Landscapes of Denali (Aug. 9-12, 2011)

Denali: Wildlife Pictures (Aug. 9-12, 2011)

wolf
grizzly bear track
ground squirrel
grizzly bear
lynx

Denali Paleontology Class (Aug. 9-12, 2011)

seed pod fossil
wading bird footprint fossil
theropod footprint fossil
hadrosaur footprint fossil
dinosaur skin fossil
On Tuesday, Aug. 9, I headed up to Denali National Park for a class that was almost completely funded through a grant that I applied for last November. It was a paleontology class. I was very excited about it because it has been quite recent that dinosaur fossils have been popping up in Denali, the first being found in the summer of 2005. We found three different types of dino footprints: a theropod, a hadrosaur, and a ceratopsian. We also found the footprints of some large wading bird. The bird print was identified as a newly discovered species and given the name denaliensis in honor of the national park it was found in. We also found many different types of plant fossils: equisetum (horsetail), wood, leaves, flowers, pine cones, pine needles, and seed pods.

Although I was taking a class on paleontology, I was able to take in the beautiful landscapes of Denali National Park as well as its wildlife. Wildlife I saw: cow moose, 11 grizzly bears (most at different times and locations), ground squirrels, pikka, dall sheep, lynx, caribou, and wolf.

Another Visit: Seldovia (Aug. 1-9, 2011)

Some things we did while Mom, Dad and Stephanie were here:
Visited Homer and ate great food
Went wine tasting at Bear Creek Winery
Took the Ferry to Seldovia for a visit
Viewed lots of wild animals
Took a day and visited Seward and Exit Glacier
Relaxed
Ate Scallops
Went Fishing in the river
Ate Dungeness Crag
Clamming in Ninilchik

Another Visit: Moose and Caribou (Aug. 1-9, 2011)

Another Visit: Clamming and Fishing (Aug. 1-9, 2011)

Another Visit: Homer and Exit Glacier (Aug. 1-9, 2011)