For your 45th Birthday - you really are "Denali Bound" - Complete w/final thoughts - 2/17/2013 - Page 11 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Great pictures from the tour! Sorry the rode to Eielson wasn't open yet, and that Mt. McKinley didn't want to come out and play! Such beautiful scenery!
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A nice afternoon hike
While Rachel and George napped, Chris and I hiked. We left the civilized area adjacent to the park, and hiked along the Nenana River, then we walked along a couple of trails to the Visitor's center. I wanted to see what things are for sale and maybe pick up some stuff for our nieces and nephews.
The main lodge of the hotel
The Grand Denali Lodge across the highway (this is where Disney stays on the ABD Denali trip).
The Princess shuttle buses to the train station and the Visitor's center
Looking back down toward the lodge buildings
The remaining lodge buildings The entrance to the other part of the lodge
A map of the resort
Rafts - including one of the rafts from Denali Raft Adventures - the company we rafted with.
This is how they lower the rafts to the river bed below from the highway above.
The Nenana River below. This is where we began our rafting the day before
The walking path from the hotel crossing the river
Distances
Map of the Nenana River's origins from the Nenana glacier
The Nenana river
Denali hiking trails
We took the Jonesville Trail - it was 2.6 miles one way to the Visitor's center. So we did a little more than 3 miles one way.
Wildflowers on the trail
We hiked past the train depot - and the afternoon train
The Visitor's center complex
A topographic relief of the Alaska Range and the National Park and Preserve
Does this count for seeing Mt. McKinley?
Dall Sheep diorama
Lynx and snowshoe hare
Grey wolf
A model of the "Alaska state bird" - the mosquito - male on the left and female on the right
Grizzly bear
Bear-proofing is an important factor in protecting Denali's bears. They say a fed bear is a dead bear.
We shopped at the bookstore - I did a fair amount of damage.... I also got the Denali stamp for my National Park passport, and then we caught the shuttle bus back to the resort. We hooked up with George and Rachel, and made dinner reservations.
It must have been nice to stretch your legs with a hike after the long time on the bus, but I have to admit, I'd have been napping! You got a good look at the area, though, and another stamp in the passport.
Did you ever actually see Mt. McKinley? We stayed at the Princess Wilderness Lodge in 2002 and every time it was visible, an announcement was made. We were fortunate to see the top a few times during our stay. And we were told how rare this is.
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I love the signpost showing how close you were to the North Pole, very neat!
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Originally Posted by DrDolphin
That wasn't THE North Pole, that was the distance from North Pole, AK - a town near Fairbanks.
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Originally Posted by chezp
Oh, you shatter all my illusions...
You can however visit with Santa Claus at his workshop in North Pole.
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Jennifer / Eeyore is my favorite!! OMG - He's sooooo grown up!!!! And an EAGLE SCOUT!! I can still remember my cute little Tiger Cub! 2016 Reading Goal - 75 books
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A Golden Dinner
May 22, 2012 - Golden Dinner - After our hike, I opted to walk around the resort and take some photos.
There is also a retail area mixed into the resort w/a variety of shopping options
And since I had forgotten to take a photo of our bus from this morning's tour - when I saw this one, I jumped and the opportunity -
They don't look like much on the outside, but are much better inside.
After everyone finished hiking/shooting photos and sleeping, we gathered together and walked down the street to the Prospector's Cafe for dinner. We had called ahead for a reservation, and that was a good thing. lots of other people were standing around, but we were taken right in and seated.
The chandelier
Our waitress was funny, and really good. Our glasses were full, and our food came quickly.
I started with a corn chowder
Chris had a reindeer meatballs
I don't remember what was ordered for dinner - and it seems I didn't take photos (although none of us opted for pizza)... but I DID take pictures of dessert...
Chris' chocolate cake
My cheesecake
Rachel's Sunday with REAL GOLD flakes on it...
And then we left and headed back to the resort to pack our bags and get some sleep. Tonight was our last night in Denali.
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Sorry the rode to Eielson wasn't open yet, and that Mt. McKinley didn't want to come out and play! 
Such beautiful scenery! 
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The entrance to the other part of the lodge
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You can however visit with Santa Claus at his workshop in North Pole.
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