USA: Alaska - Wild And Beautiful V.
Published: 19.11.2012
Today awaits us a long crossing from Hatcher Pass to the Denali National Park. If we travel without a pause, we would need at least 4 hours.
25. 8. 2011
Hatcher Pass; Matanuska River; Susitna River; Talkeetna Range; Hurricane Gulch; Honolulu Creek; Haley; Denali
Hatcher Pass Road on which we will continue today, leads from the lowland lying by the Matanuska River to lowland lying be the Susitna River and continue up to the mountains. On the way we plan few stops. There are emerging fascinating views over countryside. One stop is Hatcher Pass Summit, the highest peak of today's journey. We continue to a beautiful mountain lake and again we feast our eyes on splendid views over open countryside.
There is still something happening along the road. If you long for get a look of some of wild animals, it really pays off to watch the road. A female moose whizzes between trees. We are already used to see these animals to placidly eat everything green that steps into their way. We take photos without any problems and enjoy this encounter with with wild nature.
The road carries to the Hurricane Gulch bridge. It is the highest bridge in Alaska, in its peak it is 295 feet high (around 90 meters above the Chulitna River). The bridge should be used only by road transport and pedestrians aren't permitted to use the bridge. Its surroundings allows to enjoy beautiful views over the valley and the bridge, which is a architectural masterpiece, itself. 
There is quite a traffic on the bridge, thus we were lucky to capture a nice truck with the bridge on the background.
Evening the weather got better. First Dáša will take us to sandstone rock formations not far frome Honolulu Creek river. After that she will take us deep into the forest, where we discover a lake, and, finally, we saw a beaver! . It is quite vital, though, and it moves on the lake's surface. One moment it is above the water and the other, after a hugh splash, it disappears under the water to reemerge again and "greets us". The lake itself is amazing and it pleases the heart of every photographer.
I am close to Denali National Park, relatively. The sun shines and in a distance I can see rain. Only a rainbow is missing! Comes through my mind. And, to my surprise, it suddenly turns to the most beautiful afternoon and evening on Alaska so far. Tundra dyes itself to red around beautifully lit mountain and over this beauty arches amazing rainbow, which provides us accompaniment for us almost half-an-hour. Sometimes we just stop to capture the beauty around us. Meanwhile the sun sets and brightens the whole view...
Today we will be accommodated in the White Moose Lodge in a small guest house close to Haley town.
Next we will visit Denali National Park and we will get to know its residents and its predators. In this place we will also see the highest mountain of Alaska - Mount McKinley.
Text and photo: Magdaléna Radostová
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The land filled with beauties of nature, reservations and natural parks. Mountains, tundra, fores...
The road carries to the Hurricane Gulch bridge. It is the highest bridge in Alaska, in its peak it is 295 feet high (around 90 meters above the Chulitna River). The bridge should be used only by road transport and pedestrians aren't permitted to use the bridge. Its surroundings allows to enjoy beautiful views over the valley and the bridge, which is a architectural masterpiece, itself. 
There is quite a traffic on the bridge, thus we were lucky to capture a nice truck with the bridge on the background. 
Information and warnings on travelling abroad is to be found HERE.
