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posted: June 3rd, 2019 |
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This page begins with May 5th and a driving trip to Denali National Park. The Park Road is open to the public to drive to 30 mile. When the tourist season begins it will be open for the public to drive, only to 15 mile, so we wanted to do this drive while we had the chance. We camped in our pickup truck topper at the Riley Creek Campground on the night of the 5th and continued our adventure on May 6th. This page ends at 9:15 AM on the 6th. Click on any thumbnail to begin.
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| Begin May 5th |
On May 5th we went on a driving adventure to Denali National Park, where the Park Service had the Park Road open to 30 mile and were allowing people to drive in to that point before the tourist season was to begin on Memorial Day weekend. After that, privately owned vehicles are only allowed to drive in to 15 mile, and from there one has to take a bus if one wants to go farther. The first shot in this row, of Denali, was taken just 20 miles or so down the highway from Fairbanks. The second and third shots show a Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus) along the highway.
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 May5_04_Parks HighwayOverlookRC |
 May5th_008_OnTheWayToDenali _LepusAmericanusRC |
 May5th_009_OnTheWayToDenali _LepusAmericanusRC |
Here are three more shots which were also taken along the highway. The first two were at a pond we noticed, where there was a lone Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator). This bird's mate has apparently passed away and it is now a widow or widower, poor thing. The third shot is just a scenic shot taken through the windshield as we drove along.
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 May5_08_Parks HighwayTrumpeterSwanRC |
 May5_09_ParksHighway TrumpeterSwanRC |
 May5th_024_OnThe WayToDenaliRC |
Here is another scenic shot which was taken through the windshield, and then a shot of two moose crossing the Parks Highway in front of a semi-truck. The third shot shows that we have now arrived at Denali National Park.
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 May5th_028_On TheWayToDenaliRC |
 May5th_031_OnTheWayTo Denali_AlcesAlcesRC |
 May5th_033_ DenaliRC |
Now we're driving on the Parks Road headed to 30 mile, taking in the scenery and obeying the speed limit of 25 - 35 mph and keeping our eyes open for animals. In the second and third shots you can see that our eyes are working and we have found some Caribou (Rangifer tarandus).
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 May5_16_Denali _ParkRoadRC |
 May5th_037_Denali_ RangiferTarandusRC |
 May5th_046_Denali_ RangiferTarandusRC |
Here are two more scenery shots and those are followed by a shot of a Male Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus). Such a wonderful shot.
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 May5_17_Denali _ParkRoadRC |
 May5_18_Denali _ParkRoadRC |
 May5th_063_Denali_ LagopusLagopusRC |
Now we are still driving the park road and stopping wherever we want to and shooting photos. If I remember correctly, this was at the Teklanika River, at 30 mile, the farthest point to which we are allowed to drive.
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 May5_24_Denali _ParkRoadRC |
 May5th_067_ DenaliRC |
 May5th_072_ DenaliRC |
We did not see much wildlife until we were driving back towards the park entrance. We stopped at the Savage River at 15 mile and upon glassing the slopes in the distance, we found some Dall Sheep (Ovis dalli), which you can see in all three of these shots.
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 May5_27_Denali_Dall Sheep_SavageRiverRC |
 May5_28_Denali_Dall Sheep_SavageRiverRC |
 May5th_076_Denali _OvisDalliRC |
Here are three more shots which were taken at the Savage River area. All three of these shots show Dall Sheep (Ovis dalli), but they are far too small to be able to find in the center shot.
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 May5_30_Denali_Dall Sheep_SavageRiverRC |
 May5_36_Denali_Dall Sheep_SavageRiverRC |
 May5th_078_Denali _OvisDalliRC |
Here are the final two shots we'll show you from May 5th - you can easily find Dall Sheep (Ovis dalli) in both of these shots. After this we drove back to the entrance area of the park and camped in our pickup topper at the Riley Creek Campground for the night.
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 May5th_080_Denali _OvisDalliRC |
 May5_37_Denali_Dall Sheep_SavageRiverRC |
| End May 5th, Begin May 6th |
Now it's May 6th and we are going to drive back into the park to at least 15 mile and see what we can find. The first thing we noticed was a Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum). It's amazing how many people, even in this day and age of plentiful information on the internet, still believe that this animal can actually throw it's quills at the unsuspecting. It cannot, it's not going to "shoot you" with its quills.
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 May6th_004_Denali_ ErethizonDorsatumRC |
 May6th_005_Denali_ ErethizonDorsatumRC |
Now we have already arrived at the Savage River and we are just hiking around here, searching for whatever wants to show itself to us. The first shot shows Kazuya while he is stalking some Ptarmigan. The second and third shots show some nice scenery.
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 May6_008_Denali SavageRiver_KazuyaRC |
 May6th_008_ DenaliRC |
 May6_014_Denali SavageRiver_SceneryRC |
Here is a scenic shot at Savage River and it is followed by two shots of Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus). The center shot shows a male and the third shot shows a female of the species.
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 May6_015_Denali SavageRiver_SceneryRC |
 May6_024_Denali SavageRiver_PtarmiganRC |
 May6th_020_Denali_ LagopusLagopusRC |
In first and third position are more shots of the male Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus), while the center shot is a scenic shot.
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 May6_025_Denali SavageRiver_PtarmiganRC |
 May6th_029_ DenaliRC |
 May6th_034_Denali_ LagopusLagopusRC |
| End Page 2, but May 6th Continues on Page 3 |
| Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Now, please go on to Page 3 for the continuation of this adventure, beginning at 9:16 AM. |
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