Denali and a Mountain Naming Controversy

We got up early and headed for the Visitors Center. There we waited for the tour bus because you can't drive in to Denali National Park. Our goal was to see all the mountains out there with no smoke like last time. We also hoped to see wildlife.

Arctic Ground Squirrel

Ptarmigan (The State Bird)
Dall SheepCaribou

Two Grizzly BearsMoose

Chris Hamilton

The mountain known to many Americans as Mount McKinley is actually known to Alaskans as Mount Denali. William Dickey wanted to rename Denali to McKinley in honor of presidential candidate William McKinley, but you have to be dead to have something named after you. So when he was assassinated in 1901 they changed the name to Mount McKinley.

Many Alaskans have been trying to change it back to its original name, Mount Denali. But a congressman from Canton Ohio (where McKinley is buried) always has pending legislation to keep the name as McKinley.

Todays Mileage -- 163 Miles (plus 104 on the bus)

Today's Route