Day 04 - 07/01/22 - Denali Free Day

 Friday was our free day and we packed a lot into it with a really nice surprise mid day.

 

We started the day by getting our Covid tests which we passed.  We then caught the shuttle over to the National park visitor center for our granddaughter to receive her Jr. Ranger award.  After we got off the bus I remembered that I forgot my backpack on the shuttle. I made a quick phone call to the front desk and it was retrieved.  After our granddaughter's award ceremony, we took a shuttle back to the McKinley Chalet, retrieved my backpack, and got on a return shuttle back to the visitor center.

 

At the visitor center we started the line for the bus to the sled dog demonstration as we learned it was wise to be early for the first pickup.  At 1:10pm we departed for the short 5 minute drive to the kennel area.  We entered the kennel area and suddenly I heard my name being called.  It was our friends Lynda and Terry who we knew were in the park but we didn't know when or where we would meet up.  While our granddaughter fawned over the sled dogs, we chatted with Lynda & Terry. After the dog demonstration, we parted ways and found some needed lunch.

 

Now fortified, we walked to the Horseshoe Lake trail which was about 3.8 miles in length and had a suggested walking time of 2 hours.  With a start time of 4:30pm that gave us enough margin to be back at the shuttle stop by the last pickup at 7pm.  The trail flat at first and then drops fairly steeply using hand hewn stairs down to the lake level.  We found the large beaver dam and Angela and Katie elected to not walk around the lake.  I, however, wanted to; so I headed on out and shortly crossed paths with Lynda and Terry.  I continued on around the lake passing by a number of beaver dams.  There were a couple of young women in bathing suits as well as a backpacker lounging in his hammock as well as still others intently watching the beaver nests.  I finished the loop and Angela and Katie were nowhere to be seen.  I checked my phone and they left because of mosquitoes.  I was about 5 minutes behind them and caught up with them at the top of the stairs.  They were surprised to see me!

 

We made it to the shuttle stop in time to catch the 6pm shuttle back to the McKinley Chalet where we showered and cooled down from the day's adventures. We left Katie in the room and we took a shuttle over to the Princess property where we had a nice dinner at Fanny O's.

 

Back at our room, we all finished packing and it definitely took a bit for Katie to unwind.  She was totally giddy until nearly 11pm!

 

Tomorrow is our train ride to Anchorage and it looks like we'll have decent viewing weather.  I can't emphasize enough how important it is to spend at least 3 nights here.

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