait belle, pas un seul nuage dans le ciel, le Mt Mckinley montrait toute sa fierte et sa beaute a l'horizon. Une chance car la montagne n'est en general visible qu'un jour sur cinq. Notre plaisir de partager ces photos avec vous.

July 5, 6, 7 2010 Homer AK to Palmer AK

We visited the last stop on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, Homer. It is a harbor town surrounded by mountains.

From there, we traveled up the coast to the small villages of Ninilchik and Kenai. Both of these towns were Russian settlements and are still very influenced by Russian traditions and families. Each has a beautiful Russian orthodox church.

Nous avons finalement atteint le point le plus au sud de la peninsule de Kenai, le village de Homer. Village entoure de montagnes mais inonde de pecheurs. En remontant la cote, nous avons decouvert plusieurs villages qui datent de l'epoque ou l'Alaska etait encore un territoire russe. Des villages qui ont toujours garde leurs traditions comme en temoignent ces deux petites chapelles de style russe orthodoxe.

Happy Independence Day from Alaska July 4, 2010

These photos were taken on July 5, one day after Independence Day, but they are fantastic! We were at Anchor Point, the most western paved road in the United States. The eagles had gathered to eat some fish along the shore. Happy late 4th of July, everyone!

Un jour avec les aigles. Photos prises sur la plage ( peninsule de Kenai ) ou les aigles faisaient un festin avec les carcasses de poissons ( Halibut) laissees en abondance par les pecheurs. On pouvait les approcher de 5 metres avant de les effrayer.

McCarthy AK and Kennicott Mine Ghost Town June 24-26, 2010

McCarthy is a small town 60 miles down a rough dirt road in Wrangel St Elias National Park. It is very isolated. Close to it is the old copper mining ghost town of Kennicott. It is now a national historical monument and is being rebuilt by the National Park System. It was a long trip, lots of hiking, but well worth it.

Un detour de plus de 200km sur une route toute defoncee (ancienne voie ferree) nous a fait decouvrir cette mine de cuivre et d'argent. Apres plusieurs annees d'exploitation, la mine et le village ont ete abandonnes. Tout a ete laisse sur place. Les machines dans la mine sont toujours en etat de marche.

Whales and wildlife June 26 to July 2, 2010

We have taken two cruises to see whales and other wildlife. Whales, sea lions, seals, dolphins and birds. The photos speak for themselves. Enjoy.

Nous avons fait deux sorties en bateau. Nous avons eu la chance de voir des baleines, des lions de mer, des phoques mais sutout nous avons pu nous approcher d'un glacier qui se jetait directement dans la mer. Frequemment d'immenses blocs de glace se detachaient de la face du glacier et s'effondraient dans l'eau en faisant un bruit fracassant et creant une immense vague.

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June 17-18-19, 2010 Haines Highway

We left Haines, Alaska, heading north on the Haines Highway to Haines Junction. Stopped and camped at Million Dollar Falls Park again. There, we met two very nice people, Dee and Cal, who are touring Alaska on trikes. They toured last year from Witchita, Kansas to Alaska, and are back this year to finish seeing Alaska. We have become friends now, and have met with them several times along our travel route.

We rode the north half of the Haines Highway on Thursday, June 17. The Kluane Chilkoot International Bike Race is Saturday, June 19, and will follow the entire highway from Haines Junction to Haines - 148 miles, 250 kilometers. The route is beautiful. On Friday, June 18, we rode the first leg of the route to warm up and check for hazards. See the photos of the hazards - at the first checkpoint, there were two big black grizzly bears waiting for us! We took photos and waited for them to go back into the woods before we rode on!

Saturday, race day, was the most beautiful day in our trip so far. The sun was gleaming, the mountains covered with snow, the lakes sparkling. But the wind was strong and it was cold in the mountains. We rode the race with our partners Kevin and Heidi from Whitehorse, Yukon. They rode the first half, then Christian rode the mountains and plateau, and I rode the anchor leg into Haines. It was a looooooong day!

En route nous rencontrons souvent des gens qui accomplissent des choses incroyables. Voici Cal et Dee, deux retraites qui font le tour de l'Alaska en tricycle etant parti du Kansas. Nous avons participe a un relai cycliste de 250 kms avec un autre couple canadien. Chacun avait un troncon a parcourir. Lemien etait tres raide et balaye par un vent de 40km/h. En faisant la reconnaissance du parcours, deux ours nous ont barre le chemin. On a attendu quelques minutes, puis on a continue tranquillement.

June 9 - 16, 2010 Haines, Skagway, Juneau Alaska

We are a little early in our travel, so we spent ten days in Haines, Alaska. A very nice small fishing village on the beautiful Lynn Canal, part of the inner passage. There are glaciers all around, snow topped mountains, eagles, bears and lots of mosquitos! The eagles live on the river where we camped, so we saw lots of them and took wonderful pictures. We took two ferry trips, one to Skagway, Alaska where we met friends Bob and Jacquie who arrived on a cruise ship and rode the Whitepass narrow gauge railroad up the mountain. Beautiful views and steep drop offs! Then, we took a ferry ride to Juneau, the capital of Alaska. There are no roads to Juneau, so you can only get there by plane or ferry. On the ferry ride, we saw humpback and beluga whales, seals and sea lions. Sorry - no pictures - they are FAST! In Juneau, we went to a salmon bake, rode the tramway up the mountain, saw another bear, and visited the Mendenhall glacier with its blue ice and icebergs.

Nous avons passe 10 jours a Haynes un petit village cotier entoure de magnifiques glaciers qui tombent dans la mer. Beaucoup d'animaux sauvages, des ours qui frequentaient regulierement le camping ou nous restions, des aigles mais surtout des moustiques qui vous "bouffent" en 10 secondes. Nous avons pris un ferry jusqu'a Skagway, un autre petit village ou nous avons rencontre des amis canadiens de Floride. On en a profite pour prendre un train de montagne, le parcours etait impressionant. Un autre ferry nous a emmene a Juneau, la capitale de l'Alaska, ville isolee car seulement approchable par bateau ou avion. Du bateau, nous avons vu des baleines qui nous taquinaient en plongeant devant nous, mais impossible de prendre des photos car elles sont plus rapides que nous. Le glacier Mendenhall etait de meme impressionant.