photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
taboo5 | profile | all galleries >> United States >> Alaska Cruise on the Island Princess (June 2011) >> Anchorage, Alaska and Denali National Park & Mt. McKinley Flyover (June 2011) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Anchorage, Alaska and Denali National Park & Mt. McKinley Flyover (June 2011)

While not the capital, Anchorage is home to over forty percent of Alaska's population and is the state's transportation hub and cultural center. It is a modern, clean and sprawling city on the edge of a great wildernesses. Anchorage often gets bad press from those who live elsewhere in the state who deride it as "just half an hour from the real Alaska." One of Anchorage’s greatest assets is the nearby 6 million acre Denali National Park & Preserve. There's no place on earth more wild, rugged, and breathtakingly beautiful. Glaciers cover one million acres, or one-sixth of the park. Like the arms of an octopus, glaciers flow away from the mountains transporting hundreds of thousand of tons of ice each year, eventually melting in the lower reaches of the glaciers and rapidly filling rivers with turbulent muddy water flowing into the ocean. The most massive glaciers in the park drain snow and ice from the flanks of Mount McKinley. Anchorage and its surroundings are the “real Alaska,” and are definitely worth a visit.
Anchorage, Alaska and Denali National Park & Mt. McKinley Flyover cover page.
Anchorage, Alaska and Denali National Park & Mt. McKinley Flyover cover page.		 Map of Alaska with the star indicating Anchorage.
Map of Alaska with the star indicating Anchorage.		 Map of downtown Anchorage, Alaska.
Map of downtown Anchorage, Alaska.		 We stayed at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage.
We stayed at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage.
Painting called The Death of Captain Cook, in the lobby of the Captain Cook Hotel.
Painting called "The Death of Captain Cook," in the lobby of the Captain Cook Hotel.		 Lobby and front desk of the hotel.
Lobby and front desk of the hotel.		 Painting in the Captain Cook Hotel entitled Hawaiian Warriors Perform Before a Royal Court.
Painting in the Captain Cook Hotel entitled "Hawaiian Warriors Perform Before a Royal Court."		 Another painting entitled A Maori Chief Wearing the Cape of His Rank.
Another painting entitled "A Maori Chief Wearing the Cape of His Rank."
This one is entitled A Man and Woman of Nootka Sound.
This one is entitled " A Man and Woman of Nootka Sound."		 Finally, this one is entitled A Man and Woman of Oonalashka.
Finally, this one is entitled " A Man and Woman of Oonalashka."		 An unusual native Alaskan sculpture in the lobby of the Captain Cook Hotel.
An unusual native Alaskan sculpture in the lobby of the Captain Cook Hotel.		 View of downtown Anchorage from my hotel window.
View of downtown Anchorage from my hotel window.
There are many new modern high-rises in downtown.
There are many new modern high-rises in downtown.		 The clouds over the city were very dramatic that day.
The clouds over the city were very dramatic that day.		 Exterior of Humpys Restaurant, a popular Anchorage hangout where we had lunch.
Exterior of Humpys Restaurant, a popular Anchorage hangout where we had lunch.		 Interior of Humpys. It has a bar-like atmosphere, is casual and has great seafood.
Interior of Humpys. It has a bar-like atmosphere, is casual and has great seafood.
A mural of a humpback whale in Anchorage.
A mural of a humpback whale in Anchorage.		 Further down the street, are these moose depictions.
Further down the street, are these moose depictions.		 Town Square Park in Anchorage has attractive landscaping and flowers.
Town Square Park in Anchorage has attractive landscaping and flowers.		 A flowerbed in the park.
A flowerbed in the park.
There are some beautiful trees behind the flowerbed.
There are some beautiful trees behind the flowerbed.		 The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts is next to Town Square Park.
The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts is next to Town Square Park.		 Some native Alaskan totem poles and a gorgeous hanging basket in front of this Anchorage building.
Some native Alaskan totem poles and a gorgeous hanging basket in front of this Anchorage building.		 Close-up of one of the totem poles.
Close-up of one of the totem poles.
Totem pole on the corner of an Anchorage building.
Totem pole on the corner of an Anchorage building.		 The 4th Avenue Theater is a landmark.
The 4th Avenue Theater is a landmark.		 One of several Anchorage tourist trolley tours.
One of several Anchorage tourist trolley tours.		 I took this trolley. It wasn't free, though; a tour of Anchorage cost $10.
I took this trolley. It wasn't free, though; a tour of Anchorage cost $10.
The trolley tour passed by Resolution Park.
The trolley tour passed by Resolution Park.		 Statue of Captain Cook at Resolution Park.
Statue of Captain Cook at Resolution Park.		 Another Anchorage skyline view from the Trolley tour.
Another Anchorage skyline view from the Trolley tour.		 Sign telling drivers to yield to aircraft.
Sign telling drivers to yield to aircraft.
A small two-person airplane in Anchorage.
A small two-person airplane in Anchorage.		 Plane docked at Lake Hood. Alaska has more planes per person than any other state in the union.
Plane docked at Lake Hood. Alaska has more planes per person than any other state in the union.		 That's because many parts of Alaska are only accessible by plane.
That's because many parts of Alaska are only accessible by plane.		 One of many tourist gift shops in Anchorage.
One of many tourist gift shops in Anchorage.
The Tourist Information Center. Summer is the peak season for tourism.
The Tourist Information Center. Summer is the peak season for tourism.		 Front of the Anchorage City Hall.
Front of the Anchorage City Hall.		 Grizzlys is another popular shopping spot for tourists.
Grizzlys is another popular shopping spot for tourists.		 Grizzlys windows with hanging baskets.
Grizzlys windows with hanging baskets.
