Talkeetna Air Taxi

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"

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.

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.

Masa is still trying to get up Hunter. This photo was taken of him at basecamp on the 9th of January.

     

 

Lonnie is off the mountain! The wind and weather just did not cooperate during his 2nd winter McKinley summit attempt. He says that he will spend time accumulating a Greenlandic dog team and enjoy many long dog mushing trips in the future. Only time will tell if he comes back to try McKinley again. Photo was taken January 9th courtesy of Talkeetna Air Taxi.

Masatoshi Kuriaki is back for another attempt at the first Winter solo attempt of Mt. Hunter.  This is Masatoshi's 6th attempt, and will be ascending via the West Ridge of Hunter. When he was flown into Kahiltna basecamp where the conditions were surprisingly good after the windy begin to the winter.    The temperature was reading minus 5 with a chilling 10 mph down glacier wind at basecamp.  Best of Luck to Masatoshi on his solo attempt.

This is the kick off of the winter climbing in the Alaska Range.   Stay tuned for update on all of our winter climbs this year, and next.

Interested in flightseeing tours in 2012? Peruse through our e-brochure, or you can call or email to request a live copy of your very own. 

Call or email 7 days a week from 9-3 AST for questions or reservations. 

Looking to save on your Alaska vacation, visit our website to see our current specials.

Happy holidays.

 

 

Here's an article written in the Washington Post that talks about bush plane flying in Alaska. Ted O'Callahan, who flew with us and wrote the piece, got to talk to our pilot Danial and land on the Kahiltna Glacier, piloted by Richard Olmstead. We're glad we got to take him up and that he enjoyed his flight! If you have time, it's a fun read and lends a bit of perspective about the small plane scene in Alaska.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/in-alaska-flightseeing-is-the-way-to-go/2011/06/28/gIQArHYRwI_story.html

Come one, come all! Just come dressed up as a TV character. Think Jersey Shore, Gilligan's Island, Fat Albert, The Office, The Lone Ranger, MASH, Charlies Angels, Fantasy Island, Starsky and Hutch... the list can go on and on.