Solstice in Denali 2026

Devany was in Chicago for a conference, so I got to do a quick solo trip to Denali for Solstice. It was crazy hot, 80º the first day I got there. Way too hot to see many critters. Did a quick ride on the bike to East Fork and back before late afternoon thunderstorms moved in. I got back to the RV just before the heavy rain started. Rode out later that night and there was thick wildfire smoke coming into the park from lightning strike caused fires that required the evacuation of Anderson, which is about 100 miles from the park.

The rest of the 4 days played out pretty much the same. High temperatures for the first 3 days, few animals and then heavy rain in the afternoon for a while, followed by clearing.

Did get to see a couple of close bears while on the bike, which is always fun. The mosquitoes and no-seeums in the Teklanika campground weren’t so much fun—the worst I can remember in many years. Anyway, come along for the ride. Click on an image for full-screen and cursor over the picture and the caption will tell the story.

Mom and baby moose back for a visit.

They’ve been in the backyard, or down at our bog pond, all day. I’ve got stuff to do outside, but don’t want to disturb them. It’s pretty obvious we’ve become their safe place to hang out, eat, and sleep. Love it.

First bear and baby moose in the yard this year.

It’s been very busy in our yard last night and today. One of the local cinnamon colored black bears—probably a year old—came by last night to eat the fresh horsetail. Today, mama moose and the first baby of the year in our backyard. Love seeing them. Click on an image for full-screen.

Denali 2026. First trip of the year, and it was a great one!

We’re just back from our first week long trip to @Denali National Park and Preserve of 2026 and it was amazing. 6 full days of nothing but sunshine and temperatures at times into the 70’s—the longest stretch of beautiful weather we can remember in the park. It was just barely starting to green-up when we got there, and bursting with life by the end. We rode our bikes on the park road more than 150 miles and there were critters everywhere. That’s why we call it biking with bears ;)

Way too many pictures as usual. Click on an image for full screen, and your cursor arrow over the picture will bring up the captions that tell the story. Come along for the ride.