we are going to the NPS visitor center before we take off at 2pm to see their dog sleding team. It is not just for show, it is a real team that they use to patrol the park in the winter. their is only one road thru the park and it is closed all winter and half the spring. we are really glad we went to the kennels to see the dogs and listen the the ranger incharge of the dogs and works them all winter. the dogs were great. the the girls would have really enjoyed this. when the they went to get the dogs to hook them up to the sled, they all went balistic! they love to work. they all wanted to be chosen.
Driving down to the next lodge we drove in a narrow river valley between 2 mountain ranges-one the alaskan range the other?..
mt. mc kinnley hiding 
worlds largest igloo. LOLDRIVING DOWN to DENALI LODGE, it started to clear more and more until finally we started having a clearer and clearer view of MT. MC KINNLEY.
still hiding
finally, the very top peeking out. it was wonderful and beautiful and we were all sooo excited.
our bus driver/guide(sweet girl-same age as as kaitlyn) let us off the bus to take pictures
in the middle of the clouds to top peeking out
ISN'T SHE BEAUTIFUL!!!
from the lodge deck. it was packed with people
ME, MOM AND MT. MC KINNLEY
the sun is starting to set causing more shadows
the mountains in front(the "foothill") are 12,000-13,00 fett high. mt mc kinnley is over 20,000. just amazing. more info about her later.
we had not even gone to our room for fear of missing a view of the mountain. remember the mountains in front are 12,000-13,000 ft high. mt. mc kinnley is over 20,000. it is sooo AWESOME!!theysay(in normal years-so much rain this year) that only 30% actually see her when they come up here.
SO WE ARE IN THE 30% CLUB{~;
finally a few clouds went over the mountain and we ventured back to our room. at dinner i went out and took a number of pix. then clouds covered the summit. waiting for the elusive mt. mc kennley. we didn't see her again.
but considering that we had seen her since early afternoon, we were very fortunate.
DENALI means "THE HIGH ONE" in native Athabaskan. It is in the alaskan range-20,320ft.
5 giant glaciers flank it's sides and there are countless ice falls.
It has a larger bulk rise than Mt.Everest. Base of Everest is 17,000 with a hgt. of 29,000. the base of
mc kinley is 2000, giving it a 18,000' vertical rise. Everest is only 12,000.
No oxogen is aloowed on Mt. McKinnley. Everest is littered with oxogen tanks.
people die every year on Mt. McKinnley.
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