March 31

An ALL-day Adventure

McKinley Express Train Ride:  

Anchorage to Denali (8 Hours plus)

Denali Highway Exploration

We needed to be up by 6 am after the long travel day yesterday as we had a full breakfast provided, but our bags needed to be out by 6 am and we had to be ready to be boarded on the buses to transfer us to the train by 8 am.  All went smoothly and by 8:30 we were in our seat on the domed train ready for our full day's adventure.

We've now been on three domed train adventures in Alaska and this rates, in our opinion as the "medium wow" factor.  In 2009 we cruised first and then bused here to Denali National Park.  We then took the McKinley Express farther north to Fairbanks for our departure.  We saw very little "Alaska scenery."  The ride was cool as was the meal on the train, but no big mountains or glaciers.  In 2016 we flew to Anchorage and then took the McKinley Express to Seward to board the Celebrity ship.  THAT ride was one of the best "excursions" of any Alaskan adventure, full of glaciers, mountains, waterfalls, lakes.  Just breath taking.  Today we saw "a lot" of mountains, snow, a few glaciers but L-O-T-S of forest.  The lunch was good and we enjoyed the experience, but NOTE TO SELF:  Next Alaskan trip:  Book the train from Anchorage to Seward!

We arrived at the Denali train station about 5 pm and were scheduled to join our first excursion, driving a jeep on the Alaskan Highway at 6 pm.  Fortunately they'd distributed our keys and all the information on the train.  Went to our room (which is about a 10 minute walk to the main lodge AND a nice climb by the way), only to find our keys did not work.  The host of the building let us put our carry-ons down and our luggage was already there.  Nice.  We caught the shuttle to the main lodge and at about 5:45 I got our keys changed.  By 6 the van was there to take us to "Jeep Camp."  Lined up for us were ten multi-colored jeeps.

We teamed up into groups of four and filled out the forms so we could all take turns driving (though I eventually did not) and set out.  And let me tell you, the "Alaskan Highway" is NOT like an interstate freeway - no it's a two lane gravel road!

We were constantly having commentary & narration from the front and back jeeps as we hunted wildlife and photo stops.  We did see a couple of moose and a porcupine and lots of cool photo ops.  It was nearly 9:30 pm when we turned the jeeps back for base camp and then back home, arriving a little before 11 pm.  A great day, but a LONG day.