Talkeetna Air Taxi Blog

The Slovenian trip to the Revelations.

Thu, 10 May 2012 15:09:00 GMT

We just love fan mail and Thank You Free Approved expedition for all of your beautiful photos.

This is from a group we flew into the Revelation mountains in April. They had some stellar weather and caught some beautiful photos, that they have shared with us.

"In the name of the Freeapproved Expedition members I would like to thank you all for your help and service flying us to our dream location in Revelation mountains and beyond. I hope the locations stays unpopular and not visited for yours to come :)

From what I have experienced, your service can hardly be improved. It is indeed so great, that there is nothing to add. If I try and search my memory, than the only thing there is left to do is for you to smile less being so kind, because smiling back to you makes my facial muscles hurt :)

You were truly amazing replying hundreds of my emails, tons of questions and other things such as receiving dozens of parcels and shipments etc.

I will make sure to recommend your company to everyone i know flying in that area and hopefully, we will be flying to you the next time we come to explore Alaska.

All the best from Freeapproved Team from Slovenia,

Anze Cokl"

Climbing season is Open at Kahiltna Base camp.

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 23:22:00 GMT

Lisa has arrived at her camp for the next 2 1/2 months, where she will be there to meet and greet climbers that come from all over the globe to climb Denali. She and her troop of strong volunteers flew into the Kahiltna Glacier on Friday April 27th to shovel her tent spot for the season. They dug down about 8 feet to provide shelter from the wind, cold temperatures and the inevitable meltage from the Alaskan midnight sun.

TAT's Downtown Superstar Randi volunteered to help set up basecamp. Here she is resting her back from shoveling while basking in the sun. Seems like one of the first years that basecamp set up has happened without delays on a beautiful bluebird day. Hopefully that weather trend will continue this summer with beautiful days of mountain flying and taking climbers to their next adventures.

New route on the Buckskin

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:53:00 GMT

Our first French group, 'Alaska Moose' just returned from their trip to the Bear Tooth.

They have made a first ascent on a route they are calling "The Bear Skin". Below is a very descriptive map of their route, which is also on file with the National Park Service office in Talkeetna. They said snow conditions were good, but during their trip the temperatures were warming up and the ice was melting a bit.

Congratulations to the group for establishing a new route, we will be looking forward to seeing them next time for their climbing expedition.

Back to the Root Canal

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:03:00 GMT

The first trip of the year into the Root Canal and conditions look good for Ham and Eggs. Stay tuned for updates.

Spring Northern Lights

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 21:43:00 GMT

TAT flew a group up to stay at the Mountain house in early April. Matt, Amber and Ian shared with us their photo shoot of the Northern Lights, that they were so lucky to get a glimpse of and share with us.

Looks like the Spring might be the new hot time to see Northern Lights.

A French climbing invasion.

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 21:24:00 GMT

The Ruth has been a busy landing strip the last few days after a fresh meter of snow. Once the drizzle stopped in Talkeenta and the snow in the mountains TAT flew all over Alaska to drop climbers off for their adventures. We have groups in the Buckskin, Gorge, Pika Ruth glacier and even into the Kichatnas. They all know that TAT will get you there, and pick you up! Current conditions around the range appear good with average snow pack. Looks like there has been little to no freeze thaw yet.

Currently in the range, over half of our climbers came all the way to Alaska from France.

Here is a photo from when we dropped a group of 9 French off in the Kichatna Mountains.

Extra Extra, read about a first ascent route on Mt. Dickey.

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 22:10:00 GMT

To start off the climbing season, John Frieh and Doug Sheperd pioneered a new route on the Northeast face of Mt. Dickey.

Check out their BLOG for some photos and hot info on Mt. Dickey.

Thanks for the info John and Doug, happy climbing this season.

(2011 photo of Mt. Dickey in all it's glory)

Early Season condition reports of the Alaska Range 2012!!!!

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:05:00 GMT

So as climbing season is starting to gear up we have some pre-season condition reports while we are still awaiting our first groups to return with some good beta.
Snow fall in general has been above average, compared to the last five years, and the snow conditions appear to be stable.
It is starting to warm up in the range with temps of zero at night and up to a whopping 20 degrees during the day.
Looks like ice is starting to take shape. Stay tuned for reports as our groups get back.

Kahiltna and Ruth routes are looking good from the air, but no climber reports yet.

Groups that have been into the Mountain House in March have been lucky to get spectacular shows of the Northern Lights. But our day light is coming back at 6 minutes a day, and the sun is now setting at 9:00 pm. Welcome to the midnight sun.

Here is a picture of the East face of the Moose's Tooth and the Bear tooth taken earlier this week.

Early season sneak preview of the Gorge...... ohh la la. Conditions are looking good, reports should be coming in these next weeks.

An Exceptional Day in a Fabulous Place-Leap Year Wedding on the Glacier

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 21:18:00 GMT

Introducing......100 BW, now in TAT colors

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:35:00 GMT

Here is the newest addition to the TAT family. This beautiful, shiny DeHavilland Otter, 100BW.

She looks forward to hauling many climbers and scenic passengers to the beauty of the Alaska Range. There is still some work to do before she is airworthy. After some more work in Talkeetna Bravo Whiskey will head down to get some avionics work done in Kenai then online and flying this summer.

Luckily we have our Ace team of mechanics to make sense of the instructions, and it is a good thing the instructions come with pictures.

Ski-jouring the Iditarod trail

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 20:32:00 GMT

Happy Trails to Laura, Wendy and TAT superstar Danial.

They flew out to Takotna, an Iditarod checkpoint, yesterday after a couple days of waiting on weather to clear. They are going to ski-jour from Takotna and hope to make it to Ruby or as far as Galena following the Iditarod trail. They each have two dogs and a sled for gear.

They will have a few days with the trail to themselves before the Iditarod teams pass them on their journey to Nome.

Happy Trails and stay tuned for updates along the trail.

A wintery day on the Iditirod trail

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 21:24:00 GMT

It's Iditarod time, let's go to Rainy Pass check point.

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 01:25:00 GMT

The beginning of March is the start of the Iditarod, the Last Great Race.

Talkeetna Air Taxi can take you there so you can be part of the action watching the teams run 975 miles on their way to Nome. TAT has flights leaving on March 5th in the morning that will take you to the Rainy Pass checkpoint. You can spend the whole afternoon watching the teams come through the checkpoint while you cheer your favorite musher and dog team on. You can relax in the Rainy Pass lodge while watching the dogs during the beginning of their journey.

You can join us on March 5th, to see the teams run through the Rainy Pass checkpoint and cheer on your favorite musher and dog team. Call now to make a reservation before March 2nd and save $150 per person ($500 round trip per person to Rainy Pass).

For more information visit our info page or give us a call 9-3 AST to set up your reservation or find out more about Rainy Pass Monday. Check out our Iditarod photo gallery to see photos from previous years on the Iditarod trail.

Photo from Rainy pass checkpoint, 2011 Iditarod.

Talkeetna Build a Plane

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:16:00 GMT

The Talkeetna Build a Plane, where twenty students and mechanics meet twice a week learning practical work skills while rebuilding a Piper Cherokee.

Local mechanics work with the students to teach them skills that the can log towards their A&P licenses. The engine is already built and the Cherokee should be ready for sale in 2012. The profits from the sale will go back into the Build a Plane project to help keep the program going.

Parts and tools have been donated along with many hours of labor to teach and involve kids in aviation, a popular career and pastime of Alaskans and adventurers.

Masatoshi is off the mountain due to bad weather

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:10:00 GMT