Denali Education Center Executive Director Willie Karidis began his 70-day winter expedition to retrace, research and celebrate the steps of pioneering naturalist Charles Sheldon on Tuesday, January 22, 2008.

The trip has been a dream of Willie's for over twenty years, since he first read "Wilderness of Denali". That book chronicles Sheldon's experience as he spent the 1907-08 winter in the heart of the Alaska Range along the banks of the Upper Toklat River. It was during that time that he had a vision for a National Park to preserve the unique natural ecosystem he experienced for future generations.

Willie is working as a park volunteer (VIP) during his expedition and is being provided support by the National Park Service. Willie planned to camp in the vicinity where Sheldon had his cabin, and like Sheldon, would take daily temperature readings; observe bird and animal life; shoot still pictures and video of the ecosystem; and journal all his observations. The comparison between Sheldon’s observations in 1908 and Karidis’ in 2008 will provide a unique look at the possible climatic and environmental changes in the Denali wilderness over the past one hundred years.

Willie arrived at Toklat on January 26, and while preparing the site to set up his arctic tent, noted signs of a high degree of wolf activity in the area. Due to concerns about the potential for wolf disturbance and habituation, Willie's base of operations moved to the Pearson cabin, located near the Toklat ranger station. He moved into the cabin on January 28 and is continuing with his observations and explorations of the area. For more information, photos, and to keep up with Willie’s expedition, read the blog.