Welcome to the Hotel California

I have struggled a bit with how to digest and tell the story of our 5 days in Denali. We have done so much, seen so much and met so many interesting people that I have decided to break the experience into a couple of different posts. Each post will cover a different theme and I hope will give you guys a more complete picture of the most incredible place I have ever seen. Let's get started and see how it goes.
The current post theme, the Hotel California.....where you can check in anytime you want...but you can never leave.

Seems we have ended up at Teklanika Campground within the unforgettable Denali National Park where you can check in but you can never leave. Let me explain...when you book a reservation at this campground you MUST stay for the duration of your reserved dates (4 night minimum, 14 night maximum) and not leave. Of course you can leave aanytime but you will not be allowed back in. They do this to hold down on the number of vehicles using the park access road which is a 92 mile beauty traveresed only by shuttle buses, no personal vehicles allowed beyond the 15 mile mark. I'll do a seperate post on our 12 hour bus ride covering this 92 mile long route.
You are also not permitted to drive your vehicle anywhere during your stay so the campground stayed nice and calm without people cruising around kicking up dust and making noise. It was all very peaceful and most refreshing.

Tek campground is at mile 33 and we received special permission to drive the motorhome (not the towed Fit, had to leave that at a parking lot near the park entrance) one way in to the campground on Monday and one way, and only one way out when our reservation ends Friday morning.
This was the only campground reservation we made for this entire trip and we did it back on December first of last year because this thing fills up fast for the summer months.

Now all of this may seem very rigid and overbearing, which I will agree with you loyal followers to a point. My concern is this...we are loving our National Parks to death. I talked with a park ranger here today who spent two summers at Yosemeti NP and he said they have 500 armed rangers there during the peak summer months! That is basically the size of a police force to cover a large US city.
So how do you strike that delicate balance between public access - this land is your land, this land is my land - and resource conversation so we have something to share with our future generations. Very tough call that requires expert management - sometimes the National Park Service (NPS) gets it right, sometimes they don't, in my opinion.

Here at Denali, they have this just right. Perhaps the best managed and well run National Park I have visited.

The Tek campground we stayed at is ideally situated 30 miles into the park so it is the furthest camp into the Park which allows motorhomes and RV's. Tent camps are situated further in but you must pack everything in by shuttle bus and pack everything out including your trash. Bear cannisters are required for all food and trash. One of the campgrounds, Savage River, was closed due to a bear attack a couple of weeks ago where a young woman was attacked inside of her tent during the night. She was ripped up pretty good but fortunately survived. In talking with a park ranger seems she left some food in her tent without using a bear cannister. NPS has made the decision to close the campground, locate the bear and euthanize it...very sad situation for both the woman and bear. Ranger asked me how I felt about this and I asked if the bear could be relocated to another part of the park and he said that was a difficult question to answer. Seems a bear will always find his way back and this guy is now a marked bear having shown aggressive behavior towards humans. Bottom line is a human fed bear is a dead bear. They are extremely strict on food and trash storage here. If you leave a cooler (even ones just filled with canned sodas), a grill (must be put away immediately after use), trash (even a candy wrapper or empty beer can) out on your site unattended you will receive an automatic $400 fine, the offending material will be confiscated and you will be quickly escorted out of the park - no questions asked.



The Tek campground was stellar with lush vegetation surrounding us with tons of privacy and as I said earlier - peace and quiet. After long days of hiking, exploring, biking and doing things it was great to return to a relaxing hang and enjoy each others company - most recommended.















Debbie and Sue enjoying the expansive veranda at Tek campground...

Oh, here's the best part - my sister Sue used her geezer pass to get us free admission to the park and the campsite for $10 per nite! These geezer passes are the deal, if you're aged 62 or older you can get a pass that allows you and 3 others in your vehicle free admission to ALL national parks and half off of camping fees and great discounts on special tours. Also covers all national forests, landmarks, Army Corps of Engineer lakes, etc. It costs a one time $10 processing fee and is good for the rest of your blessed life. If you're 62 or older, get one!

So thanks to Sue our wonderful 5 days in Denali cost us all of $40. Well, better add in the delicious food, liquor, wine and beer and other assorted hidden costs - no, on second thought don't think I'll do that!
So when Friday came around we definitely did not want to leave but checked out we did, rather reluctantly though. Next post I'll hit the highlights of our 12 hour bus ride - man, what a ride it was and what a ride this trip has been.

Later good folks.....here's some teaser shots for the next post...

A Caribou enjoying the fine day near Tek campground.........

The Great One framed nicely by a Great Rack..........