Welcome back to GeoLifestyle! In June, I had the pleasure of traveling to Denali National Park in Alaska. It was a rare, cloudless morning: Our tour guide told us she’d only seen the mountain once in a month’s time. We were lucky enough to get a glimpse, and here are some tips for those who may wish to make the trip and do the same!
Denali–The Great One
Why is Denali special?
Denali is the highest peak in North America: its highest point reaches 20,310 feet—a mile taller than Mt. Everest from base to summit! Climbers often attempt Denali’s slopes in preparation for scaling Everest.
Its name is an Athabascan word meaning “The Great One” or “The High One.”
The mountain creates its own weather—some of the world's coldest—and is usually shrouded in clouds.
Three-quarters of the mountain are permanently covered in ice and snow.
History of Denali National Park and Preserve:
The mountain was unofficially named Mt. McKinley during the Alaskan gold rush to honor President William McKinley; however, President McKinley never visited the mountain or even Alaska.
A study of the Dall sheep by conservationist Charles Sheldon led to the creation of the park. Mt. McKinley National Park was established in 1917, and its boundary expanded several times.
In 2015, President Barack Obama announced the mountain would be renamed with its traditional name used by native peoples and the State of Alaska.
The Denali National Park and Preserve today covers over 6 million acres and is the third-largest U.S. National Park (the top four are all in Alaska!)
Geology of Denali
Before we left for our trip, we packed our trusty AAPG geologic map.
Denali National Park encompasses part of the Alaska Range, an orogenic belt associated with the collision between the North American and Pacific plates. The russet, snow-streaked peaks of the range are dwarfed by Denali.
Denali is composed of Cretaceous granite. Magma intruded into upper Mesozoic sediments, slightly altering them into metasedimentary rocks.
In addition to millions of years of tectonic uplift, these formations have experienced vertical displacement and miles of right-lateral offset along the Denali fault to the north. We observed what appeared to be foliated metamorphic rocks, dikes and sills, and eroded remnants of radial dikes in the park.
The park and preserve contain more than 400 glaciers, which cover more than one million acres.
Collecting rock souvenirs (outside the park)
We hiked to the glacially fed Chulitna River, a braided stream outside the park.
Keeping an eye out for bears, we searched for souvenirs in the manner of all geologists—by looking under our feet amongst the cobbles.
One huge conglomerate proved too big to lift, but a few rocks made it into our suitcases. What would a trip be without some rock souvenirs?
Go deeper: For more on the geology and orogeny of the Alaska Range, read here.
Wildlife at Denali Park
Flora and Fauna of the Boreal Forest
We searched the grassy mountain meadows and bases of scraggly pines for wildlife. The taiga, or boreal forest, hosts a variety of flora and fauna.
Due to the cold temperatures, only eight species of trees grow in the park, including white spruce, black spruce, and aspen.
Wildflowers can be plentiful in season. When we were there, dandelions bloomed in the meadows.
We observed moose, caribou, and grizzly bears. Arctic ground squirrels entertained us, scurrying along the roadside. Dall sheep balanced on high ledges.
Plane Ride Reading: The Great Alone
AtStock Productions/Shutterstock.com
In The Great Alone, author Kristin Hannah tells the story of a young girl, Leni, growing up in the remote Alaskan frontier. Her father, a Vietnam vet with PTSD, brings Leni and her mother, Cora, to Alaska, where they must learn to survive the winters by living off the land. As the years go by, and her father’s mind sinks into paranoia, Leni and Cora try to be the bridge between his volatility and the outside world, which proves to be a losing battle.
Why it matters: Although not set in Denali, the story explores how Alaskans living in the remote wilderness must prepare for the winter months of subfreezing temperatures, threats from wildlife, and the endless darkness.
I hope you enjoyed this edition of GeoLifestyle and get a chance to travel to see The Great One—Denali. I’ll continue with Alaska next week, sharing my adventures with glaciers. See you next time!
Sharon Lyon
Editor, GeoLifestyle
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