Train to Talkeetna

We awoke about 5:30 AM to a breakfast of leftover pizza and coffee made in our hotel room at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. The Cooks, Wrinkles, and Friedmans met in the large common room and shared a shuttle to the Denali National Park up Visitors' Center. We saw a movie about the park and then enjoyed Ranger Pete Dally's presentation on wildlife sustainability in the park. David Friedman reported severe pain in his neck and seemed very uncomfortable for the rest of the day. A short walk took us to the train station. We boarded the train to Talkeetna, and found the comments of Kate, our guide, moderately entertaining and enlightening. I went over to Mike Wrinkle's seat when we passed the site of the secret World War II fighter base. He and I had a great time talking about airplanes and missions he had flown. When we reached Talkeetna we stayed with the Wrinkles and Friedmans as we walked down to the riverbank so that I could photograph Denali. Clouds continued to clear and re-form, so I had no good shot at the mountain.Read more