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.

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.

 

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.

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.

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.

 Here is a picture from this chilly fall morning at the Talkeetna State Airport. 

No accumulation in the way of snow and the forecast is calling for temperatures in the 20's to 30's. 

Even though there is a whole week until the Autumnal Equinox, fall is in full swing.  It is hard not to take notice everyday when fall seems to last about two weeks around here.  Here are some more fall photos around the office.  Currently we have just over 13 hours of daylight and are losing over 5 minutes of light per day.  It is time to enjoy the fall colors and the cool morning air while we can.

 

Here is Beaver working on blending into the vegetable and flower planters.

          

The Talkeetna Air Taxi main office.

 

 The tundra colors are amazing right now! It's wonderful to be able to see the dramatic scenery each season has to offer here at the base of the Alaska Range.

                                                                  

 These beautiful pictures are courtesy of our very own Tyler Westhoff.