Denali,
(formerly Mt. McKinley) is notoriously shy, sheathing itself in fluffy clouds
and shafts of light. He often disapoints tourists who have traveled far to see
this tallest mountain in the United States. In 2005, it was raining when we traveled
the Parks Highway from Anchorage to Fairbanks, Alaska, and I didn't hope for much.
But then a miracle happened. The clouds parted and Denali glowed brilliantly in
the sun's weak light. But only for about a half-hour. Then the mountain gathered
its protective clouds closer and hid itself from view again.
The Magnificant Mountain
But I knew that the
mountain could strut its stuff too! If you run your mouse over the above photo,
you will see how it looked on a gloriously sunny day in 1999. No shy mountain
here! I lived in Alaska for 28 years and it wasn't until I came back as a visitor
a year after I left that I got this wonderful photo.
Vetch
Vetch grows wild in
many areas of Alaska. These particular flowers grew near Nome, Alaska, thousands
of miles from Denali, but vetch also grows in profusion along the Parks Highway.
