Off to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

After about a 30 minute wait for a west bound bus to arrive, we climb aboard and enjoy the scenery out to the Eielson Visitor Center, located at mile 66 along the park road. Our tickets for the discovery walk included bus fare to this point.

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

At the point where the bus picked us up, we were only a short drive to the Toklat River Contact station which offers rest rooms and an Alaska Geographic Bookstore. After a stop of around 10 minutes, we resumed the drive west.

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

Although not high elevation wise, we are well above the tree line. In this extreme cold climate, trees only grow to about the 3,000' elevation, if I recall, perhaps even less.

The last photo above, if you look in the lower 25% of the picture and on the left side, the light colored blob is actually a grizzly bear. I used this photo as it was the only one where you can actually see his ears sticking up. Even with a heavy duty telephoto lens, the animals are too far away to get a very good shot. Of course they all seem to be showing us their rear ends!

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

Among the many displays are these beautiful quilts. This area features awesome views of Denali - when the weather is clear. Today, although the weather continues to improve, doesn't look promising.

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

Finally, a close-up of wildlife; wouldn't you know it would be the miniature kind!

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

Our bus driver strikes a pose with me. He's been driving these buses in DNP for 25 years!

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

From Beyond to the Eielson Visitor Center

But then . . . there poking out of the clouds, the south (L) and north (R) peaks of Mt. McKinley (or Denali) show themselves for the first time in days. We are almost back to the park entrance and it is after 9:00 PM. We are thrilled and look forward to going out to Wonder Lake, which reported has spectacular views, tomorrow. We left the coach at 7:30 this morning. It's been a long day.

For further information: Denali National Park