Talkeetna Air Taxi

Team Salamander spent 10 fun days on the Pika, flying out July 1, 2011. Weather was in-and-out sun, allowing a total of 5 climbing days. The trend was toward evening clearing, with two days of full sun. The moats are in but with rain and warming things are quickly melting. There is still a decent snow bridge to the Gargoyle Buttress. The start of the first pitch had some ice which we attacked with ice axes (though one could climb with rock shoes and creative route finding). An Anchorage team replaced the webbing on the first 9 anchors last week. The Middle Troll has widening moats as well, but there are still a couple of intact bridges. The first 200' are loose gravel and boulders, and are not safe for more than one party to be on at a time. Lost Marsupials approach was straightforward. Summit ridge with corniced, soft snow. AMS arete approach without major crevasses, though the glaciers on either side are bare to the dust layer and snow cover melting fast. 

Climbers put to work when the pilot needs a good place to land. 
This morning over 30 climbers were waiting for a pick up.  This clamor of climbers paced the runway to pack down the fresh snow.
In order for to pick climbers up on glacier the planes need an area that is at least 1200 feet long.
Stomp Stomp Stomp...



National Park Service ranger John Loomis coordinated the quick stomp so the planes could get in and land at Kahiltna Base Camp.

Come fly with us!

Look close... closer... this is a picture from one of our flights checking on some climbers heading back and forth from their camp... Climbing season here is quickly coming to an end...currently there is a 53% summit rate for Denali.

It feels good to have clear blue skies again. The view coming into work today was spectacular. We've been flying all morning. Keep up the good thoughts for continued good weather.

The weather has cleared up this afternoon and we are able to fly! We are so excited to get climbers up to Base Camp and get Danial off the mountain. She has been stuck there since yesterday when weather came in and stopped her from getting out.

We wanna fly! At least there is something beautiful due to the rain.

Taking a scenic flight in May can be an amazing adventure.  Here is a photo that a scenic passenger shared with us and we thought we could share it with you.  The weather has been great for flying to the mountains.

A fabulous picture taken in the range. No wonder people love it up here.

After the snow showers lifted in the Alaska Range we were delighted to see lots of fresh snow to help the climbing season get off to a good start after a windy winter with little snow. 
Paul's drop off at the Pika glacier last week was a good test of shoveling skills and wading in neck-deep snow.

 
This photo is from the Pika glacier.  Yes, Paul is in fact standing, not digging to China. He and the group he dropped off were busy working on the runway for the Otter, that was up to its belly in snow. 

ALASKA RANGE CONDITIONS REPORT:

Snow, Snow and More Snow.  The storm last week dumped snow in the range, here are reports from TAT pilots and climbers.
Going into the Ruth at the mountain house, the snow was waist deep.
Pika glacier had snow neck deep.
Reports from the Buckskin of chest deep snow.