Where is Mt. Denali

This Blog Entry builds on the prior entry.

The highest mountains in the Alaska Range, including the highest mountain in the range and North America (i.e., Mt. Denali) frequently extend above the clouds, as per this photo taken as our flight approached Anchorage. At 20,000 ft, Mt. Denali also can create clouds.

The 240 mile route to Denali National Park was northeast out of Anchorage via Alaska Rt 1 and then north on Rt 3. The early September weather was partly sunny with daytime highs at about 60F. Our first views of Mt. Denali were of the its south side from looks-outs off Rt 3 in the Talkeetna area. The mountain was more 50 plus miles away.

From the look-outs the snow covered summit was only partially distinguishable from and through clouds with the naked eye and through a long camera lens, but though very powerful binoculars at one of the lookouts you could distinguish summit features within the clouds. In the photo above, the summit is what looks to be a white triangle just to the left of center. The darker contours are other mountains in the Alaska Range in the foreground that are shorter and not snow capped.

Over the following days we would have closer views of the opposite or north side of the mountain as close as 22 miles.