First trip to Denali in 2021

We made our first trip up to Denali National Park and Preserve for the year, and it was absolutely wonderful. Life is slowly getting back towards a bit closer to normal post-pandemic. Last year the park didn’t open until July 1st. The shuttle buses were still running at very reduced capacity this trip, but they have brought back almost double the drivers that were there last year, and they will increase the number of drivers and buses that are running starting June 1st.

It was a wonderful feeling, and a huge relief, to have a bunch of our favorite drivers that we’ve gotten to know over the years back this year. Survivors of the pandemic.

Denali is still our favorite place on earth, and this first trip gave us incredibly gorgeous weather—almost 70º in the Teklanika campground one afternoon. The Mountain was out 4 of the 5 days were were biking in the park. We used the shuttle buses to get out to Toklat and then biked our way up Highway Pass and back to the Teklanika campground a couple of times. We ended up pedaling well over 100 miles in the time we were in the park. Biking with bears definitely lived up to its name this trip!

What a great way to start the year.

Come along for the ride. Click on the images to see them full-screen with captions.

Maybe the last show of the season?

It’s almost the end of the aurora viewing season here in Alaska. It’s just getting too light out for them to be very visible, so when a kp6 aurora storm was predicted for early this morning I was hoping for one last shot at seeing them this season, and they did not disappoint. I missed a bunch of great aurora the past couple of weeks while I was in Seattle, so this was a nice gift. Shot these between 12:30am and 2:30am.

Strongest Aurora in years here in Bear Valley.

Last night the sky absolutely exploded in one of the strongest auroral displays we’ve had here in Bear Valley is several years. We knew the aurora forecast was strong and she began to show around 10:30pm—and then it just kept getting better and better, and stronger and stronger. The sky was filled with dancing curtains and bright, undulating rivers of light crossing the sky from horizon to horizon. I shot over 300 pictures from start to finish, and finally gave up around 2:30am. What an incredible night. As usual, far too many pictures. Enjoy!