Denali: Up Close and Personal

In our last blogpost, we discussed our trip to Denali National Park.

You can read it here: https://paulnationalparks.blogspot.com/2022/11/denali-national-park.html

We will dedicate this post to our flight sightseeing tour of Denali through Talkeetna Air Taxi.

Denali (AKA Mt. McKinley) is not only the tallest mountain in the United States, but all of North America. Towering at 20,310 ft. and the third-most prominent peak on Earth, Denali is an amazing, impressive sight. The mother of mountains. Getting up close and personal with the mountain through a flight-tour is humbling and awe-inspiring. 

Denali generates its own localized weather, thus the peak is usually obscured by clouds. However, on a clear day, Denali is visible from miles and miles away. As we approached Denali from the south, we could see its peak from the road just north of Anchorage.

Denali on the right, Mt. Foraker on the left.

This view is on Highway 3 a few miles north of Wasilla

Mt. Foraker (17,400 ft.) is taller than any mountain in the Lower 48. The peak in the extreme right of this picture is Mt. Hunter (14,573 ft.), which is also taller than any mountain in the Lower 48. 

Denali

Mt. Hunter is the shorter peak on the left 

(from L to R): Foraker, Hunter, and Denali

About a 2.5-hr drive north of Anchorage, you come to the small village of Talkeetna. Talkeetna has a permanent population of about 1,000. Talkeetna was founded in 1916 and economic activity centered around a large sawmill. Today, Talkeetna focuses on the tourism industry and serves as a launchpad for expeditions to hike Denali, flight-seeing tours, rafting, mountain biking, camping, fishing, hunting, and other activities. You can get a great view of Denali in town, along the Chulitna River

the town lies along the confluence of the Talkeetna and Chulitna Rivers

Denali poking out from behind the clouds

There are two main companies that offer flightseeing tours in town. We opted for Talkeetna Air Taxi. They offer a number of different tours, we chose one that lands on Ruth Glacier near Denali's South Peak. They provided you with booties to put over your shoes when you walk on the glacier. I highly recommend doing a flight tour with these guys. It was the highlight of our trip to Alaska. Just a truly great experience and a thrilling adventure.

flying over the Talkeetna countryside

Ruth Glacier

The Ruth Glacier cuts through the mountains, creating a spectacular canyon known as "The Great Gorge"

Our flight went through this gorge. It was incredible.

chillin' in the plane. 

the "runway" on Ruth Glacier. This amphitheater is where the Ruth Glacier begins to form. It is at an elevation of approximately 6,000 ft.

Our plane was equipped with skis in order to land on the glacier. 

It was a thrilling (and somewhat scary) experience. But the landing was surprisingly smooth.

taking in the panoramic views of Ruth Amphitheater (also known as the Don Sheldon Amphitheater)

this is where the Ruth Glacier begins to form

our trusty steed

Denali is the tallest peak on the upper-left

perched on this rocky outcropping (known as a "nunatak") is one of the most remote and expensive hotels in the world. The Don Sheldon Chalet. Don Sheldon, a famous Alaskan bush pilot, built the home in 1966. The family still owns the property today and they operate it as an uber-exclusive hotel. A 3-night stay will set you back about $35,000! Tara and I thought it looked like a Bond-villain's lair. 😆

Tara and I felt like we were on top of the world! This was a life-changing experience. We were so blessed to see this natural wonder.

Our specific tour group was only 6 people + our pilot. The plane sits about 15 people.

coming in for a landing...

The Great Gorge

see the three little planes down at the bottom? That's where we will be landing.

the treacherous spine of Mt. Hunter

Denali

Denali

Denali has two peaks: the South (the highest point: 20,310 ft) and the North Peak (19,470 ft)

This is the South Peak.

approaching Denali from the south

Mt. Hunter, Denali, and the Alaska Range

from left to right: Mt. Foraker, Mt. Hunter, and Denali

the threaded Chulitna River

taking off from Talkeetna

the booties to walk on the snow

Winding our way around the behemoth that is Denali in a plane, and landing on one of its glaciers, was a truly amazing experience. One of the highlights of my life. We can't wait to return to Alaska...the Last Frontier.