Friday, June 22
Same spot, about three weeks agoCopyright 2007 Lydia Hinshaw
DENALI NATIONAL PARK, AK -- As this is written it's just before 2 p.m., Alaska Daylight time, and it's as dark as it ever gets here this time of year.
Denali tourists who got up early this morning found the skies clear, but that changed quickly. By mid-morning, the air was thick with smoke blown in from a number of forest fires well to the south. I am among the disappointed. I'd made plans to go on a flightseeing tour of Mount McKinley this morning, but low visibility grounded the flight.
The photos above show how things look here today, as compared with the same spot on a beautiful day in May. The location is perhaps 100 feet from our cabin, and it's the view we get as we walk back and forth to meals in the employee dining room.
Summer wildfires and smoke here are pretty common, as they are in Florida. At least Prince Charming and I know what the place looks like in good weather, and we will be here almost three more months, with many more chances to enjoy the scenery.
The average Denali tourist stays only two days. Those whose two days were this weekend are probably out of luck. Forecasters say this will get worse tomorrow.
Denali tourists who got up early this morning found the skies clear, but that changed quickly. By mid-morning, the air was thick with smoke blown in from a number of forest fires well to the south. I am among the disappointed. I'd made plans to go on a flightseeing tour of Mount McKinley this morning, but low visibility grounded the flight.
The photos above show how things look here today, as compared with the same spot on a beautiful day in May. The location is perhaps 100 feet from our cabin, and it's the view we get as we walk back and forth to meals in the employee dining room.
Summer wildfires and smoke here are pretty common, as they are in Florida. At least Prince Charming and I know what the place looks like in good weather, and we will be here almost three more months, with many more chances to enjoy the scenery.
The average Denali tourist stays only two days. Those whose two days were this weekend are probably out of luck. Forecasters say this will get worse tomorrow.
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