We just got back from a wonderful two week trip in Alaska. It truly was the trip of a lifetime. The scenery, the animals, the people--all amazing. We can't wait to go back.

Just wanted to let anyone who will be going in the next few weeks know that apparently they are having an unusually cold summer. It didn't take away from our fun at all--but we did end up using all the warm clothes we had brought. Hats, gloves--long underwear (especially on glacier tours).

Who knows--maybe it will warm up for August, but just in case--be sure to bring lots of warm layers!

Actually, I think we're having a "normal summer". We have been spoiled with record high temperatures over the last couple of years.

lucky, lucky, alaskans

Thanks so much for your timely update since I head to AK next wk. Guess the long underwear I took out of the suitcase will now go back in! I called Juneau yesterday, and they said it was cold and rainy. I'm prepared to layer and figure anything else I need I can buy there since AK will have more cold weather clothes in Aug. than southern USA has right now. And yes, Mooselywild, I am looking forward to those cool temps!

Hey caligirl56, glad to hear you had a good trip. How was the wildlife in Denali? Hope you got opportunities to take good pictures. Like to hear about your trip.

Hi JC98,
Denali was amazing (although we only saw bits and pieces of the mountain!).

We saw lots of wildlife--beavers, very photogenic marmots, artic hare, grizzlies with and without cubs, ptarmigan (one with 3 chicks), caribou (of course), dall sheep (but only as the tiny dots on the hillside--lucky we had the binoculars!), and only one moose (the moose seemed to be hiding from us just about everywhere we went in Alaska!).

The best of all was a mother wolf (about halfway into the park) with 5 pups. They were playing and jumping all over her--and she kept trying to get them to behave. They were down on a gravel bar--but we managed to get some passable pictures despite the distance.

We stayed at the Backcountry Lodge--so we drove in one day--stayed and hiked the next (the spongy tundra was AMAZING to walk on)--and then took the bus out very early the next morning. We liked that, but I think we wish we'd also stayed around the entrance for a couple of days so we could have taken some short hikes on our own around there--or ridden in and walked around Polychrome Pass a bit more.

We both agreed that although the wildlife was wonderful--the scenery was possibly even more amazing in Denali (and this was without really seeing the mountain)!! Denali is truly a wild and precious place.

caligirl56, sounds like you had a fantastic trip. Wow, mother wolf and cubs too! We didn't see any on our trip.

What is the Backcountry Lodge like? Is it beyond Wonder Lake?

Also read about your great kayaking experience.

Hope you have photos to share?

JC98,
The Denali Backcountry Lodge was very enjoyable. Great food served family style. And clean, simple cabins each with their own bath.

They have little gazebos by the river where you can make a fire and read(or whatever) completely protected from the mosquitos.

It was past Wonder Lake. They will drive you out to Wonder Lake at 9:30 each night to see the mountain (we did not do this, because the mountain wasn't out during our visit.). Being past Wonder Lake, the lodge is also past some of the prettiest scenery in the park.

The staff has all sorts of hikes (easy, moderate, challenging) as well as other activities (gold panning, fishing, etc.) which you can sign up to do during the day.

We did a hike up a ridge, which I think would have had absolutely spectacular views if it hadn't been raining. Still we enjoyed walking through the tundra--and got some rather dramatic storm pictures.

I think if we had been there longer, I might have wanted to do hikes more in the middle of the park. This might or might not be possible. I'm not sure. They do run their own bus in and out of the park each day--so maybe it would be possible to hitch a ride on that (the green park buses do not go as far as the Backcountry Lodge).

One thing that was kind of nice, was that they bring you in and out on their own private bus. This was not even close to full--maybe 12 people on a full-size bus. So it was easy to run from side to side and take pictures. Everybody could have their own window!

caligirl56, very luck of you to have stayed in the heart of Denali NP. It sounds like a really awsome experience!