day 3

On our last day, we checked out the Murie Science Center and learned about Acute Mountain Sickness and the current research surrounding it. This mysterious illness strikes climbers and Denali is the premier place for its study, but it’s a hard nut to crack. Only willing participants can participate in trial studies, and even then the danger level is high, as AMS can quickly lead to fatal syndromes on the frozen, desolate mountain. Much of what has been learned has come from studying climbers who’ve gone through the painful symptoms and syndromes themselves and have had to make emergency descents in the middle of their ambitious climbs.

Our final stop was another short jaunt into the park to picnic on Savage River. This is the last point that private vehicles can drive to along the Park Road. Here are trails into the hills and alongside the gravel riverbed. We took a loop that wound through the bottom of the ravine, and crossed the river twice. There were so many people here it was hard to remember we were in the middle of one of the largest stretches of undeveloped wilderness left in the country. But the path was beautiful and we had our first chance to see some Dall sheep rams from a much closer vantage point. The sheep are entering a funny-looking stage, shedding their heavy winter coats in great patches. The rams, with their regally curved horns, perch on the nearly vertical hillsides and survey the valley in tattered cloaks.

And that was how we said goodbye to Denali, with promises for many return visits.