I WON I WON!



Each year the National Park Service conducts a lottery to allow people to drive their own vehicles the length of Denali National Park. This year there were over 6000 entries. 1600 were chosen to enter the park - 400/day over four days. This was the first year I have entered. I won.

The park road is almost 90mi long. Most of it is gravel road, getting narrower and rougher towards the end. We rented a truck and camped one night within the park. Although we didn't see Mt Denali (McKinley) due to low clouds; the views were awe inspiring. Between my wife and me, we shot over 700 frames of photos, and two hours of video and saw expansive vistas, interesting geology, and wildlife including brown bear, dall sheep, a sky full of migrating sandhill cranes, jays, magpies, hare, and a parky squirrel.

The experiences have not fully gelled yet as I face my first Monday back at work.

No No NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Fall is in the air in Anchorage, and I really truly feel that we were ripped off this year. It CAN'T be time for another dark winter.

Can it?

Next-up, a one week 'red autum'. Termination dust creeping down the mountainside until it's down to the city. Ugh. I don't even want to think about it. At least I have the Alaska State Fair this weekend!! Yipeeeeeeee!!!! I'll lose myself in that for now. Better not to think about the coming winter.