This is another in a series of distraction diaries. The recent ones have been focused on the results of a recent vacation to the land of giant halibut, huge brown bears, and loony and corrupt politicians... Alaska. This diary is meant merely as a brief respite from the struggles of the day and a reminder that the world is full of amazing creatures. Don't forget them.
Fall Colors, Denali National Park
Katmai National Preserve
Ursa arctos horibilis, the Brown Bear.
I am working on a more serious diary regarding the hunting of these bears in Katmai National Preserve. For now let's just enjoy the photos.
The bears gather along these rivers at the headwaters of the Bristol Bay drainage system to feed on spawning red salmon. It appeared that living was pretty easy.
The next series of photos were taken along the highway first from Homer to Anchorage and then from Anchorage to Denali National Park.
We spotted this moose calf along with its sibling along the highway. Mama must have been in the trees already. I noticed that few people exceed the speed limit in Alaska despite the vast distances. I guess the chance of crashing into a one thousand pound animal that would be likely to come over the hood and smack you in the face keeps people moving with caution. They have road signs with digital readouts of the number of moose impacts for the year. I believe the number was 189. You pay attention while driving in Alaska.
Batmobile! There is a cluster of fireworks stands along the highway not too far past glorious Wasilla. I had to stop and get a shot of this piece of culture at the Gorilla Fireworks stand.
Wasilla by the way, is a real eyesore. You pass through many stoplights along the highway and get to enjoy the big box stores, cheap outlets, and seemingly endless strip malls. Definitely the least scenic part of Alaska I observed. Oddly, I could not see Russia. They did have an amazing density of towering steel light poles along the highway. It looked like there was one every one hundred feet for several miles. Really lovely.
Wal-Bob's. A general store and basic tourist trap along the Parks Highway. He has a jar out front for donations from people taking photos. He also had an abundance of Palin posters and right wing bumper stickers on display. I did not bother to go inside and interact with him.
More stuff at Wal-Bobs
Igloo. This old abandoned gas station along the highway caught my eye. I sort of regret not stopping and getting a photo of the giant ice cream cone near Talkeetna.
Ok.. let's get back to nature shall we?
Fall Colors, Denali National Park
I planned this trip hoping to catch the fall colors at Denali National Park. I think I hit it pretty good. The colors on the tundra at the higher elevations had probably peaked a couple of days before but it was pretty amazing in the eastern half of the park along the road.
Golden Eagle
Bull Moose
Mt. McKinley from the north near Mirror Lake.
Mt. McKinley or Denali. As I have mentioned in previous diaries I got incredibly lucky with the weather during my brief stay there. I took two bus rides into the park and both days the mountain was clear and visible all day. It rarely happens.
That is all for today. Thanks for visiting. As always feel free to post your photos and please be good humans.
Aloha