Months earlier, Steven and I had booked a 90-minute flight with Talkeetna Air Taxi on a 10-passenger Otter plane from the historic Talkeetna airstrip. The flight was described as a Southside Explorer with Glacier Landing Tour, which sounded plenty exciting for both of us, especially as we'd never done anything like that anywhere before.
I wondered where these people were being flown to at an early hour!
Daniel, our pilot, told us he received his license in 1994 and had been flying with the airborne taxi service since 1995.
Almost immediately, we had a glimpse of the whopping 20,310-ft.-high Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America, as we crossed the Alaska Railroad.
Daniel explained that, as Talkeetna was the railroad's administrative office, the town grew up around it. President Warren Harding drove the 14-karat Golden Spike in Nenana, marking the ceremonial completion of the Alaska Railroad on July 15, 1923, in one of his last public acts before he died weeks later. It was a significant feat connecting interior Alaska and fulfilling a key part of his Voyage of Understanding tour.
When we glued our eyes to the windows, we could make out snowmobile tracks across the lake below, although Daniel remarked that they would probably disappear in the next few days, as spring was in the air!
Daniel referred to these mountains as belonging to the Peters Hill Range, a popular spot near Denali for outdoor enthusiasts seeking mountain experiences close to civilization. Daniel stated that another reason Talkeetna developed was the Gold Rush that took place in these mountains.
Daniel mentioned that the valley below us was flat now, but that it had been carved by glaciers during the last Ice Age, which occurred 10,000 to 12,000 years ago.
After viewing the magnificent 6,600-ft.-high Tarosa Peak above, Daniel turned the plane to the right for an even better view of three mountaintops.
Part of the reason he'd turned it around was to show the passengers the thickness of "the glacier ridges on lateral morraine."
I'm about out of superlatives to describe the majesty that was Denali. When we made the tour reservation, we were assured that if the weather was poor for the first departure in the morning, we could either go later in the day or have our money refunded. It was a win-win situation in our minds. We were so thankful that the mountain that spring morning was 'out,' which meant entirely visible!
Thunder Mountain lay just south of Denali Base Camp.
Kahiltna Ice Fall:
Daniel described Mt. Hunter as the most technical climb in Denali National Park. Daniel emphasized that Denali's climbing season is only May and June.
Denali's Wickersham Wall is the "tallest unbroken rock in the world," according to Daniel. Its first successful climb took place in 1910. The climbers, miners from Kahiltna Glacier, took two weeks to build stairs, so they could reach the summit in one day. They carried a 14-ft. spruce tree with them in the hope that people with telescopes could see it at the top!
Hiking paths:
16,000-ft.-high Mt. Dan Beard was named for one of the founders of the Boy Scouts.
The Rooster Comb Rock Formation, sharp, corniced spires resembling a rooster's comb, was first described in 1910 and officially named by Bradford Washburn in 1957.
As Daniel prepared to land on Ruth Glacier, I wasn't sure at that point whether I liked being so close to the front of the plane!
Before anyone could leave the plane, Daniel cautioned us to stay within the plane's wingspan so other planes could land or depart safely on or from the "airstrip."
With the sun out, it was a stunning time on the glacier.
If you'd ever told me a year before this that Steven and I would be standing atop a glacier in Alaska, I would have joked that you need your head examined! It was a hefty chunk of change, but the thrill and excitement were absolutely worth every penny!
Daniel said that not far away was Sheldon's Hut, possibly the world’s most spectacularly situated cabin. Perched on a 4.9-acre rock- and ice-covered outcrop located at 5,800-ft. elevation. Built in 2015 and named for the famous pioneer aviator, Don Sheldon, Daniel described it as surrounded on all sides by towering granite walls and glaciers flowing off the flanks of Denali, less than 10 miles away.
The only way in is by ski-equipped airplane from Talkeetna, then a 15-20 minute hike up to the cabin, the last 300 yards of which are on permanent stairs. Daniel and Sheldon flew all the materials either strapped to the side of his Piper Super Cub or inside a Cessna 180!
Excitedly, we watched another plane take off!
As we took off a few minutes later, the plane's audio came on, saying," Warning, terrain, terrain." Thank goodness, Daniel paid heed!
More views of Ruth Glacier:
If Daniel mentioned what this spectacular mountain top was called, I didn't hear him. When I used Google to find a name, it came up as being in Pakistan - don't think so!
