Talkeetna Alaska and Photography of the Alaska Range

Earlier this year I spent a week in Talkeetna Alaska to try to re-shoot a photo from several years ago with a higher resolution camera. Most of the week was spent hanging about in Talkeetna watching the first of the Denali climbing teams prepare for their trips and fly into the range. For my purposes perfect weather was the only thing that was worth flying in, so I waited around all week while it rained. I was scheduled to leave Alaska Sunday morning and woke up Saturday morning still not having had a chance to shoot. By noon on Saturday it became clear that the weather in the evening was going to be perfect. There was not a cloud in the sky, and none of the typical afternoon clouds were forming. The flight was scheduled for 7:15 launch time putting me in the mountains about 7:45 which is a perfect time to start shooting. A thick pollution haze (Blown in from China) was visible making it impossible for good overview shots of the range, but it did create some interesting and pretty photos of the Ruth Gorge.

I flew with K2 Aviation who I have been using for many years for flights in the Alaska Range for both personal trips and trips with American Alpine Institute. Not only are they safe, professional and accommodating, they are a great team of really nice people who make waiting for the rain to stop very enjoyable. Thanks K2. To book a trip with K2 go to their website http://www.flyk2.com.

A Talkeetna local waits for a flight with K2.

The story of my week. Most of my time in Talkeetna was spent watching it rain.

Pretty sky photos are not always good. Another day of rain in Talkeetna.

Denali, and the Kahiltna Glacier as seen from 12,000 feet. This is not a view that is seen very often since most people are at a much lower altitude when they get to this area. I love this shot since it really shows Denali as a individual mountain in a way I have not seen before. It also contains the entire West Buttress route up the Kahiltna Glacier which is also rare to see in a photo. Click on the image to purchase.

The photo I flew to Alaska to get. Denali, showing the West Buttress route. Click on the image to purchase.

Denali from the south. The Cassin Ridge is the central rib that extents to the summit. Click on the image to purchase.

Mount Hunter from the north side. Click on the image to purchase.

Mount Huntington. Click on the image to purchase.

The Ruth Gorge with a golden hazy pollution layer filtering the sun. Click on the image to purchase.

Back in Anchorage and ready to head home.

These photos may not be reproduced or downloaded with out the permission of the photographer. If you would like to purchase these images please click on the image and it will link to a page from which you can purchase the images.

--Alasdair Turner, Instructor and Guide