Cranberries!

My youngest granddaughter, Cammy, recently accompanied Chena and I on a cranberry picking expedition near where we live.

The cranberries are just perfect for picking!


Cammy likes to use a water bottle to pick into, so the berries don't spill.


Chena spent some time checking out the area, but then came and laid near us while we picked berries.


My wooden berry picker worked great with the cranberries!


When Cammy moved Chena would move too, and lay down beside her again.

Chena - Knik River

A few favorite shots of Chena playing around in the Knik River, near Palmer.

Back to Denali

Okay, the next few posts should be called "Travels withOUT Chena," because my friend Donna and I headed back to the park area to interview a couple of the original 1973 Iditarod Sled Dog Race mushers and left our huskies at home this time. Interesting pictures: Nenana River and some of the mountains around Denali - and the Great One in two of the photos (#2 and #4). Check out that strange cloud curl in the last shot.

Murie Science and Learning Center

Some interesting pictures taken at the Murie Science and Learning Center at Denali Park:

Blueberries!

While at Denali Park Donna and I picked lots of blueberries - they're so delicious right off the bushes, but will be pretty terrific this winter in jams, jellies, pancakes, pies...

Denali National Park Road Trip

My good friend Donna Quante invited Chena and I to accompany her and her Siberian Husky, Spirit, on a drive into Denali National Park on one of those very rare lottery days... The weather was warm and beautiful, with blue skies and - best of all - The Mountain was out!

I've shared some of our best pictures from the trip in this and the next couple of posts, or the link above (click on the title header) goes to Donna's complete collection of all our pictures. In the photos below, the first three were taken near Eilson Visitor Center, the last two at the Wonder Lake Ranger Station.

Denali Road Trip

A few more images from our road trip to Denali. The first is from Polychrome Pass looking back east toward the park entrance, the next is looking back toward the East Fork of the Toklat River, about halfway through the park, the third is looking north down the East Fork of the Toklat River, the last two are from Kantishna, at the end of the road, and Igloo Creek, which is back near the start of the trip.

The link above (click the title header) goes to Donna's complete collection of all our photos.

Enjoying Denali National Park

The last images from our drive to the end of the Denali Park road. These pictures are me with Chena and my friend Donna with Spirit at Polychrome Pass, posing like the tourists we are; getting breakfast at our camp at Riley Creek campground, and enjoying a picnic lunch at the end of the road in the old mining district of Kantishna.

And one hilarious picture of Chena and Spirit taking in the glorious views - and no doubt some very interesting smells!

The header link goes to the Denali National Park website.

Parks Highway Color

These photos of the lovely fall colors are all taken along the Parks Highway, through the Chulitna River valley and up into Broad Pass, along the eastern flank of the range of mountains over which Denali, the Great One, presides. The craggy peaks are some of the more interesting features of Denali National Park, but this part of the highway is in Denali State Park.

Hurricane Gulch is a prominent landmark along the route - the highest bridge on the Parks Highway, wavering 378 feet above Hurricane Creek. And it does waver when big trucks pass over it!

The wooded trail winds along the top of the gulch to views of the beautiful Chulitna River valley.

Chena

This is my Alaskan Husky, Chena.