They spent six nights in Denali National Park – three at Savage River Campground and three at Riley Creek. On three of those six days, they took bus rides deep into the park in hopes of wildlife encounters – but also in hopes of a Denali sighting. One of their rides was all the way to the end of the park road (Kantishna, mile 92 from park entrance), and the next two were to the visitor center (Eielson, mile 66). All three of these rides hinted at great views of Mt. Denali, however, cloud cover prevented getting anything more than just a teaser piece of it.

When they left Denali National Park, Ron & Donna went north to Fairbanks. Cliff and Mary wanted to attend the Alaska State Fair so they went south to Willow (with plans to join R&D later). On the way, an amazing thing happened – the clouds cleared and they saw Mt. Denali.

It is a great mountain and the name itself means “High One” in Athabascan, one of the native cultures of Alaska. [The name Denali is based on the Koyukon (Alaska Athabascans) name of the mountain, Deenaalee.]  As seen in this picture, it absolutely towers above the darker (currently snow-free) mountain range that runs far to either side of it.