DENALI FLIGHT
Friday, June 6th 2014
Talkeetna. We got to the airport. We paid almost 480 dollars for an
hour long flight with landing on the glacier (it was special discount
price). We were told to wait on the back porch. We got glacier shoes.
Bunch of other people. Nice and sunny. As we waited (about 25
minutes) there was about 7 other planes taking off (two different
companies) and several landed. Busy. Quite small planes. We were last
left on the porch with some typical (couple with two children) family
from Miami. Small plane (the picture above). We got in (six people
plus pilot) and it was full plane. I ended up sitting next to the
pilot – it looked pretty easy to fly that thing (it looked that way
but I am pretty sure it is not). I was somewhat uncomfortable (for
about ten minutes) as the plane was shaking and so on. We reached
about 6500 feet elevation. The top speed (made in Canadian Beemer
plane – no idea how it is spelled) was about 105 miles per hour. We
saw Denali Mountain from distance (some clouds around). Incredible
view of the landscape (rivers, mountains, road, train track). It was
awesome. We got into the mountains, had a look at Denali (for picture
taking) and flu between the mountains (above the glacier). We got to
about 5700 feet elevation and the plane actually landed (on skies) on
the glacier (cover with a lot of snow). There was a “landing strip”
marked. On one of the close by mountains was a small cabin –
apparently possible to rent and stay there. Denali not visible –
too cloudy. Standing on snow, mountains around, small plane – at
least for me it was the least exciting part of the flight. Flying
back – same amazing views, another look at Denali, boats on one of
the rivers, train going to Talkeetna. Approaching airport and
landing. That was well worth it and amazing.
