The forecast for today is 90% chance of rain.  Thankfully the morning doesn’t show it.  The mountain is out….it is magnificent every time.  A young cow moose hangs out for all to watch.

Today we try a strenuous hike, The Savage Alpine Trail.  First up 1500 ft then back down in about 4 miles distance.  We start the climb along a small rushing stream through thick boreal forest; singing to the bears along the way.  Switch backs bring us out onto the open tundra.  In minutes the cool steady wind has us donning jackets that we had stripped off during the climb.  Denali disappears in the clouds but the wide Savage River valley stretches out below us ringed with ridge after ridge of mountains.  The trail follows the very top of a craggy rock ridge and the wind whistles around us.

The larger, showy wildflowers dance in the wind while countless tiny blossoms dot the tundra with yellow, red, blue and purple.  Sheltered areas are perfectly designed miniature rock gardens.  It is like no other place I have ever seen.  Beautiful.

A sheltered spot behind a jumble of lichen covered boulders is just perfect for lunch.  It is a perfect home for arctic ground squirrels too.  I swatted and stomped at them the whole time we were stopped just to keep them out of my back pack.  One even gnawed on Kent’s boot.  They are a bit annoying but so cute.  We managed not to feed them though.

It is a great hike and well worth the effort.