...Denali 2009 (cont 2)

July 15, 2009
Teklanika Campground
Denali National Park (cont 2)
Emily reads on a rainy morning at Teklanika Campground in Denali National Park.

It had been raining heavily since 3:00 AM. We decided to put the Igloo Canyon hike we had planned on hold unless it stopped. Even then the brush was so wet we would get soaked just hiking through it. So, we spent the morning reading, playing card games, coloring, and catching up on our camping journal. Rainy day activities to be certain. After lunch the rain quit briefly and we tinkered with the idea of hopping on a bus and going for a hike. Then it started to rain again. Just as heavily as before. We stayed put and ate Jiffy Pop popcorn with M&M's in it as a special rainy day treat. Later in the evening the rain stopped and the clouds thinned and lifted. We walked around the campground knowing that we would have to depart the next morning. None of us were ready to leave.

Then she played a game--or two--of Solitaire.

Cribbage was next on the list.

A view of a rainy day in Denali National Park. It was almost 80 degrees just two days earlier.

July 16, 2009

We took our time packing up and driving from Teklanika Campground to the Visitor Center. We looked for wildlife along the way and took in the sweeping vistas. Eventually we arrived at the park entrance and it was like an immediate culture shock. After six days of the laid back and quiet of Teklanika Campground we were suddenly surrounded by cars, trucks, RV's, buses, and tourists. At the Visitor Center we did our best to wait in line without wincing when fellow park goers cut in front of us to speak with the rangers. When we finally made it to the desk Emily showed Ranger Quentin all the work she had done in her Junior Ranger book and he happily swore her in as a Junior Ranger of Denali National Park. She got to wear the ranger hat and received a badge which she was very proud of as her parents snapped an inordinate amount of photos. It was fun. Afterward we wandered around the displays which were very nice representations and explanations of the real thing. Laura took a good long time reading everything she could about them. When we left the Visitor Center we all knew it was time to leave the park. We stopped in Cantwell for fuel and then it was on to Palmer where we spent the night. We already missed the caribou, lynx, Dall sheep, wolves, and bears of...Denali 2009 (cont 2).

Emily is sworn in as a Junior Ranger at the Visitor Center. She proudly completed all the activities in the Junior Ranger activity book.