Day 21 Ends @ Malone-Sligar Lake

And it ended quite early ... at 9:30a, in fact! But that was the plan anyway as we wanted to enjoy a very special place today.

Anyone heard of the Malone-Sligar Lake? Maybe the namesakes will recognize where we are, but I guarantee no one else has heard of it 😄. At least not by that name.

We’re actually at Joe Lake on the Denali Highway — about 8 miles in from Cantwell. Mui has taken to calling the lake Malone-Sligar because it was from Sue’s post describing their overnight stay here in 2011 that we first learned about this spot. Since then, I’ve seen it mentioned in the Milepost and on the iOverlander app as well.

Although there is a primitive campground with fire rings just .3 miles down the road, we’re boondocking at the turnout ... it has much better views ... very expansive.

It was overcast with snow flurries when we arrived, but patches of blue with sunshine filtering through gave us hope that we would be getting the clearing we were hoping. And we did ... after a few fronts moved through ... with snow flurries.

But we didn’t wait for the weather to change in order to enjoy the place.

Mui collected twigs and branches from the trenches along the road and started a campfire in the fire pit a previous camper had built. We bundled up, set out our camp chairs, turned on the music (to alert any bears in the area to our presence since our backs were to the wilderness), and simply enjoyed the grandeur of the Talkeetna Mountains across the water. Wine and snacks. Reading. Meditating. Contemplating. Staring at the “words cannot describe the beauty” type of scenery laid out before us.

There was very little traffic on the road. Most of the vehicles just blew by ... we welcomed a few others who were just interested in a photo op. The rest of the time, it was just us ... ducks on the lake ... chirping birds in the trees ... wading shorebirds flying in to see us.

Glorious ... simply glorious. Peaceful and quiet. Perfect.Les mer