Author Archives: rongatesphotography

One of the big concerns through the northwest…Canada and Alaska…is bears getting at our food.  As they say, “A fed bear is a dead bear.”  If a bear connects humans with food  it can easily translate into an attack.  If … Continue reading →

One of the things you get to do while driving long distances is think about what you said in your posting and what you wish you had said.  I’ve done a lot of that.  As of right now, I’m close … Continue reading →

I wanted to revisit the picture I sent last Saturday, I believe of the bear laying on the caribou kill in Denali. As you recall, this caribou was taken down by two wolves on Thursday of last week.  The bear … Continue reading →

Picking up where it cut off…. Alaskans thought the name, McKinley, was irrelevant and in 1975 petitioned Congress to change the name back to Denali.  In 1980, Congress did that…changing the name of the park to Denali National Park and … Continue reading →

I departed Denali National Park yesterday about noon and drove 12 hours to Tok on my way back to the Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta and the Lower 48.  I hope to see bison today and maybe some more moose. Last … Continue reading →

I woke up this morning to 35 degrees and this…. This is Mt. McKinley, 20,320ft., yesterday when I arrived you couldn’t see where it was due to the heavy cloud cover.  Obviously,  I was disappointed but this morning at 5:15am … Continue reading →

I arrived at Denali National Park yesterday afternoon after three days of rain in Talkeetna.  I have to catch a camper bus in 45 minutes to Wonder Lake Campground.  It is 85 miles into the park.  There are a couple … Continue reading →

Yesterday I drove the Denali Highway between Paxson and Cantwell.  It’s 134 miles of gravel road.  The first 12 or so are paved but after that it is a gravel, washboarded highway.   Most of the time I was driving 25-30 … Continue reading →

Sunday, I drove south of Fairbanks to North Pole, Alaska.  As you might guess, it is a 12 month celebration of Christmas. This a year-round Christmas store.  The town has themed light poles, too. Even the federal government gets involved. … Continue reading →

Change of plans….. Saturday I had planned to drive all the way to Prudhoe Bay on the Dalton Highway.  I started the drive late in the afternoon after driving to Fairbanks from Wasilla.  The road starts out paved for about … Continue reading →