Last Friday in Denali National Park, I stepped out of the shuttle bus into a snow squall. That was a chilly way to start my 35 mile hike and packraft trip over the Labor Day weekend. I hiked off into the blowing snow convincing myself that the weather forecast was suggesting clear skies in the next day. But who can really trust a weather forecast in Alaska’s mountains? As it turned out, the skies did clear and reveal a mountain landscape beautifully decorated with the first dusting of snow that Alaskan’s call termination dust, i.e., the end of summer. The nights were chilly, but the sights were stunning. I hiked solo for 17 miles up the Teklanika River and over the pass into Refuge Valley, and then packrafted 18 miles out the Sanctuary River. It is a beautiful area that I hope to make a return visit in the future.
I began my 35 mile trip in blowing snow!
Morning coffee overlooking the Teklanika River. Canon 5D Mark III, 16-35mm f/2.8L , 1/50 sec @ f/8, ISO 100
Mountain landscape of the Teklanika River valley. Canon 5D Mark III, 24-105mm f/4L IS, 1/80 sec @ f/14, ISO 100
Termination dust in the mountains near Sable Pass. Canon 5D Mark III, 24-105mm f/4L IS, 1/80 sec @ f/11, ISO 100
