7/31/19 - Day 32 - Denali... The Big One
I'm not sure I will fit Denali into one blog... I think I will split it up into a couple posts.
When I came up here in 1962, the mountain was called Mt. McKinley. I remember gray sky and dad telling me the "... mountain would be over there if it wasn't covered with clouds." I also remember a vastly wide valley and towering mountains. Pat and I found the spot that I remember where a large herd of cariboo were crossing what I now know is the Savage River. We didn't see the huge herd, but the wide valley is there as I remembered and native animals are allowed to lead mostly undisturbed lives in this national park. (We've seen a number of animals, thatl'll be my next post)
One of the Athbascan names for the mouintain was Dinale, meaning "The Big One". That it is, towering over other mountains that rival Mt. St Helens. At 20,308 feet it is the tallest mountain in North America. Mt. Rainier comes in second at 14,411 ft. We saw glimpses of Denail at different times. Driving toward Cantwell, we could see the upper section floating above clouds. Then at the south viewpoint we saw the top peaking through the clouds. The next day driving back toward camp we saw the bottom of the mountain, but the top was hidden by clouds. So, I suppose we can say we, "saw the mountain", just not all at one time!
When I came up here in 1962, the mountain was called Mt. McKinley. I remember gray sky and dad telling me the "... mountain would be over there if it wasn't covered with clouds." I also remember a vastly wide valley and towering mountains. Pat and I found the spot that I remember where a large herd of cariboo were crossing what I now know is the Savage River. We didn't see the huge herd, but the wide valley is there as I remembered and native animals are allowed to lead mostly undisturbed lives in this national park. (We've seen a number of animals, thatl'll be my next post)
One of the Athbascan names for the mouintain was Dinale, meaning "The Big One". That it is, towering over other mountains that rival Mt. St Helens. At 20,308 feet it is the tallest mountain in North America. Mt. Rainier comes in second at 14,411 ft. We saw glimpses of Denail at different times. Driving toward Cantwell, we could see the upper section floating above clouds. Then at the south viewpoint we saw the top peaking through the clouds. The next day driving back toward camp we saw the bottom of the mountain, but the top was hidden by clouds. So, I suppose we can say we, "saw the mountain", just not all at one time!
Denali is part of the Ring of Fire. The Pacific Plate is slamming into the North American plate with the result of creating these huge mountain ranges. Depending on which sign you read, Denali is growing at a few millimeters or 3/4 inch each year! Already the mountain is so large that it creates its own weather patterns and clouds which is one reason why it is so oftern obscured from view. The clouds make for some pretty great sunsets.
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| Denali sits somewhere behind the clouds to the right. |
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