June 28, Saturday - Denali NP

  Moose, Caribou, Mt Denali (McKinley) shows both her faces, so cute ground squirrels, and the Elusive Mama Bear nursing her 3 cubs!! Lots more mountains, amazing scenery…lots more Caribou, even lying on patches of snow, keeping cool and bugs out of their noses. Another grizzly bear almost hid from us. Herds of Caribou and the State bird of Alaska the Ptarmigan.  He was so cute, apparently when they walk across the road, they think they are camouflaged with the brown road and they walk step by step very slowly.  Adorable to watch him.  Can’t believe all we got to see in just one day in the park. 

So in this one, you can see the one peak of Denali, Mt McKinley, covered completely in snow.  When they first said this was the mountain, all I saw was the clouds, but those "clouds" are the Mountain!! 

This little guy was too cute not to get his pic.  He looked like he was saying, why is no one interested in me?? 

At the Visitor Center, we could see the actual sizes of their antlers.  I couldn't believe how heavy they are.  I could only manage to pick up one.  I can see why the Moose with the largest antlers would win any battle in rut!

More Caribou...

Ok, this is my favorite shot...Mama is just sunning herself while cubs are nursing and one is sleeping.  We think we can see 3 cubs in the pics...what do you think? 

Lin is pensive in this pic? or he's finishing lunch, not sure? 

This bear was trying to hid from us, so I was only able to get a few shots of him? her? 
Didn't see cubs, so not sure. 

We did see lots of caribou in the park...resting and in herds.  The ones in the snow, so the guide says, they lay here as they are plagued with different types of bugs.  Lying in the snow keeps them off and out of their noses.  

The State bird, the Ptarmigan was walking across the road.  The guide said they think they are still camouflaged as they are walking, so they walk VERY slowly across the road, one foot at a time.  We probably sat there at least 5 minutes waiting on him.  too cute....