A bear in front of Grizzlys. The best way to escape from them is to run faster than the person you're next to!
A bear in front of Grizzlys. The best way to escape from them is to run faster than the person you're next to!		 Wooden Indian with a dog.
Wooden Indian with a dog.		 Glacial ice to promote the Kenai Fjords Tours and the Prince William Sound Cruises.
Glacial ice to promote the Kenai Fjords Tours and the Prince William Sound Cruises.		 A moose on a skateboard in front of an Anchorage shop.
A moose on a skateboard in front of an Anchorage shop.
We took a Denali National Park, Mt. McKinley flight tour from Rust's.
We took a Denali National Park, Mt. McKinley flight tour from Rust's.		 Rust's seaplanes parked at the Lake Hood airport.
Rust's seaplanes parked at the Lake Hood airport.		 It was a beautiful day with lots of clouds in the sky.
It was a beautiful day with lots of clouds in the sky.		 Other tourists were there to, some going on other tours.
Other tourists were there to, some going on other tours.
View of the airport behind us after the plane took off.
View of the airport behind us after the plane took off.		 The plane was gaining altitude.
The plane was gaining altitude.		 The plane had to go to 10,000 feet, above the clouds to get a good view of Mt. McKinley.
The plane had to go to 10,000 feet, above the clouds to get a good view of Mt. McKinley.		 View of Mt. McKinley from above the clouds. It was named after President William McKinley, even though he never went to Alaska.
View of Mt. McKinley from above the clouds. It was named after President William McKinley, even though he never went to Alaska.
Getting closer to McKinley. It is the highest mountain peak in North America and the U.S., with an elevation of 20,320 feet.
Getting closer to McKinley. It is the highest mountain peak in North America and the U.S., with an elevation of 20,320 feet.		 To the left of Mt. McKinley is a sister mountain, Mt. Foraker.
To the left of Mt. McKinley is a sister mountain, Mt. Foraker.		 Close-up of Mt. Foraker.
Close-up of Mt. Foraker.		 Glacier flows in Denali National Park.
Glacier flows in Denali National Park.
Vegetation next to rock, glacial debris and a glacial pool.
Vegetation next to rock, glacial debris and a glacial pool.		 Ahead of us was mother of all glaciers in Denali, the Ruth Glacier.
Ahead of us was "mother of all glaciers" in Denali, the Ruth Glacier.		 The Ruth Glacier primarily occupies the southeast side Mount McKinley.
The Ruth Glacier primarily occupies the southeast side Mount McKinley.		 Of these glaciers, Ruth, Kahiltna and Muldrow Glaciers are the longest glaciers in the park; each is more than 30 miles long.
Of these glaciers, Ruth, Kahiltna and Muldrow Glaciers are the longest glaciers in the park; each is more than 30 miles long.
View of the massive Ruth Glacier. Many smaller (unnamed) glaciers flow into it.
View of the massive Ruth Glacier. Many smaller (unnamed) glaciers flow into it.		 Alaska Range Mountains in the park.
Alaska Range Mountains in the park.		 As the flight progressed, it got cloudier as seen over these mountains.
As the flight progressed, it got cloudier as seen over these mountains.		 They have snow on them all year round.
They have snow on them all year round.
Glacial debris below the mountain. Glaciers are very dirty because they drag so much rock and debris as they flow.
Glacial debris below the mountain. Glaciers are very dirty because they drag so much rock and debris as they flow.		 Note the dirty ice on the glacier below.
Note the dirty ice on the glacier below.		 Massive glaciers wrapping around the peaks.
Massive glaciers wrapping around the peaks.		 More views of the glaciers between the mountains.
More views of the glaciers between the mountains.
Ice, snow and pools of turquoise water below.
Ice, snow and pools of turquoise water below.		 More turquoise pools of water.
More turquoise pools of water.		 The pilot joked that these glaciers are nicknamed Beverly Hills, because it looks like there are hundreds of swimming pools!
The pilot joked that these glaciers are nicknamed "Beverly Hills," because it looks like there are hundreds of swimming pools!		 These glacial pools are elongated.
These glacial pools are elongated.
Close-up of the elongated pools.
Close-up of the elongated pools.		 Deep ice crevices below.
Deep ice crevices below.		 It looks like a barren wasteland.
It looks like a barren wasteland.		 Patches of snow on the mountain below.
Patches of snow on the mountain below.
I sure that that the water in this glacial pool is cold!
I sure that that the water in this glacial pool is cold!		 The pilot headed for a lake in Denali National Park where we would land.
The pilot headed for a lake in Denali National Park where we would land.		 The water was a beautiful turquoise color.
The water was a beautiful turquoise color.		 Clouds reflecting on the lake, as we were about to land.
Clouds reflecting on the lake, as we were about to land.
View of the water after landing.
View of the water after landing.		 A photo of me with the pilot.
A photo of me with the pilot.		 This bumblebee got trapped in the plane. We released it at the end of the tour.
This bumblebee got trapped in the plane. We released it at the end of the tour.		 A cabin along the side of the lake. It is very isolated and is only accessible by air.
A cabin along the side of the lake. It is very isolated and is only accessible by air.
Along side the lake, was a camp.
Along side the lake, was a camp.		 Interesting geological formations in Denali National Park.
Interesting geological formations in Denali National Park.		 Close-up of the formations.
Close-up of the formations.		 We were getting ready to land. It is very green because it rains so much in Alaska.
We were getting ready to land. It is very green because it rains so much in Alaska.
Another seaplane landing on Lake Hood.
Another seaplane landing on Lake Hood.		 Close-up of the plane. We landed on Lake Hood shortly thereafter.
Close-up of the plane. We landed on Lake Hood shortly thereafter.

comment | share
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment
click on thumbnails for full image