OK, I know JSL will be making some comment, so let me cut him off at the pass. This is our first view of the mountain, as we were just leaving Fairbanks, which makes it some 158 miles away. So it's a ways off, but the thing is, there's only a 25% chance of seeing the darn thing on your trip here. It's so big it creates it's own weather patterns, and it's often in the clouds. We're hoping to see it again, but it's forecast for rain the next three days, and who knows? There are only two view points of the peak in the park, unless of course you go backpacking, which we won't be doing. We're keeping our fingers crossed.
If you're confused about the name, let me try to clarify it for you. Thousands of years ago the native Athabascans named this mountain Denali, which means "The High One", which at 20,237', was a pretty savvy move. Then along came some white guys in 1896 who 'discovered' it and claimed the name McKinley, who was then running for president. In 1917 it officially became the McKinley National Park. Alaska changed the name back to Denali, which is how all the locals refer to it, but the Ohio congressmen (who's district include McKinleys home town) won't let congress allow Alaska to name their mountain. I will be using the Denali moniker.
We'll be here for the next six days, hiking, biking, fishing. And of course we have to check out the 49th State Brewery. So, more news as it's created. Stay tuned.
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It's beautiful, glad you two got to see it, and shared it with us. Mt. Denali is fabulous, why do those white guys have to keep changing the Native Americans name guess they cann't spell
ReplyDeleteHard to believe JSL had "no comment". Maybe after a good nights sleep and a bike ride he will think of something. (maybe needs some coffee) If the roads are restricted to bus traffic only and no cars, it sounds like a perfect opportunity to get that bike out for a nice long ride.
ReplyDeleteCool you got to see the mountain! Thanks for the story about the naming too.
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