On our final day in Denali, Skip and I did the gift shopping at the various shops around the lodge. In a grocery store across from the lodge, Skip bought a pack of cigarettes - shop keeper gave him a book of matches pointing out the telephone number on the cover for cannabis if we needed some.  We left laughing and worked our way up to the Dog Stand - and had hot dogs for lunch. This stand is very busy!
  Had dinner at Karsten's on the premises - shared table with Terri and Chuck. Afterwards, our tour host, Leah,

had a final get together of smores at the campfire.  Fun to sit around with everyone talking about our adventures!

We left early - wanted to head to river for last time.

  Up early to get the bus that would take to the McKinley Express - train from Denali to Anchorage. This is about a6 hour train ride.

This is a domed top so everyone had great views. Skip and I had breakfast and lunch aboard train. We had our own bartender and train guide throughout the journey. Could also order food at your seat!  On lower level of car you could go outside on enclosed platform.
  The farther south you travel the mountains recede and forestation takes over.  Let me tell you - lots and lots of trees.

  We arrived in Anchorage about 5:00 p.m., were taken to the Anchorage Hilton. Went to dinner at Fletcher's in the hotel; ran into Cindy and Ken on elevator and they joined us for dinner. Skip had spaghetti and meatballs; I had lasagna - and a few drinks - all very good!!!
  Up early for our flight home. Limo picked us up at 5:30 a.m. for 8:00 a.m. flight from Anchorage to Seattle-the Seattle to New York. Airport in Anchorage - is really nice and quiet - not millions of people running through airport to catch flights. Had breakfast at one of the restaurants.
  Flights were great! Thank you Carol (our travel agent) for putting us in business class - lots of leg room!!! Due to thunderstorms in the east, were delayed about 40 minutes.
 Driver picked up up and made it home around 2 a.m.
 GREAT TRIP - Our cruise ship Holland America, was great; Leah our tour host for our land adventure was awesome!
 Absolutely loved Alaska!!!!

We are staying at the McKinley Lodge complex just outside the National Park. Behind our lodge, the Namena River flows - We would sit down by river and watch the groups of rafters come by.

Strong current and cold water!!!!
Denali National Park and Preserve - over 6,000,000+ acres of forest at low elevation, with tundra at middle elevations and glaciers, snow and rock at the higher elevation with Mount McKinley k/n/a Mount Denali the highest mountain peak in North America. Our day was clear as a bell, and were offered a great view of Mount Denali about 15 miles away (wish I had a zoom lens).

  To keep animals and humans safe, tourists to the park ride in a bus (like a school bus) for an approximate 60 mile journey into the park. One can drive in the park only to Savage River (15 miles inside park). For those who want to hike or camp, there are separate buses to take them to their destinations in park and bring them back.

The landscape is breathtaking, but most tourists  are mainly looking for the grizzly bears, moose, caribou, foxes, etc. For those who have been through national parks before, you know it is not a given that you will see these wild animals.

  The drive over the Polychrome Pass gives great views of the area. Our driver, Ken, was very knowledgeable and loaded us with tons of info!!!

This is one of the highlights of our trip. Skip and I love going to our national parks - THEY ARE OUR TREASURES AND SHOULD BE KEPT SAFE AND PROTECTED!!!
  

Up early - We head to Dawson City, Yukon today, about 330.00 miles. Long day on bus - we do stop at scenic overviews and also for lunch (whole trip about 8 hours). We will be on the Klondike Highway for a good part of the trip. Scenery is more flatland, then the high mountains we had seen.  stopped at Braeburn's Lodge for coffee, etc. They also sell the largest cinnamon rolls I have ever seen!

Lunch was at a campground with a lake we could sit around. In fact, moose antlers were sitting on ground for anyone wanting to pick them up.  Believe me, they are heavy!! Grateful for Cindy and Ken's assistance.

Stopped for our group picture along the way

and at a small village of Moose Creek - this is the only place mosquitos found us!!!  They did have a unique campfire set up!!!

 Continuing on, we stopped at the Tintina Trench - this is a large valley which depending on how you see it, per our driver, either the end of the Rocky Mountains or the beginning of the Rockies.

  Late afternoon, we arrive in Dawson City. Dawson City was home to Klondike God Rush in 1898 and thousands make there way to find their fortune. Today, Dawson City has preserved its past - with unpaved roads and wooden boardwalks. Had breakfast at the hotel - their french toast consists of 5 huge slices of bread with cranberry rhubarb butter. Could not finish it.
  Afterwards, we met at the Klondike Spirit - a paddlewheeler which took up for a cruise on the Yukon River.

