Day 24: Denali National Park / Riley Creek Campground

Early bird breakfast with cereal and coffee so I can get through the day. For the bus tour you should bring your own food and I'm not very well equipped. Off to the Visitor Center and well, it works out for a second night. Then back to the tent and attach the reservation slip and another 10 minute walk to the bus stop.

The bus is well staffed, the place next to me is conveniently free - maybe because I smell somehow strange?

Scenery is very impressive (the highest mountain in Denali is 6,190 m high, but located quite far away), but unfortunately the bus stops only in 4 places and from time to time when animals are spotted. It's cold as in a fridge, on the mountains you can actually see snowfall, the bus windows jam, so you have to decide between freezing, taking pictures or constantly pinching your fingers. The 8 hour tour (66 miles one way / US$ 50) may be great in good weather and better visibility, I'm rather disappointed. But I see my first grizzly and can even take pictures of him.

So I'm looking forward to riding myself tomorrow. It want to take the Denali Highway towards Tok.

In the evening I buy a some supplies (prices are horrible) and cook myself. Then I take a shower (US $ 4.50 / 10 mins) and do laundry (US $ 2.00 plus US $ 2.00 for the dryer again). I hardly recognize myself - so clean! Only the bad smell from the socks hasn't dissappered.

Reminder: For the first time I see a hiker stuffing the tent into the dryer. Also a method to have a dry tent after a rainy day.

At 8pm I'm finished with everything. A beer, a small glass of whiskey and I'm early in bed, because I'm really tired. It's getting cold again and I'm definitely wearing more clothes than last night.