For a moment I will remember and share a story about the rain in Juneau and then never write of it again.

I was there on Memorial Day weekend along with quite a few local TENT campers. I wondered, why on earth would they come out camping in this weather? Are they crazy? Then, I decided to investigate during the rain-free spells when I could walk Tango. I learned that Alaskans are not crazy, they are masters of adaptation.

Each group of tent campers erected layers of tarp canopies over their site. The first layers seemed impossibly high but each successive layer – maybe 5 in all – floated closer to ceiling level. The mass canopy covered the tents, picnic table and sometimes the fire grate. Families and kids hung out in their protected forest village and stayed perfectly dry. That is, when they were not out kayaking or hiking in the rain.

I am not too old to learn, and in the Denali campground I set up what will be my “new normal” configuration. First, I put up the pup tent and rain fly, then I erected the screen house over that. Voila! Double protection from the elements. Plenty of room for my chair, heater, and Tango’s bed.  Last night I sat in the chair reading and enjoying the evening.

It only took 45 years of camping to figure out the perfect set-up!!

Close-up showing Tango’s bed with checkered blanket and the red Mr. Heater. When I first get in bed I put the heater up on the step stool and aim it into the tent. So cozy while I read.

This morning the camp hosts stopped by to tell me they love how I set up the tent and screen house. I told them where I got the idea and how much I love the new setup, especially when the mosquitos get thick in the evening (heck they are thick all day).

In DenaliI I found the famous Alaska mosquitos. However, they still cannot bite me because of my clothing layers. This is hilarious to me after a lifetime of being eaten alive by skeeters.  I get a sadistic pleasure watching them land on me and repeatedly poke their proboscis through the fleece. Baaaa ha ha, you evil creatures. You can’t get me. Of course, I don’t need to worry in the screen house either, another reason my new set up is perfect.

Adaptation is critical on this type of trip. There is no way to pre-think every situation on a long trip, and the only way to keep positive when things turn sour is to adapt. It keeps you busy and your mind off the negative stuff.

My other lesson from Juneau: change things up. If the situation is not right, move on. Find something else. I was getting so discouraged by the rain that I decided more than once that when I got to Haines Junction I would turn east and head back to MT/ID/WA! I am so glad that I did not give up and turned west instead, landing in Denali National Park.

As for Denali, I have lots to write about including a midnight view of caribou and THE mountain.