Daniel said that while he'd worked in Tucson, Arizona, for Raytheon, a major U.S. defense contractor, he kept seeing incredible photos of Alaskan glaciers, thanks to his brother, who was also a pilot. He ended up convincing his wife that they wouldn't starve if they moved up to Alaska for the summer!
Growing up in Arizona, he said he found it odd that so much of Alaska is impassable in the summer. It was the opposite of his home state, where winter is impenetrable due to swampy conditions, etc.
Alder Creek:
Trees growing on top of the morraine on top of the glacier:
As we neared Talkeetna, Daniel pointed out Loose Meadows. Too bad he didn't mention the story behind its name.
We knew we were unfortunately close to being back in Talkeetna once we saw the tracks again in the lake. However, we couldn't complain, as our tour ended up being two hours long.
If you're ever in Alaska, I urge you to stop in Talkeetna and make a beeline for Talkeetna Air Taxi for an unforgettable flight over Alaska's mountains. If you're lucky enough to go with Daniel, who flies or flew four times a day from May until September, weather permitting, consider yourself even more fortunate.
Steven and I hadn't had time the previous day in Talkeetna to walk to its Riverfront Park, which was located at the end of Main St. We briefly strolled along the Denali View Walking Trail on the banks of the Big Susitna River, one of the most important salmon-producing rivers in the state, known to locals as "the Big Su" or simplay as "the Su River."
Generally, the most essential salmon rivers are those with the most extensive runs of fish. The Big Su contains all five species of Pacific salmon and has the state's fourth-largest run of king salmon, which are much rarer than other species.
After a thrilling morning, we left Talkeetna for the 130-mile drive to Denali National Park. The peaks of the Alaska Range are so high that they create their own severe, unpredictable weather, which often hides views of Denali. As you know, we didn't have that problem on our magical flight.
Crazily, the temperature was 71 degrees in Talkeetna and 20 degrees cooler back home in Denver that day.
However, the travel gods weren't with us all the way, as no one could drive beyond Mile 30 of the 90-mile road that summer because of the Pretty Rocks Landslide at Mile 45.4, where the road narrowed to the width of just one car with steep cliffs on one side and a drop off on the other. The first few miles of the famous park road did not overly impress us with the scenery, as each view seemed the same.
En route to Denali National Park:
That day, May 19th, was the last day that year cars could be driven further than the initial 15 miles on the Denali Park Road, as the summer season began the next day. That meant exploring further into the park would have to be done by park buses, as is the case at several of the country's most popular national parks. Or, it could be done by human-powered adventures by walking, cycling, or hiking off-trail! As I mentioned in the previous post, hiking off-trail wasn't in the cards for me that trip.
However, the travel gods weren't with us all the way, as no one could drive beyond Mile 30 of the 90-mile road that summer because of the Pretty Rocks Landslide at Mile 45.4, where the road narrowed to the width of just one car with steep cliffs on one side and a drop off on the other. The first few miles of the famous park road did not overly impress us with the scenery, as each view seemed the same.
OK, I admit it was time to eat my words a few minutes later when we spotted the moose on the side of the road, no less!
Savage River at the Mile 15 marker would be the turnaround spot, beginning the next day.
After the river views, we faced a gravel road and steadily increasing higher elevations. The Park Road cut through two million acres of protected wilderness, allowing park visitors to see and experience a landscape "that is wild, intact, and preserved."
Also on the side of the road was a Willow Ptarmigan, also known as a Willow Grouse.
Mountain views at Mile 25:
Clearly, the end of the line was at Mile 30!
View from the 2800-ft. elevation Sanctuary River Viewpoint:
Even we weren't jaded by these drop-dead gorgeous views before we began driving toward the park entrance at six that night.
Your smile for the day: Our sum total of animal sightings after being in Denali for three hours, just two!
Spring runoff:
We passed several people taking sled dogs out for a walk on the Park Road.
I hope you'll find these two bathroom door shots at a restaurant that night as cute as I did!
Next post: Dog mushing demonstration and Denali park hikes.
Posted on December 23rd, 2025, from Denver, where we had yet another weather anomaly. Who would ever guess that Denver's temperature was 76 degrees yesterday, that we've now had a dozen days in December with temps in the 60s or above, and it will be 70 on Christmas Day? Steven and I wish each of you the happiest of holidays, filled with joy and beautiful memories with loved ones.
