The weather was so clear and winds so calm when we were in Talkeetna, we decided to check on prices for a flightseeing tour of Mt. McKinley (Denali). Since it was winter, business was slow and they gave us a great deal on an hour-long flight up to the summit.
The view from Talkeetna of the 20,320' tall Denali was amazing. The two smaller peaks are Mt. Foraker and Mt. Hunter. Denali is the tallest peak in North America. Since it rises suddenly from a base elevation of only 1000', it is the 3rd most prominent peak in the world.
In the spring, the pilot we flew with starts flying mountain climbers up to the base camp (an elevation of around 11,000'). The planes land on the glacier with specialized skis attached to the plane.
A view of Denali at sunset, about 5 hours after sunrise.
The closest we are going to get to climbing Denali this year. We are standing on an iceberg frozen into the iced-up Talkeetna River. It is much easier to fly to the top in a plane.
Joni in the front seat of the 4-person Cessna with our pilot.
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