The first time I was in Alaska, I took a float plane "flightseeing" tour from Anchorage to Denali National Part and Mt McKinney. We flew the gorge of the Ruth glacier, I have some great pictures of that with the sheer cliff faces soaring high above the wings in both sides. I want to go back, K-2 Aviation out of Talkeetna does tours that land on the glacier on skis, I have to do that one day.
This trip was on Rusts Flying Service out of Anchorage. Time was tight (this was a one day add on to a work trip) and the only way I was going to see the mountain was to fly, and who can resits three hours on a plane that was older then I am. There were two options for Denali, one was fly out and see the mountain and fly back, and for an extra $50 I think it was they add in a remote water landing on or near the mountain. Being a control freak, I wanted to know what lake for the landing and the answer was the best available on the day. Grump, I took my chance on the option. Oh am I glad I did. The lake we landed on is a glacial melt lake on the side of the mountain. The pilot said is is safe to land on just a few days each spring when the snow melt brings the level up high enough for the floats to clear the boulders in water. It is a hard day's hike in and out and few - very few people are there, except for the few people lucky enough to be there on a day when the float planes can land every year.
It was amazing to be in a place to remote and so spectacular.
"land on the glacier on skis, I have to do that one day" - now THERE is a goal to work towards each day as you do your therapy! GO PENGUIN!
ReplyDeleteAWESOME! Alaska is on my list of 6 states yet to see, now I know what to do when I get there!
ReplyDeletePeace <3
Jay
It is worth the trip. There is a lot of WILD. We did an inside passage cruise in the fall of 2008, I'd do that again.
Deleteyes
ReplyDelete