Monday July 23, 2012 - The Day We Left the Park

       Today was sadly our last day in Denali National Park and Preserve. We woke up way too early to be considered legal (6 AM) in order to break down camp. We then visited the Savage River and hiked around the trail which lined the river. While hiking, we came across a Doll Sheep nibbling away at vegetation under a rock face and watched it wander back up the hillside. The search for Pikas was futile, but we did hear them chirping in the distance! We even had the opportunity to pan for gold in the river to try and "strike it rich", but luck was not on our side this time. At 4 PM that day, we visited the sled dog kennels where we watched a demonstration on the daily lives of sled dogs. The puppies were so cute! After that, the park rangers who had accompanied us on our Denali adventures were dropped off back at their ranger station, and we drove out of the park. As it turns out, this was only the beginning of our adventure for the day...

       Starving, (we basically ran out of food and were surviving off Nutella and hot dog bun sandwiches, and Cup O' Noodles all day) we found the most delicious pizza place known to man. I think I ate 1/2 a pizza myself... The girls and I then ran around like tourists and hit all the local gift stores, coffee shops, and for myself, the rock shop.

       Buzzed up on coffee, sugar, and junk food, we hopped in the vans and headed to the Usibelli Coal Mine valley. Oh my gosh, let me just say that it is one of the coolest places I have ever been to. It has absolutely beautiful red sandstone walls with crazily angled coal deposits throughout the formation. Leaf, stick, bark, and even insect fossils can be found on almost every rock overturned! We found so many cool fossils, that we each brought pounds of rocks back to keep.

       The ride back to the University was epic to say the least. I was in the van with Jill, Jake, Amanda and Savanna and we head banged to metal music all the way back. We arrived at UAF sometime after midnight, and we unpacked the never-ending pile gear. Once finished, it was a race to the showers and laundry room (Hooray, hygiene!).
       Visiting Denali was seriously one of the coolest things I have ever done. I am so glad I was able to learn all that I could and hang out with such great friends!
-Emily