#AlaskaRange

[wanderlustandwildflowersblog]

📷 Everett McIntire via Unsplash

[danholmesphoto]

Solitary Spruce, There is something about solitary trees that speaks to me - whether it's a "miti moya" African Thorn Acacia or this Alaskan Black Spruce - maybe it's the openness of the scene or the ability of that tree to grow where none else do - it's compelling in a powerful way. This spruce stands alone in a vast tundra plane leading into the south side of the Alaskan Range. #alaska #fallcolors #tundra #blackspruce #landscapephotography #ourpubliclands #danholmesphoto #denalihighway #landscape #tundra #alaskarange #travel (at Delta Junction, Alaska) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjOWnwlvO6o/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lakes-and-mountains]

I haven’t really had much to say these past few days. But here’s a really cool picture of the mountains and the clouds :)

[3kw3dogs]

Denali National Park!

Today was a perfect and clear day for a drive to Denali National Park! Denali was out and gloriously beautiful!

Let me back up a bit. Denali, the mountain, is not visible from the park visitor center, which is at approximately mile 3 of the park road. Most of the year, the road is open until about mile 3.5, where the sled dog kennels are located. But for a few brief months, they open the road a bit further. You still cannot drive your own car all the way to the end of the park road (92 miles total), with 2 exceptions: bus service in the summer peak season, and there’s a lottery each year in September. They open the road to a limited number of cars to drive to the end. It’s about 1 in 7 odds to win. We entered last year, didn’t win. We will enter again this year for sure. 

With that explanation done... last Tuesday, they opened the park road to Mile 12! There’s a turnout there and a 1/4 mile hike to a cabin. And they have the road gated off to car traffic, but you can hike/bike/etc further down the park road to a myriad of destinations.

We decided to drive there today, about 2.5 hours drive from Fairbanks to the park entrance. It turned out to be PERFECT for it. It was not too hot (started around +35F, up to about +50F by the time we left). And more importantly, it was CLEAR! This is actually pretty rare. On a good day, you can see Denali (the mountain) from Fairbanks. We could see it this morning.. and amazing glimpses of it on our drive there. Mile 12 is the furthest we’ve been into the park. And around... probably mile 10ish you can see Denali. So we snagged some pretty cool pics. That’s the closest we’ve ever been to it. But still so, so far away. 

The park is HUGE! Larger than the entire state of NH. And the Alaska Range, all of it, is amazing. The drive was just awesome. 

This was on our hike/walk back to our car. We hiked to mile 14, so about 4 miles RT. 

Not sure what kind of bird this is. But it was great! See the tiny tracks? It was moving soooo slowly! When it got into the brush, it honestly looked like a snow pile. Great camouflage!  After we got back to the car, we had a picnic in the turnout. We sat in a camp chair and in the back of the car and just enjoyed the sun and not-too-warm weather with a sandwich, fruit and a soda. 

Denali again, in the distance. We took a few more shots on our way out of the park.

All in all, I’d say a pretty fantastic day.

[soulroadtrips]

Mt Hunter, The Alaska Range . . . #alaska #mthunter #soulroadtrips #alaskarange #thelastfrontier #mountains #landscapephotography #snow #highcountry #denalinationalpark #talkeetna #talkeetnaalaska #talkeetnaairtaxi (at Denali National Park and Preserve) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChtthJJO3S0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[gmessy30]

These are lovely photos of the Alaska Range from Salamatof Beach, which are totally allowed. Unfortunately there was a large metallic object in the way... #sonydschx400v #sonydsc #sonycybershot #SonyCameras #alaskarange #cookinlet #alaskaphotography #alaska (at Port Nikiski, Alaska) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVI9bFPvRvG/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jaspergibson]

Alaska daydreamin’..... #alaska #bushplane #ak #alaskarange #denali #denalinationalpark # (at Alaska) https://www.instagram.com/p/COOJIEfBPHF/?igshid=1ss4fgxolxiyv

[denalibrewing]

New Beer release! Hazy IPA! Pictured on the can is Mt. Huntington painted by the talented @leighanfalley. In the shadow of Denali, Mount Huntington is known to be one of the most difficult climbs in the Alaska range. This is the French Ridge, considered a nearly impossible route to climb. Just like Mount Huntington, this IPA emerges from the haze and shows its bold presence. . . #denalibrewing #denalibrewpub #denali #alaskarange #mthunington #talkeetna #hazyipa (at Denali Brewing Co.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKptLrmHnJR/?igshid=yorjiz8rvngd

[hamoudablog]

Sunrise behind the Alaska Range, Denali National Park by Bryan Carnathan Learn more here: www.the-digital-picture.com/Pictures/Picture.aspx?Picture... https://flic.kr/p/2k4eNar

[sagesolar]

Alaska Range by MarculescuEugenIancuD5200Alaska https://flic.kr/p/2ifVAZv

[lordwalt]

Took in Valdez Alaska #alaska #valdez #sky #photography #mountains #alaskarange #water #princewilliamsound #reflection #alaskascenery #landscape #landscapephotography #photography #canonphotography (at Valdez, Alaska)

[treesandtravels1]

Maybe I liked #Denali too much. #alaska #tattoo #mountains #alaskarange #tattooed (at Spittin' Ink Tattoo Studio and Art Gallery)

[cherryching317]

Prototype is done. Now is the time to see if my customer is happy with this. #CherryCardenasHandmade #alaskaTheme #alaskaRange #mountains #slingForRifle passions #antiqueFinishing https://www.instagram.com/p/BvqDvCDgVFa/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=sc8809vlzx65

[alaska-photography]

From a flight a few years ago when heading to Denali basecamp, while above the Kahiltna Glacier. Looking to head back in a couple months. #alaska #alaskarange #discovery #adventure #travel #aerial #aerialphotography #mountains #climbinglife #bushflying @sheldonairservice (at Kahiltna Glacier)

[3kw3dogs]

Castner Glacier & Ice Caves

Holden here, and with the world in the state that it is, and everything canceled under the sun, we did the only thing people in alaska do when events are canceled.  we went outside to do anything we want.  We went to a nearby Glacier with an ice cave.  neat huh??  Had to snowshoe out a little ways, but the trail was packed down due to people doing the same thing as us.  Got to try out some more winter activity so mark those off the list as well.  The cave itself was hidden pretty well behind a hill, and looked underwhelming at first. until you step past a snowbank into this GIANT opening. The ceiling covered in ice was super cool.  If we had a good flashlight we could have gone further but between the dark, and the river on the floor starting to melt we called it.

[rrondo]

Winter Light by akphotograph.com First light on the Alaska Range https://flic.kr/p/2csRo3o