Hiking in Denali

Tom and I went out hiking at the Savage River Loop trail. The trail was still pretty icy in spots, as it meandered beside the river. We finally got to a spot where there was a large slope of ice and snow, too slick and too steep to get across! We turned around and went back, then found the end of the trail on the other side of the river. We walked that side of the trail, which was the sunny side, until we got to the bridge that connected the two sides of the trail. We saw a lot of harmless wildlife: parka squirrels, snowshoe hare, as well as ptarmigen. (here's a parka squirrel)
There was one ptarmigen that was on the trail and it was obviously his trail--and he didn't want to get off of it to let us by! He let Tom get so close, that Tom was taking photos right above it, before scurrying ahead...a few inches at ta time, slipping on the ice, before finally giving up and disappearing into the bushes.


A snowshoe hare was also quite accomodating, staying beside the trail, munching away as we walked by.
The riverbank was covered with pussywillow bushes. I wondered why there were so few pussywillows on the branches. Later, on the drive back to Liz's place, we spotted the reason: moose eat them!
Our next hike, the following day, was to Horsehoe Lake. A much nicer hike than yesterday (which was gorgeous with the mountain scenery, but COLD with the wind and slippery with the icy trail!) This hike took us through forest. The sun was out and it was very pretty. When we got to the lake, we saw a sign telling us that beaver livee there. Then we spotted their dam. Later we saw chewed trees, more evidence of beavers. But the BEST part, was seeing the beavers themselves--sitting out on the part of the ice that was still on the lake. They dove into the water, them came up again with vegetation, whcih they munched as they sat there in the sun.