The next stop was hatchers pass on the way to (hopefully) see Mt. Denali (spoiler image above). I can't say enough good things about staying at Hatcher's Pass Lodge. The food is good, the owners are great people, the scenery is stunning, and the animals are there. I found approaching the marmots on foot to be far better than by car (they are very nervous around vehicles). From Hatcher's pass lodge walking down the road, it several marmots were seen. Artic ground squirrels were also seen along the road but in greater numbers at Indepdence Mine State Park. Ptarmigan are common both along the road and in the state park (they also come onto the roads at night). The owner of the lodge tells me occasionally bears are on the property and the gold mint trail is a good place to look for them just down the hill. He told me he has seen Lynx in the area, and the bird feeding area on the back deck regularly attracts Ermine and occasionally Marten. Moose scat was seen along the roadways. Pika also occur at the Indepdence State Park and April's bowl but both were snowed in during my visit.

Following an overnight stay at Hatcher's pass, it was time to head to Denali. Denali road was closed at the halfway point during my visit. The bus was still running what road is open and I saw one brown bear, one spruce grouse, sheep, artic ground squirrel, and moose. The next day I drove my vehicle on the first fifteen miles of open road and saw moose and one caribou. A walk up Savage River loop produced pika sightings and ground squirrels. As I was leaving the park the head home, Denali came into view. I went in early June as it seems this is one of the times with less rain and clouds. However, park staff state only about 30% of visitors see the mountain.