Spent rest of day walking around the town. Later that evening, we headed to Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling Hall for the local show. Skip was treated to Gertie sitting on his lap singing "You Made me Love You".

Afterwards, stopped at Bombay Peggy's for a martini.

 Skip went out at midnight to take pics!  Light as day!

 Dawson City is a fun place to visit. We enjoyed our stay.
     Today we fly (charter) out of Dawson City, Yukon to Fairbanks, Alaska. It is about a 45 minute flight.  Arriving in Fairbanks, we all got hit by the heat!   In the 80's! - this is Alaska - not supposed to be this hot!
    Skip and I had dinner at the hotel (Red Lantern) - Skip had the reindeer meatloaf and I had the reindeer medallions - meals were excellent!!! One of my nieces was upset that we ate "Rudolf".  All I can say was reindeer was delicious!

   In the morning we boarded our bus to view the pipeline!

 and afterwards went to goldmine and panned for gold - Skip got $24.00 in gold!!! Good for him!! I was too busy taking pictures. I now have a necklace containing our gold!

  After learning about pipeline and panning for gold, we are on our way to McKinley Chalet at Denali National Park.   
  
 

  Up early to board the White Pass-Yukon Route Railroad from Skagway, Alaska to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory in Canada.

The trip is approximately 2 hours with breathtaking views. As we move along we climb to White Pass Summit (2,888 ft) past continental divide.

After crossing into Canada and going through customs, we disembark train for our waiting bus to head to Whitehorse. Before arriving at Whitehorse, we stop at several scenic overviews. Scenery gets better and better.

After checking into hotel, Skip and I took a walk around town. Whitehorse is the capital of the Yukon Territory. Temperatures were warm. Shorts were the order of the day and into evening. As the Klondike Gold Rush brought many to make their fortunes in gold, copper was discovered in the hills of Whitehorse and the first copper claims were staked in 1899.Today McDonalds and Subway are part of the city. 
  We had dinner at the Klondike Rib and Salmon. Terry and Chuck from our group joined us. I had the appetizer called "Sticky Balls" - consisting of elk, bison and wild boar.

Very good!! Skip and I both had the elk stroganoff ! Another great meal!!
  Afterwards the four of us took a walk down by the Yukon River.

  Since this was just an overnight stay, early to bed and early to rise!! I am still having trouble adjusting to not only the time change but to the "midnight sun". In summer, it does not get dark here!

During the night, our ship pulled into the Town of Skagway.  Skagway is a popular port of call for the cruise ship lines. After leaving our luggage outside our stateroom door, we headed to breakfast. Afterwards, we met our Tour Journey Host, Leah Lipka, for the land portion of our excursion (Leah calls it the adventure part of our journey).  Our bus  driver took us for a tour of Skagway which was  a small hamlet until 1896, when gold was discovered and the Klondile gold rush changed everything increasing the population. After dropping Skip and I at the Westmark Hotel, we were taken to get our helicopter tour to the glacier.

  After being outfitted with boots and vests, we are then taken to the helicopters. This is one of the few times in your life, you have to give your weight, so they can balance out the helicopter. After getting in and putting on the earphones, off we go!!!  Our pilot heads out over the waterfront, viewing the high peaks over the Chilkat Glacier, and cascading waterfalls before landing one of the glaciers. Guides are there to help up walk around and view the cravasses, discuss the damage due to climate change, and enjoy a piece of glacier ice while taking in the views!
  On the return flight, we fly into a valley before following the coastline back to heliport. This is totally breathtaking beauty!  

  After we got back into Skagway, we headed to Bonanza Grill for late lunch. Fun place - part of the walls are covered in dollar bills. Both had hamburgers - and they were delicious!!!

Walked around town and did some shopping.
  When we went out for dinner around 7:00 p.m. most of the shops had closed down. Went to the Red Onion.  Our waitress informed us they were out of all greens (would have shipped some up from my garden), so pizza sounded good to us!!! It was around 9:00 p.m. and looked like daylight - also temps were in the 70's.
   After a good night's sleep and breakfast at the hotel, we were heading off to go dog sledding - We were picked up and taken to Skagway Sled Dog and Musher camp. Our van takes up to base camp in Dyea. On arrival we climb into a Unimog up to the top of the mountain (approx 800 ft per guide).

At top we disembark and head to various sleds. Our driver Marybeth, guides us through beautiful terrain. She talks about the dogs and their training.

After petting her dogs, we are back on Unimog and heading back down the mountain to base camp where we listen to a seminar on the 1,100 mile Iditarod Race,

and then get to handle the future stars of the camp - puppies!

Absolutely adorable. We were all trying to figure how to sneak one home!!!! Awesome experience!!!