Driving the Denali Highway in the Alaskan Interior

We just got back from a wonderful holiday, a true road trip through the interior of Alaska.  I had read about the Denali Highway a few months back, and it piqued my interest.  An unpaved road of 133 miles through true Alaskan wilderness.  There were warnings - "No Services!" "Bring multiple spare tires!"  But not to worry, we made it without incident!

The Denali Highway connects the "town" of Paxson to Cantwell.  Here was our route:

Rental car companies won't let you drive their cars on the Denali Highway, so we rented a Jeep from a special company who caters to back road drivers.  GoNorth Alaska was who we went with.  We also rented a cooler, bear spray, and we purchased an older edition of The Milepost, an absolute must for road travel in Alaska!  (even if it's just to find out where the next long drop is!)

We started out in Fairbanks, making a not-so-quick-trip to Fred Meyer.  Fred Meyer likes to suck you in and keep you, kind of like IKEA.  So many choices, so many good prices!  Jose and I wandered while Amaury slept in the cart.  Ha!

By 3pm, our road trip commenced.  We started on the Richardson Highway, winding through valleys alongside rushing rivers.  Soon into our journey, we realized we needed to be on high moose alert.  There were moose around every corner, and mostly in the MIDDLE of the road!!  Our first day moose count was 5!

We arrived at our motel on Meiers Lake.  Not the most glamorous accommodations, but there was heat and a nice bed.  It was simply a stop for the night to begin our journey.

The next day, we got up bright and early to start the drive.  We filled the tank with gas and hit the highway.  About 2 miles in, we realize how deserted this part of the country is.  The landscape changed around every bend.  Sweeping tundra, glaciers between giant mountains and low hanging clouds covering jagged peaks.  Hundreds of glacier lakes speckled the rolling hills, allowing for wildlife to flourish.  As I was following our journey in the Milepost, we read this area was covered by ice as tall at the mountains 10,000 years ago.  The glacier lakes are the remains of that ice.

Jose walking quickly back to the car - it was COLD!
 

Soaring eagle!

Can you spot the moose? 

How about now? 

Last chance to spot the moose!

Ok - the internet is super slow here today.  I'm going to leave this post for now and continue our journey in a new posting.  Stay tuned for our Denali experience and the BEAR…….