Alaska Day 11 - Horseshoe Lake Hike / Denali National Park

This morning we had a lecture by Alex Lee about Alaska environment.  After lunch Alex and Forrest guided us on a hike to Horseshoe Lake.  Here's our fearless leader, Alex:

We get a good view of the area we're heading to from a high point on the trail.  PROBLEM:  Walking down will be fairly easy.  However, then I'll have to walk back UP - not fun!  At least the temperature isn't 90F.

The beavers have shaped the small lake and the flow of water in this area.  Here are some of the many beaver dams.

The small stream empties into the Nenana River.

We stopped several times to rest/breathe and take pictures on the return trip.

We also saw where beavers are cutting down deciduous trees a significant distance from their homes.  The problem for them is they've downed all the deciduous trees in their immediate area.  Since they don't like spruce trees, they branch out to find deciduous trees and haul them back to their home.  I thought this beaver cut was interesting.  Either beaver #1 decided to change his angle of cut or beaver #2 didn't like the way #1 started the cut.

On the way out to the bus, we met a train headed for Anchorage.  The passenger cars are at the back of the train.

Tomorrow we board a bus for the 66 mile ride in Denali National Park to the Eielson Visitors' Center.  Hopefully we'll get a good view of Mt. McKinley or Denali as the locals call it and some interesting wildlife.