You may recall that back in September we had a failed attempt to locate the one and only Denali, the Great One. Well, I’m happy to say that we found Denali. All it took was one sub-zero December day, and a whole lot of patience.

Over the last few weeks, we could glimpse Denali from our place out in Willow. On a good day, she makes an appearance on the horizon, looking stunning in her winter coat.

But don’t expect her to visit all the time. And she doesn’t ever look the same way twice. You never know when she will grace you with her beauty, or what kind of mood she will be in. You just wait. Eventually, she appears.

Until last weekend, we haven’t had a chance to enjoy the beauty of her company up close and personal. That is until last Saturday, a stunningly beautiful, subzero afternoon that any other time in our lives we would have laughed hysterically at the very thought of “enjoying.”

We were driving to Talkeetna, when there she was, a true showstopper.

Some people might not think that a minus-4 temperature is conducive to sight-seeing. But if you want to catch one of the most amazing mountains in the world, you’ve gotta get uncomfortable

I’d say the view is worth the price of admission. And the ridiculous layers of clothing necessary to stay safe hiking outside.

There’s so much more to say about what else we saw in Talkeetna that afternoon. But that’s a story for another time.