Well most of that first paragraph was a lie. Yes, we have now been indoctrinated into the 30% Club. However, it's not as exciting and wild as I made it out to be but it's still pretty awesome. The 30% refers to those people who have visited Alaska and have seen Mt. McKinley.
But we are extra lucky because we saw it back-to-back. Thursday and Friday were the two most beautiful, clear and warm days that the Interior has had in awhile. And we took advantage of that situation. We took 150 pictures of the same mountain albeit from different angles. Now I will not put up all 150 pictures but I will pick out 10-15 that are awe inspiring.
If you all will indulge me as I give a short history lesson about the mountain. It is called Denali, an Athabaskan term meaning "High One," by locals, climbers, and anyone who has sense. Some random gold digger decided that the mountain should be named after William McKinley. And it stuck. However, Alaskans petitioned for the mountain to be renamed Mt. Denali. In 1975, they petitioned the U.S. Board of Geographic Names to change the name to Mt. Denali. However, those wily Ohioans needed to keep the McKinley name for their beloved president. So they found a loop hole in the system, saying that the board cannot consider a name change if a congressional legislation relating to that name is pending. And since 1980, the U.S. House Representatives of Ohio make sure there is pending legislation. This just makes me dislike Ohio even more.
Despite all that, the mountain is gorgeous. And here are some photos.
The first five or six are taken 34 miles away.
These last three are from 40 miles away at the McKinley Princess Resort
Just so you know, Alaskans have actually requested to rename McKinley, Mt. Doyle.....little known secret, true story....
ReplyDeletei'm reading your blog! pretending to care! actually, i do care, so that's a lie. pictures are so awesome!
ReplyDeleteHaha it needs a matching mountain so you can name it Mt. Tim and always be together :) Glad you had great weather..awesome pictures!Um and for some reason we're Alaskan road trip..this technology is too confusing! (Tim and Jac)
ReplyDeleteVisited Denali NP and just got home on Wednesday, June 29th. I also am a member of the 30% club. Saw the mountain in the clear twice, once from Talkeetna at the river convergence at the end of main street and the second time from Mt McKinley Princess Lodge 40 miles away at 11:20pm. So exciting when the clouds open!
ReplyDeletemy grandparents went this past summer and i want to get them the 30% club tshirt for christmas but i cant find it anywhere online. any ideas?\
ReplyDeleteArrived home from Alaska today (9/18/18). Saw Denali clearly for three days during the peak leaf change. Was awesome. I too am searching for a t-shirt of the 39% Club. Any suggestions? We were also referred to as the 10% club for this year.
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