Denali, Sable Mountain via Tattler Creek.

The route I had picked to go up Sable Mountain via Tattler Creek ended up being the same as that described by Ike Waits, in his classic book "Denali National Park: Guide to Hiking, Photography and Camping," even down to the red OR Gortex Gaitors he sports on the cover of the book.

"Welcome to Denali National Park." Overlooking the Teklanika River.

These were certainly helpful, as we tromped through the creek, over snow piles and through the wet brush evading the grizzly bear who I spotted while surveying the land from a rocky outcropping.

Along Tattler Creek, just east of Sable Mountain

The tiny dot in the center of the picture just below the ridge line is a grizzly bear. I swear.

Staying to the right of the creek, I spotted the ridge we'd be climbing just as it's described by Waits: a change in color from red to gray soil. The steep incline was covered in a moss-like substance (not sure the real name) that provided solid footing. Toward the top we encountered a dall sheep trail and followed it south toward the front of the mountain.

From there it was a good hike up toward the summit peaks. We stopped at the first of three summit peaks on the east side of the mountain for lunch. As we started to chow down, Denali came into view way off in the distance. Unfortunately the clouds shrouded the peak, but regardless we got great views of the Polychrome glaciers and the entire Sable Mountain Wildlife Closure, even spotting a gray wolf down at the base of the mountain.

Mt. McKinley is poking through the break in the clouds, but it's pretty difficult to see without zooming way in. 

View down Tattler Creek toward the Park Road. Note my classmate Hahn Nguyen in her white jacket for scale.

I could write for hours about Denali, and one could spend a lifetime up there hiking, climbing, taking pictures and enjoying one of nature's most precious environment.

Instead, I'll let the summit of Mt. McKinley take it away...

Mt. McKinley (Denali) with the south summit poking through the clouds. 

--Patrick