Up early for a quick breakfast and off to the Anchorage Railway Station by 7:15am. The rail is simple - you either go south or north.
We had a booking on the rail to the north, to Denali National Park. Denali is considered a special park; a large wilderness area around the massive Mt McKinley.
It's a mostly single track line, developed in the early 1920's. It's very popular in summer. Our train had three extra "special" carriages, labelled the Wilderness Express, which are for tour passengers from various cruise ships. This wasn't us - we had simple tickets.
However, we all see the same scenery. Our carriage was mostly empty (it was being shifted north, to be ready for a full train south the next day). We had comfortable seats and access to a "dome car". There was also a café and a dining car.
The trip was eight hours. The train isn't fast - the total distance is about 280 miles. However the ride is comfortable and you get a look at lots of scenery in inner Alaska.
You spend about 45 minutes getting out of Anchorage, but that's only because the city is widely dispersed. For most of this, you are travelling through forests (birches, spruces and other softwoods). As you continue, you also see small lakes, with cabins surrounding them.
In many ways, the scenery isn't far different to much of Siberia or Russia. Softwood forests, often dense, but otherwise areas of sodden open areas - there is a lot of water around. Alaskans obviously like the outdoors - you see cabins in many places.
Moving further in, you see more and more rivers. Often they are grey water (from glaciers, with glacial silt), and sometimes clear water. What you don't see, is lots of people - this is very much a thinly populated state. In fact, over 40% of the people live in Anchorage. The railway is important because there aren't many roads.
Moving closer to Denali, the hills get steeper and higher as you move into mountain country. Unfortunately, it's overcast and unclear, so Mt McKinley remains elusive. Perhaps we'll find it tomorrow.
Eventually, we get to Denali. Lots of people get off the train, and lots more are waiting to get on to get to Fairbanks. A shuttle bus is waiting (along with many others) and collects us for transport to our accommodation about 7 miles south of the park entrance. Here, accommodations tends to be clustered at this area, or a couple of miles north of the entrance - there is no accommodation in the park (except camping).
Our room is clean and comfortable - even including internet and an available laundry. We'll try the restaurant tonight. Tomorrow we head into the park.
We had a booking on the rail to the north, to Denali National Park. Denali is considered a special park; a large wilderness area around the massive Mt McKinley.
It's a mostly single track line, developed in the early 1920's. It's very popular in summer. Our train had three extra "special" carriages, labelled the Wilderness Express, which are for tour passengers from various cruise ships. This wasn't us - we had simple tickets.
However, we all see the same scenery. Our carriage was mostly empty (it was being shifted north, to be ready for a full train south the next day). We had comfortable seats and access to a "dome car". There was also a café and a dining car.
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| Denali Express and an Alaska River |
You spend about 45 minutes getting out of Anchorage, but that's only because the city is widely dispersed. For most of this, you are travelling through forests (birches, spruces and other softwoods). As you continue, you also see small lakes, with cabins surrounding them.
In many ways, the scenery isn't far different to much of Siberia or Russia. Softwood forests, often dense, but otherwise areas of sodden open areas - there is a lot of water around. Alaskans obviously like the outdoors - you see cabins in many places.
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| View from Hurricane Gulch Bridge |
Moving closer to Denali, the hills get steeper and higher as you move into mountain country. Unfortunately, it's overcast and unclear, so Mt McKinley remains elusive. Perhaps we'll find it tomorrow.
Eventually, we get to Denali. Lots of people get off the train, and lots more are waiting to get on to get to Fairbanks. A shuttle bus is waiting (along with many others) and collects us for transport to our accommodation about 7 miles south of the park entrance. Here, accommodations tends to be clustered at this area, or a couple of miles north of the entrance - there is no accommodation in the park (except camping).
Our room is clean and comfortable - even including internet and an available laundry. We'll try the restaurant tonight. Tomorrow we head into the park.
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