More misc pictures.......

Homer:

That is our rig on the far right.

Portage, AK (below)

 

Palmer, AK(below)

We went home to Texas for 8 days just to visit the family. We are back in Alaska now........

Denali National Park

The High One, or Mt McKinley, or Denali.

Whatever you call it we saw it!!

We are officially part of the 30% club. 

A little history is in order here. Mt. McKinley was named after then Presidential candidate William McKinley, in 1917. It stayed that way and was accepted by all of us "Mericans" until 2015, when the politically correct but intellectually bankrupt 44th President took it upon himself to rename the mountain "Denali".  The mountain itself could care less what you call it, but there is always the strong desire in some of us to preserve the history of our great country. The discovery and explorations of the vastness of our country, including Alaska, require that we do not forget the intestinal fortitude and the overwhelming odds that our forefathers overcame to bring us to our current day. We look today at the great mountains in the Alaska Range, and cannot with good conscience think about the towering beauty as anything but Mt. McKinley. Politics belong in D.C. not out here, where not a single current day President, past or present, has ventured out to gaze upon the beauty that they think they rule over.

Into the wilderness.................

We camped. In a tent. We left the RV behind and went into the wilds of a campground. Past where all the normal tourists can go, by special permit only to what the locals call "Tek". 3 day minimum stay is required, not allowed to move your vehicle during your stay. There are the typical Park Service vault toilets, some garbage bins that are bear proof, and a little fresh water to brush your teeth with. Not much else.

We were excited to try out all of the new gear, even though 100% of it was not bear proof.

This is the tent covered in 2 layers of tarp that protected us perfectly from the Chinook winds of 70mph gusts and rain. Doesn't look like it here with the blue skies in the background, but the winds were howling, and the rain moved in overnight. For once the damn weather people were correct!
 

We enjoyed some sunshine with the Chinook Winds before the rain moved in.
 

And of course the "Federal Law" about roasting marshmallows was strictly followed.

That's our bear spray, a gun and a knife. We think we are prepared if a bear wanders by.

 

We tried our hands at video.  

 The green bus into Denali to Wonder Lake.

 We saw loads of animals including this bear walking along the road.

A large caribou.

Baby moose, we couldn't get a picture of the mamma.

It's through the window but still beautiful.

Les put the drone up at the RV Park.

That is us on the left of the red roofed building.

This area is absolutely beautiful.

 The RV park emptied out after a large caravan left. Mid August and the season is winding down.

Brooks Falls In Katmai National Park

 

Best birthday present ever!!

We flew on PenAir out of Anchorage to King Salmon, AK.

King Salmon is a tiny town with a large runway way out in the bush. Our plane is the on the right.

 

Next we boarded a small float plane for the last 20 minute flight. We landed on Naknek Lake.

 

 After a briefing on how to act around bears we went right to the falls and saw bears!! Lots and lots of bears, 15 to be exact all at the same time.

This sow had 4 babies which we hear is unusual.

Momma was an excellent fisher-bear. We stood there for an hour and she must have caught 8 fish. She would only eat the skin and head of the fish.

The juvenile bears settle for scraps leftover from the big bears.

 

We had lots of rain. I liked this bear sitting on a rock.

 

 One night we took a walk after dinner.

We came back to our cabin to find these 2 juvenile bears laying in the grass, rolling around and then they started wrestling. 

We stayed out on our porch and took pictures. If the bears got too close we'd go inside. There were lots of other people out taking pics too, all scurrying back inside when they'd get close to us.

 

 

 Here is the link to the live streaming webcam to Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park.

See how close the bears got?

 

I took this short video, not my best work but it's what we saw.

Valley Of Ten Thousand Smokes.

 

We booked an all day tour to the valley.

The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is a valley within Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska which is filled with ash flow from the eruption of Novarupta on June 6–8, 1912. Following the eruption, thousands of fumaroles vented steam from the ash.

The picture above is a wall of ash that the river carved out.The ash is solid rock now. 

 Part of the day was a 3 mile hike down to the river. No bears. One guy hiked a neighboring trail and saw a lynx.

Above is the bar at Brook's Lodge. A favorite of ours.

 

In the same room as the bar is this fire pit.

The lodge was very comfortable.

 

Above is the plane we took away from Katmai to Kulik Fish Camp.

 

Then we hopped on this plane and flew an hour to Anchorage past the most beautiful snow covered mountains and volcanoes.

 

This is a gravel runway. Exciting stuff people.

 

 

Mt Iliamna.