"Denada"

We've recently returned from an Alaskan cruise with my sister (Dona) and her hubby (Roger).  Can't really blame it on Gerry this time (not having photos) since he's actually got them done and all ready for me to access.  Nope - this time the cause is a major computer crash (the dreaded blue screen of death).  So while I'm switching things around to the new computer, I'll share the one photo I have access to:

Denali (or as I like to call it "Denada") - As seen by the Weilers every single time they've been in Alaska.

Nothing wrong with your computer..."this space left intentionally blank" because that's as much of the "alleged" mountain we've ever seen.  We hear all kinds of excuses - in Anchorage?  Too far.  In Denali National Park?  Too close.  Cloudy day?  Fat chance!  Clear day?  Nope, can't see it then either.  To be fair, I think there are a lot of fairly tall mountains in Alaska so maybe it's just hard to differentiate between them. 

Here's the thing Alaska - you got LOTS of great stuff to crow about!  There's gorgeous glaciers, mountains, waterfalls and wildlife galore (moose, bears...really BIG bears, caribou).  You've got adorable coastal villages like Ketchikan, Scagway and Sitka.  There's over 150 islands in your archipelago.  You're even home to Santa who lives at the North Pole!  You are, after all, the Land of the Midnight Sun, the Last Frontier!  You are the biggest state in the Union by far - so big that if Alaska were cut in half, Texas (currently #2) would drop to #3!  And your mosquitos are the size of (large) hummingbirds (okay, well maybe that's not something you want to brag about)!

So, I'm thinking that since you have so much else to be proud about, maybe we could drop all this nonsense about having the tallest mountain in North America.  I mean, it can't really count, if it can't be seen!  And if you want to see a really big mountain, I invite you to come to Washington.  Mt. Rainier is frequently visible in all its glory.  (We don't hide our mountains in this state!)

~later, tw