June 24 - Alaska Day 7 - Another day in Denali

This is the 2nd and last full day in Denali National Park. Need to make it a good one.

It rained last night and sprinkling as I head to breakfast. The weather says 60% chance of rain; hoping to be in that 40% at least for our hike.

The hike is McKinley Bar and its one of the few (or only) trail maintained by the Park Service. It's a little southeast of Wonder Lake. The lodge calls it a moderate hike but that's because it's around 5 miles round trip; it is supposed to be pretty flat - thru the tundra, boggy areas, etc

There is 9 of us plus Carl (our expert).

We see no animals (other than ground squirrels) on the drive. When we arrive, well, it's a popular hike today. There's already one bus that's unloaded, then us and another bus arriving. Plenty of company on the river bar today.

When we start, it's cloudy. And it's green as far as one can see - green ground, green spruce trees (White Spruce in this area).

I'm seeing a lot of plants that we've already seen on the trip. But there are some new ones.

The trail is dirt in most spots

but there is a section of rocky section,

and a section of platforms  (obviously really wet there).

There's still signs of last night's rain on the plants.

Besides the flowers, we are one step closer to seeing a wolf as we've found wolf scat on the trail. Fresh'sh scat. We're keeping alert in hopes of seeing one of the 70 that roam the park.the travel. (Park Ranger data on the # of wolves.)

We also find grizzly scat - not fresh. Lots of fur, Carl thinks the bear probably got a moose.

We also find a couple of spots where a bear had been digging around.

We also cross paths with a very unhappy Yellowlegs. She had to have a nest nearby as she was flying around calling. I'm very happy when we can leave her alone.

About half way along the trail, the sun starts to come out and the butterflies start flying. Since yesterday, when I explained a little about bflies on the Quigley hike, many in the group are looking for me.

The first is Mustard White.

Then I start seeing some Blues and Canadian Swallowtails.

Two Blue Species are nice enough to stop for a picture:

A Western Tailed Blue

A Silvery Blue.

We finally arrive at the Mckinley Bar. Pretty awesome!

We all see an White Ladies Slipper near the shore.

This is our lunch stop.

On the way back, our pace is quicker so we can meet our van back to the lodge. We all pile in.

A group of people get off before the lodge to hike another trail. I decide to go back; I want to walk up Moose Creek and the road around the lodge looking for dragonflies and bflies.

When I get back, I grab my camera and walk along Moose Creek.. There are people panning for gold along the shore.

I see a Mustard White and a Western Tailed Blue.

I see one dragonfly.

I then walk the spur road from camp out to the main Park road. I see a few Mustard Whites and finally catch up to a Sulpher - it's a Palaeno Sulpher (lifer). This species only flies in Alaska and northern Canada.

I also see a very battered Grey Comma. (That's the second one on this trip.)

I reach the main road and head up the road for about 15 minutes. I see more Palaeno Sulphers and another northern species, a Cranberry Blue (lifer)!

I return to the load and again walk Moose Creek down to the suspension bridge. I cross over just to see what's there. I find some moose tracks (the one print look fresh) and several piles of scat.

But it's time to call it a day.

Tomorrow we are moving on out of Denali. It's a 6am bus -- maybe the animals will be more visible.

Another awesome day!