I have nothing against the fancy manicures or spiffy attire of my fellow bus passengers visiting Denali. It may have come out like snark, but really I was observing how they dressed in context of a see-and-be-seen event. When I dress for the mountains, I wear practical hiking outfits. My wardrobe includes the brands Ex Officio, Solumbra, Icebreaker, and Arc’Teryx, so I’m not bargain-hunting. I spend money on clothes. But I was surprised to see ladies wearing their diamond jewelry in Denali, risking its loss or damage. And I saw lots of crucifix necklaces, the Amy Coney Barrett look. I didn’t feel at home among them, as I usually do with trail friends. I like to think the mountains humble us all and we dwell as guests in the majesty of wild places. Is it that access to Denali is at once so restricted and also so ubiquitous, for a good price, that I have nothing in common with these good folks?
I just don’t like sitting with others for hours, especially not on a bus, and it affects my natural bonhomie. The park service and tour guides tell us how special we are that we are in Denali, which of course anagrams to Denial. Much is made of wildlife sightings. The tourists are not making memories, they’re hoarding up bragging rights. “Did you see a moose? Well, I saw two.” “You saw two moose? I saw two moose and two caribou.“ “That’s nothing. I saw moose, caribou, and three Dall sheep*.” Oy, I had my pocket picked by an Arctic ground squirrel. JG to the importunate rodent: “Scram! Take your Hanta virus elsewhere!” We saw lots of red squirrels and Arctic ground squirrels, snacky bites for predators. We enjoyed seeing a beaver, the prosperous rodent cousin. They are one of JG’s favorite animals because beavers are engineers and build lodges and dams.
*actually rocks, but for this story they were sheep.
JohnandJanet'sJourney 
People are interesting like that! The wildlife competition sounds wearisome, though.
That furry little filcher! At Cal, a squirrel climbed bodily into my backpack in pursuit of my lunch. I wasn’t sure what to do. I picked up the bag, squirrel and all, and inverted it over the lawn. My notes and books tumbled out, but the squirrel held on. I had to turn the backpack fully inside out and shake it vigorously to dislodge the little thief.
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You describe some of the reasons why I prefer to travel with Anna or alone. And if on a group tour no longer than a week as Maibrit and i had in Egypt last winter. Venice and especially the Markus Square was crowded with groups of headset wearing people who follow a flag waving guide. In one hotel in Bavaria I ran away in the restaurant from a bus group listening to an Alleinunterhalter with rumtata and in a museum I was surrounded by Sachsen (“Gänsefleisch…” which means translated “Können Sie vielleicht…”). I mean if they have fun….
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Right? Don’t stupid their train tracks! Your kind of fun, long distance cycling, is also not for most folks.
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