Denali National Park Day 2: Afternoon hikes

After our exhilarating morning plane ride, we ate a nice lunch and ventured out to some afternoon hikes near the entrance of the park (we didn't want to pay the entrance fee! And you can't see much in the park unless you take a guided tour waaaay into the park).
The hikes were beautiful, similar to, and yet very different from Colorado hikes. There were a lot of bugs on the trails, but the views were worth it.
After the hikes, we enjoyed a nice dinner, then drinks in the hot tub until they kicked us out at midnight. We were so confused, because it was as bright at midnight as it was at 3pm! Good thing our room had blackout shades!
Pics of the second half of day 2-




Denali NP visitor's center




















Fireweed: a very common Alaskan wildflower that grows in areas destroyed by wildfire (or, more recently, in disturbed areas, such as along roadsides where the dirt has been turned up). Apparently, locals make honey and jam from the nectar of the flowers. They also told us that locals use the flowers as a barometer of the summer. When the last flowers bloom at the top of the stalk, summer is over.




Our resort!




Horseshoe Lake (bugggssss!!!!)




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