Arrived in Cantrell (elev. 2200 ft.) on August 20 and have experienced mostly clouds and rain. Parked along the Denali Highway approx. 4 miles out.
On Aug. 24 (rain predicted again today) but the sunrise was visible in the clouds at 6:30 AM
By 7:00 AM saw Denali for the first time since we arrived here.
The clouds were breaking up so about 9 AM we decided to drive the Denali Highway today.
As we were getting ready to leave a car stopped with travelers from PA wanting to know if the road could be driven in a car. Francis said “yes there have been cars, RV and even Princess Cruise buses passing since we arrive.” Francis then asked is they had seen Denali. He said no and when he stopped at the service station in Cantrell the owner had told him he probably would not with the clouds. Francis said would you step out of your car and look behind you. The guy was so excited told his wife to get her camera and get some shots. He thanked Francis said he probably would have missed seeing it. She said she was going to have her picture framed.
The Nenana River runs along Denali highway as well as the Alaska range to the north. Denali is part of this range.
As we drove east we began to climb. This is looking down on the Susitna River from approx. 2700 ft.
and the Alaska range
We also saw more fireweed beginning to “snow”
Here is the Susitna River with the Alaska Range behind
and then we cross the river
According to the brochure on the Denali Hwy. when the area glacier melted deposits that had been confined in walls of ice remained as elongated mounds. The highway runs on top of these mounds known as eskers.
Approx. 35 miles out of Paxson the Maclaren Summit is 4086 ft. and the Maclaren Glacier is visible in the Alaska Range.
One of our favorite BLM spots is called Tangle Lakes CG. Here is the Tangle River
Arrived in Paxson approx. 4 pm (7 hours and 135 miles). Had a late lunch at the Paxson Lakeview Resort and was going to drive back to the motorhome (expecting a 4-5 hr. trip). However the car would not start. Francis checked out several things along with a couple of guys that stopped to see if we needed help. Car was not getting gas so we called Good Sam. Mark and Ellie (E.G.M. towing) arrived about 9:30 and loaded the car for the 85 mi. trip to Glennallen. While Ellie and I were talking I asked her about motels in Glennallen and she said there was only one with 5 star prices and less than 1 star rooms and service. She said they had a spare bedroom and would love to have us stay with them. Said she did it often. . . so we arrive about midnight and hit the sack. Sunday morning they starting checking out the car with their computer diagnostic equipment which failed to prove the problem. She said lets unplug the battery and see what happens when we reconnect it. (Ellie has a great understanding of the auto mechanics. Said she had been in the family shop since she was 16). Seems like the lack of power allowed everything to reset and the car started, got fuel and ran great. She test drove it and then put it up on the rack to check to be sure all hoses, etc. were OK.
Everyone is happy even their dog,Loi Gracie girl. They would not accept payment since they said they really did not fix anything. We took them to lunch and we started back north (300+ miles to the motorhome) and they went back to work rescuing stranded motorist.
We had a couple delays from construction.
The Wrangell range in the background.
Arrived back at Alfa about 9 PM to find all well and a beautiful view of Denali
Denali (Mt. McKinley) in the background of the motorhome. Our windshield has a beautiful view when the mountain is out.
In Mid-May of 2005 we camped in this same stop for 6 nights. However in the spring we saw lots of wildlife which we did not see this time (hunting season is open and the animals all know it).
August 28 . . . our windshield view has changed. . . no more “mountain.” This is what most visitors to Alaska see. . .
Denali covered in clouds. However, when the view is covered in clouds a side window view is good.
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