Adventure 975: Alaska Anniversary Trip/H

We woke up to a cold drizzle and counted ourselves lucky to experience the more typical Alaska weather. Our train back to Anchorage didn't leave Denali until 12:30 so we took the opportunity to tour the Visitor Center which has some very well done exhibits. We watched two park inspired movies that not only capture the history of the park, but also the character of those who believe in the preservation of the wilderness. One of the movies chronicles the life and times of the sled dogs, their breeding, their passion, and their continued use in the park. As one of the rangers said, "Snow machines can be hard to start at forty below zero, but give the dogs a bit of food and they're ready to go." Also, because much of the mission of the park's preservation mantra, is to do as little damage to the environment as possible, the dogs are invaluable and most often the best tool for the job. For example, a suspension bridge in the park recently needed significant repair. In order for modern machinery to do the job, many trees would have had to be cleared. Because of the sled dog's narrow footprint and their capacity for toting heavy loads, the dogs and their mushers ferried the necessary materials to the job site. And last year, during the peak months of winter, a communication camera failed in the outback. The snow machines wouldn't start, but a team of dogs made it to the camera and the servicemen were able to restore the camera to a functioning state. We finished our visit with a trip to the kennels where the sled dogs are bred, housed, and trained. Despite the drizzle, which didn't seem to bother the dogs, it was a nice way to end our visit to Denali, and it made us realize just how good life is, especially today.

Looks like we're nearing the end of the season.

Many of the newest pups were born last May.

This little guy was especially loving and quite a bit squirmy.

Judy got a quick kiss.

The older dogs, like this one, realize they're on summer vacation. They weren't as excited as the young ones.

This is THRONE, a six year old lead dog and the biggest in the kennel at a 100 pounds. He seems calm here, but when he was hooked up to the training sled for the demonstration, he became as eager as any newlywed.

The training sled.

It was dark in the sled room, but this old sled made of birch and strung together tightly with sinew was magnificently crafted.

My Bunny braving the weather.

Ranger Skyler, a recent graduate of Purdue University shared her knowledge and her her passion.

After the demonstration team pulled the training sled around the compound, the dogs were given immediate chew treats and water.

The train ride back to Anchorage from Denali took about six hours. Our Alaska adventure was well worth the time.