National Park #1 - Denali

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The "trails" thru Denali – Trek #1

The Trek to our country’s precious Parks began last September in Alaska when Charlie (son) and I visited Denali National Park. I asked the kid where he’d like to go for his birthday and he being a huge fan of Waterson’s Calvin and Hobbs cartoons…said “Yukon Ho we go!”

You may know this mountain as Mt. McKinley. The locals refer to it as Denali – “The High One”. Denali stands as the tallest mountain in the US. Actually, from base to summit, Denali could be considered the world’s tallest mountain. Most would argue that Mt. Everest is the world’s tallest mountain standing a bit over 29,000 feet. However, from its base at 17,000 ft to the summit of 29k…Everest has a vertical rise of a mere 12,000 feet! The base at Denali on the other hand, starts at 2,000 feet above sea level and “The High One” peaks out at over 20,000 feet…an 18,000 foot vert!

Prior to traveling to Denali, I did a bit of research regarding the visibility of the mountain. Figuring we were going to Alaska, there was no telling how the weather would treat us. Everything I read pointed out that the chances of getting a glimpse of this majestic mountain was about one in six. Not great odds for a couple of eager explorers who only had four days to visit!

The Gods of Visibility were with us! Denali was in crystal clear view for our entire trip. Nary a cloud in the sky to block it from our wanting eyes. We were very fortunate. (See Picture #2 in the June 1 posting)

Fall color

Not only was “The High One” in clear view, Charlie and I were treated to an up close view of many of the Parks wildlife. For our viewing pleasure, the Rangers were kind enough to expose us Moose in the rutting season, a Grizzly Bear and her cub, Dall Sheep by the dozens, herds of Elk, a Foxy red Fox and the Bald Eagle.

So what’s with this itch to get out into the wild? I suppose for me it’s an attempt to understand the natural world. To remove myself from the everyday city life. To visit the world touched ever so softly by Industrial Man.

Bullwinkle sighting

Prior to Pretirement…my typical day may have resembled yours. The dust cloud of activity started at the crack of dawn…or before! Hurry thru the morning ritual of sh_, shower and shave. Slam down a couple of cups of artificial energy. Stop by Starbucks to reload. Get stuck in a monstrous traffic jam due to some idiot talking on his cell phone while trying to navigate his Hummer in and out of the morning rush and inadvertently broadsides the little Beemer. Nobody hurt…but every friggin’ driver must grind it down to a crawl in hopes of getting an early morning glimpse of the carnage. Sorry pal, only a fender bender. But nonetheless…traffic comes to a virtual standstill.

Then the fun begins. Cell phone rings…emails popping up on the blackberry like fireworks on the 4^th of July. Hassles here. Troubles there. Technical assistance needed ASAP. A midmorning visit to StarCrack to keep the engines of commerce well greased. Back to the phones…emails…off to the airport to catch a flight back to Texas. Four days on the road! Sleeping out of the suitcase for the third week in a row. Seminar tonight. Sales calls with the Field Guy tomorrow. Distributor Training on Thursday. God I love my job! (And I really did – crazy as it may sound)

Contrast that to the trails in Denali. As a matter of fact, there are very few trails in Denali. Unlike most of our other National Parks, Denali has no restrictions as to where you hike. Of course, you are warned about how ornery the Moose in the rutting season can get. And the Rangers tell you that Grizzly’s are sorta dangerous…especially the females with cubs…like the one we saw. But the wolves are pretty skiddish… so you probably won’t get munched by them. You are literally free to roam anywhere your heart desires in these wilds!

I guess for me the Parks represent the wild in all of us. An inner need to get out and stretch the legs. Challenge the lungs. Breathe cool crisp air tainted not by a thick cloud of carbon monoxide so common in the cityscape. Hiking thru the forests in Denali was one of those rare moments when I was pulled outside of my city self and wandered free from the burdens of modern man.

So how essential is this nature thing? One can only decide for one’s self. Yet the gravitational pull on me from our Natural Parks has been strong for many years. And Nature willing...for many more to come. If it's been awhile since you’ve visited our National Treasures, I urge you to spring free from the cityscape and get out into the wilderness.