Ptarmigan Tracks

Last spring, with COVID-19 increasingly upending the world as we knew it, Camp Denali made the difficult decision to sit out what would have been our 69th operating season. We shared our deliberations at the time in an essay titled “From the Cockpit”- a title inspired in part by the WWII piloting experiences of Camp Denali’s founders. Reflecting further on the global turmoil faced by that generation, it seems downright remarkable that this has been Camp Denali’s first disruption in seven decades.

In lieu of business-as-usual, 2020 was a season in which the goalposts became “Do the best you can with what you’ve got.” As always, Camp’s most precious resource was a deeply committed, if much reduced, staff. How reduced? Well, we had to go all the way back to 1976 to find a staff photo that had as few faces as the 2020 staff photo (see back page). Nevertheless, the days passed in a flurry of camaraderie and hard work, and by September we found we had quite a lot to show for a “non-season.”

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I thought there would be many benefits of a season with no guests, but I was wrong! The coronavirus pandemic did offer many recreational opportunities for the dozen or so staff working at Camp Denali, such as days off together each week so we could all go hiking, biking, kayaking, rafting or canoeing. There was more unencumbered time in the evenings to play volleyball, board games (“Wingspan” was a big favorite this summer), go for evening hikes and bike rides, or to watch a movie together. What I didn’t think about beforehand was how much I would miss sharing the Camp Denali experience with the guests who come from all over the world to visit Denali National Park.

Have you ever seen a rainbow over a snow-capped mountain? Perhaps a new bird or flower? These are all wonderful experiences, but even more magical when they can be shared with others. As a Camp Denali employee, I have had the good fortune to meet globetrotters who bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience. As you share the tales of your day at dinnertime and you look like a kid who just got a cookie from the cookie jar, I am living that moment with you. As you see the aurora borealis for the first time and your eyes brighten and face smiles, I smile with you and feel the joy of that moment. Pandemic be gone and let the guests return to Camp Denali, for I miss them dearly!

~ Andrea Ambros, Camp Denali staff

Throughout the summer, we invite specialists to share their expertise in the field and through evening presentations.

Bird Identification & the Art of Observation

David Sibley

Ornithologist, Author, & Illustrator

June 4-6 | June 7-10

View full schedule

Planning for the Future of Kantishna...Slowly

On September 3rd, park planners published a summary of comments on the July 2019 Kantishna and Wonder Lake Area Plan. The NPS received 338 correspondences, resulting in 1,157 substantive comments. A hearty number of these were from our own guests and staff, and we thank you for your engagement!

The majority of comments questioned the intent of the plan and its process, citing inconsistencies with prior NPS management policy and guiding mission for the Kantishna and Wonder Lake area. Several comments noted the plan’s bias towards recreation over resource protection, as if attempting to induce demand for additional recreational opportunities in the area. Many commenters suggested that a larger majority of visitors would be better served with an expansion of recreational opportunity in areas with more visitor demand such as the park entrance area.

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