We took a road trip to Talkeetna on Friday. It was an EPIC day, so I reserved a spot on Talkeetna Aero Service’s Summit Tour. Get ready for some flying! Dave, our pilot, skillfully guided the twin-engine Piper Navajo up to 21,000 feet for an up-close view of Denali’s summit. Along the way, he took us up close to Base Camp on the Kahiltna Glacier, past Mt. Foraker, alongside the awesome Wickersham Wall along the north side of Denali. We all strapped on the oxygen masks for the ride. It’s very difficult to gauge distance way up high–and it looked like we were a bit too close on some of the passes–but Dave assured me the real estate was at least a mile away! HA. Our trip included several passes through the Ruth Amphitheater, along Moose’s Tooth, Broken Tooth and Mt. Dan Beard. There’s no better way to spend a couple of hours in the air, imho!! CLICK HERE to see my photos (all 106 of them!).
CLICKFEST: Here’s my article in the Alaska Dispatch about Talkeetna and “Denali in a day”. Ha. Actually, you can fly from Anchorage with Talkeetna Aero Services. The “Denali Park Day Trip” leaves Anchorage 7am and includes round trip air to Denali National Park (Mt. McKinley scenic flight enroute), 6-8 hour bus trip into the park, huge box lunch + ground transfers in Denali. Cost? $595 per person.
But I made the drive to Talkeetna! And after the flight over Denali, I was hungry–so I stopped in at Talkeetna Roadhouse. The ever-welcoming, always-gracious Trisha Costello was there to greet me. Remember–there are two menus: breakfast and non-breakfast. HA. Check out those breakfast dishes in the photo!
Come up and stay at the Roadhouse! Trisha has a new package, called “Beer, Bed and Buns”. It includes a growler of beer from nearby Denali Brewing Company (actually, you get the growler in your room, then walk across the street to fill it up!). Then, stay the night and wake up the next morning to some delicious buns from the Roadhouse‘s “Breakfast” menu! Ya! Call (907)733-1351 for reservations. Oh–and Trisha says she’ll offer a discount on accommodations for anyone taking one of several classes in the community. Call for details.
Don’t miss the chance to take a fast ride with Mahay’s Jetboat Adventures. I’ve known Steve Mahay for many years–he and his family run a great operation. Choose from several trips aboard his fleet of fast jetboats. Steve recommends the Devil’s Canyon Tour. This trip up the Susitna River is a favorite with locals. It’s a five-hour ride, so lunch is included. Get ready to see wildlife up close: bears, eagles, moose, beavers and more. Also–have your camera handy for some FABULOUS shots of Denali on your way up the river. CLICK HERE to see mine. There are a couple of nice ones, I think. Your tour includes a stop at a Native Indian Encampment modeled after an actual Athabascan community. There’s also an authentic trapper’s cabin nearby. Click HERE for Mahay’s….or call them at (907)733-2223.
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