On our second day at Denali National Park, we decided to tackle the challenging Mount Healy Trail. This is my second time on Mount Healy, one of the highest mountains in the park. It is spectacular but high challenging due to the sharp ascent. It is however worth every exhausted muscle and sore knee. After weeks of rain, the skies cleared showing Denali in all of its splendor .
The trail is not a loop so you come down the same way as you came. This is moose and bear country so many people carry Bear spray. You start in a lovely Spruce forest and then start the arduous climb. Once on top, we hiked a couple miles around the ridge line with even higher peaks. It is really something to look over much of the park.
After the hike, we returned to our hotel pretty beat. However, we went out for dinner at The 49th State, a local favorite with hearty dishes and a long list of Alaskan beers.
We then went back to the hotel room stuffed but content with another incredible day in Alaska.
Seeing Denali is a treat. She was shrouded when we visited.
Lovely photos. Beautiful view, and with that elevation gain, you earned it. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful shots. I climbed that mountain in 1994 when I worked for the Denali Park Hotel just inside the park border. Great way to see the country as a college student. Miss it. Thanks for posting.
What a thrilling satisfying trip I am sure.
Alaska is a nice place to visit. There are some issues.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy “has repeatedly violated Alaska law and the state constitution, and demonstrated his unfitness for office …”
For the first time, an Alaska Native regional corporation has announced its support for the recall of a state governor.
“In July, Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Alaska’s outlook from ‘stable’ to ‘negative’ and downgraded the University of Alaska system three notches, making it the second lowest-rated flagship university in the U.S.
Alaska Native leaders have protested the end of or serious cuts to several state-funded programs, including Headstart, Medicaid, cash benefits for low-income seniors, performance-based scholarships, and subsidies for high energy costs in rural Alaska. State budget cuts also mean hundreds of millions of federal dollars will disappear. The University of Alaska system took the biggest hit, the loss of a staggering 41 percent of its budget that is expected to disproportionately hurt rural campuses and programs.
Great pictures, glad you both enjoyed and survived your hike.
Survived? Why wouldn’t they survive???
Exhaustion, high altitude, grizzlies, and moose. That was a view well earned.
Definitely “Res Ipsa Loquitor.”