We started the day around 7am, with a delicious breakfast at the McKinley Creekside Cafe. We then loaded up into the van for about a 1.5 hour drive to Denali State Park near Talkeetna. We hiked the Curry Ridge Trail for just over seven miles. At the mid point of the hike we stopped for lunch. Our guide, Drew, worked his trail magic mimicking a Vietnamese style sandwich (or salad). Unfortunately, just as he started meal prep, it started raining. Everyone in the group donned their rain gear and made quick work of their food. After the hike we stopped for ice cream at the Kahiltna Birchworks. The store there sells unique birch syrup food products, including ice cream. Our overnight accommodations were in Wasilla at the Mat-Su Resort and dinner was at the Grape Tap Restaurant. The appetizers and main course was scrumptious; the desserts were out of this world. Several of us shared a deconstructed cheesecake and mudslide cake that tasted like a candy bar! The day started with temperatures in the mid-40’s and reached highs in the mid 60’s. Sunset was at 11:19pm.
Ruth Glacier in the top middle. Its upper reaches are approximately 3 vertical miles below the summit of Mt. Denali. The glacier's "Great Gorge" is one mile wide, and drops almost 2,000 feet over 10 miles. From the top of the cliffs to the bottom of the glacier is a height exceeding that of the Grand Canyon. Unfortunately, the clouds obstructed the views of Mt. Denali.
The restaurant that we went to for breakfast also had pastries. I had to snap a picture of the Texas cinnamon rolls (left) and the Alaskan options on the right.
This taped sign warned of a bear sow with three cubs spotted in the area the day before; we didn’t see the bears.
Some sample sections of the trail. At times the vegetation was almost as tall as some of the hikers in our group.
The tallest point on this days hike was just before we had lunch and looped back.
The clouds that passed over us with the rain showers during our lunch.
The ice cream stop.
The Mat-Su Resort. We had amazing views from our rooms.
The view from our room. Clouds are obstructing the top peaks of the mountains.
After the clouds lifted a bit, the view from a parking lot above the resort.
A helicopter landed on this small dock that was just outside the back door of our motel room.