September in Denali
Like most, dealing with the new reality of the covid pandemic has meant plans were derailed, and adventures outside have been limited to local places I can drive to. This is obviously a minor inconvenience given the more serious impacts the pandemic has had on many people. Still, there is only so much re-editing of past photos a person can do and be satisfied as a nature enthusiast or photographer, and my itch for adventure and exploring epic places keeps growing. Denali National Park in early September is one of those epic places.
Last September a sale on airline tickets spurred my wife and I to do a last minute trip for a long weekend to explore the wildlife and scenery of Denali. We’d been there before in early summer, but due to fickle weather we had yet to see the mountain, so I was keeping my expectations low. Needless to say, my expectations were exceeded, and I’ve been anxious to go back ever since I left the airport.
September is a time of rapid transition, with daylight dropping quickly from summer to a short fall towards a very long cold winter. Temperatures can still be quite mild (or quite nasty, or both, all in the same day). Crowds are diminished, wildlife is abundant, and if you time it right the tundra is exploded with color.
While some national parks seem to be set up for the tourists, Denali’s nearly roadless 6 million acres is all about protecting the wildlife. Home to the North America’s “big 5” animals (Bears, Wolves, Dall Sheep, Moose, Carabou), as well as almost 200 other species, some call it the ‘subarctic serengeti’. Despite having only 3 days there on this trip, neither the wildlife nor scenery disappointed.
The mountain the park gets its name from is 20,320 ft tall, so big it makes its own weather. My first two visits to this area left me having to imagine what the mountain looked like behind the clouds it created. This time we were lucky enough to join the 30% club and view it in all its glory.
Animals in this area are in their top condition in September, after a short summer to get ready for the challenge of winter. Grizzlies are busy, head down, intently grazing berries and roots, with healthy beautiful coats of winter fur that are so photogenic.
Carabou are the only species where both sexes have antlers. These grow throughout the summer and by early September- just before the rut, they can be up to 3 ft in width, covered with beautiful velvet. They drop them later in the winter after calving, starting the whole cycle over again.
By September bull moose have polished up their paddles and are ready for the rutting season. Denali has some of the most impressive bull moose of anywhere in the world, and these creatures have been there since the time that mammoths also roamed the area. The bulls live a mainly solitary life, but during this time of year they can be easier to find as they congregate closer to boreal forested areas in search of females.
Fall in the subarctic tundra is an explosion of sensory input. Shorter daylight hours triggers color everywhere, a chance for sunsets, and a chance of seeing the aurora…..without having to stay up all night. The subarctic north is awe-inspiring in its uniqueness and beauty, and I can’t wait to see what it reveals on my next trip.
