DENALI Wildlife & Wilderness 2021
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& 2021 Wildlife Wilderness DENALI Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska ~ ~ inside Denali Park Map & Wildlife Photo Reference An Alaska Photographers’ Calendar Aurora & Denali photo by Marketa S Murray 2021 JANUARY Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 27 28 29 30 31 1 NEW YEAR’S DAY 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Patrick J Endres Patrick Cow moose New moon December 2020 10 11 12 ● 13 14 15 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February Celia Hunter, conservationist, 1 2 3 4 5 6 1919-2001 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 MARTIN LUTHER 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 KING, JR. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 17 18(observed) 19 20 21 22 23 28 Nature Notes The park is frozen in darkness, but on clear First park expansion added land nights one might be rewarded with a show of east of Sanctuary River, 1922 northern lights or a full moon reflecting off an Full moon icy peak. This is typically the coldest month in the park (average high temperature, 10.8°F). 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Small rodents, like the tundra vole, remain active under the insulating layer of snow and can become a meal for a short-tailed weasel. Wolverines may be born (through March). 31 2021 & Denali Wildlife Wilderness Calendar Lynx photo by Matthew Quaid 2021 FEBRUARY Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Marmot Day 31 1 2 (Alaska) 3 4 5 6 Record low -54°F recorded at park headquarters, 1999 New moon Chinese New Year 7 8 9 10 11● 12 13 Patrick J Endres Patrick Abraham Lincoln, 1809 Snowshoe Hare Valentine’s Day PRESIDENTS’ DAY Elizabeth Peratrovich Ash Wednesday Day (Alaska) January 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 March 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Purim begins Heritage Day 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 (Yukon Territory) 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 21 22 23 24 25 26Full moon 27 28 29 30 31 Nature Notes First wedding performed Mt. McKinley National Park Grizzly bear cubs are born. Wolf packs in park, 1945 established. Bill signed by prey on sheep, moose, and caribou and George Washington, 1732 President Wilson, 1917 look for winter kill (all winter). Ravens congregate where food is abundant (all winter). Boreal owls, great gray owls, red 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 squirrels, beaver, wolves, coyotes, and foxes mate. First winter ascent of Denali, 19 67 2021 & Denali Wildlife Wilderness Calendar Eldridge Glacier and Denali photo by Fred Hirschmann 2021 MARCH Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Susan Butcher Day 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 (Alaska) Olaus Murie, biologist, 1889-1963 New moon 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ● First successful solo winter climb of Denali completed Patrick J Endres Patrick by Vern Tejas, 1988 Mt Brooks and alpenglow Daylight Savings St. Patrick’s Day Spring Equinox Time begins February 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Second park expansion added land to northwest and east sides, including Wonder April Lake. Park totalled more than 1 2 3 two million acres, 1932. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Passover begins 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 25 26 27 28 29 30 Nature Notes The calendar says it’s spring, but the ground will remain snow-covered a while longer. However, the days are noticeably longer and Full moon Vietnam warmer. Veterans’ Day 28 29 (Alaska) 30 31 1 2 3 Golden eagles migrate into the park where Seward’s Day they will remain until October. Lynx mate. (Alaska) Porcupines are born. Snow buntings arrive. 2021 & Denali Wildlife Wilderness Calendar Moose calf photo by Catherine Diehl-Robbins 2021 APRIL Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 28 29 30 31 1 2 Good Friday 3 Easter Easter Monday 4 5 (Canada) 6 7 8 9 10 Patrick J Endres Patrick Cow moose and calves New moon US tax returns due ● March 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 May Henry P. Karstens appointed 1 park’s first chief ranger, 1921 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Earth Day 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Nature Notes First airplane landing on Denali (Muldrow Glacier) with mountain climbers Temperatures moderate at lower elevations, attempting a summit climb. and "breakup" begins. Caribou begin moving Joe Crosson, pilot, 1932 from western lowlands and foothills. Following Full moon their ancient migration routes, they cross the park and head for summer ranges near 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 Cantwell. Bears begin emerging from dens. Non-resident birds begin arriving. Weasels, hares, and ptarmigan begin changing to summer colors. Both snowshoe hares and marmots mate. Martens, beavers, foxes, and ground squirrels are born. 2021 & Denali Wildlife Wilderness Calendar Denali south view photo by Amber Johnson 2021 MAY Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Patrick J Endres Patrick Grizzly bear and reflection pond Mothers’ Day New moon Armed Forces Day ● April 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 June 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Arbor Day 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 (Alaska) 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 27 28 29 30 Nature Notes Plants begin to leaf out at lower elevations as "breakup" moves to higher elevations. Migrating birds arrive, establish their territory, Victoria Day Full moon and mate. Grizzly bears emerge from their (Canada) dens. Newborn caribou and moose calves are 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 an important food supply for bears and wolves. First live radio broadcast from Dall sheep lambs are born. Female caribou Denali summit, 1984 drop antlers. Pikas mate. Ground squirrels MEMORIAL DAY emerge from their dens on south-facing slopes. Lynx, marmots, hares, and voles are 30 31 born. Goshawks' and golden eagles eggs hatch. Two millionth visitor rode Mt. Huntington, elev. 12,240 ft., First dog team reached Denali Park shuttle bus, 2000 climbed by Terray party, 1964 Denali summit, 1979 2021 & Denali Wildlife Wilderness Calendar Dall sheep and fireweed photo by Ryan Miller 2021 JUNE Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 Harry Karstens appointed first park superintendent; park headquarters established at Nenana, 1921; First ascent of Moose’s Tooth, Denali Park hotel opened, 1939 elevation 10,335', 1964 D-Day, 1944 New moon 6 7 8 9 10● 11 12 Tatum, Harper, Stuck and Karstens first to reach Denali’s South Summit, 1913 Galen Johnson, age 11, Bellmore Browne, artist, Barbara Washburn was first youngest climber to summit mountaineer, and park Norma Sanders first woman solo climb of Denali, 1990 Patrick J Endres Patrick woman atop Denali, 1947 Denali, 2001 advocate, 1880-1954 Alaska poppies and moss campion Flag Day May 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Three Strawn brothers First airplane landing in park, July perished in climbing accident, Carl Ben Eielson, in a WWI 1 2 3 Mt. Foraker, 2002 Jenny, 1924 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Fathers’ Day Full moon 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Summer Solstice (Alaska) Nature Notes hours of daylight: Fairbanks, 21:49; Anchorage, 19:21; Juneau, 18:58 Maximum daylight is reached with only twilight Four died in plane crash, passing for the night. Last large snow patches Yentna Glacier, 2000 are gone, and leaves are out by mid-month in most locations. Summer rains begin towards the end of the month. Wildflower blooms peak 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 approximately June 20-July 10. Dall sheep move to summer range. Golden eagle chicks hatch. Ptarmigan chicks hatch late in month. Wolverines mate (through next month). Grayling move to summer waters. Mosquitos hatch. Tom Choate, age 78, oldest climber to reach Denali William Nancarrow named first summit, 2013 permanent park naturalist, 1951 2021 & Denali Wildlife Wilderness Calendar Denali and Cotton Grass photo by Patrick J Endres 2021 JULY Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Canada Day 27 28 29 30 1 (Canada) 2 3 INDEPENDENCE DAY Alaska Flag Day 4 5 6 7 8 9New moon 10 ● Construction began on pioneer road; 12 miles built from First ascent of Mount Hunter, First ascent of Mount Foraker, McKinley Park Station to Patrick J Endres Patrick elev.