mount mckinley

We saw a lot of animals on the bus tour. Plenty of grizzly bears and other animals. We had great weather so the mountain even though 40 miles away was clearly visible. Took most of the day on a narrow road but the drivers are very good. If you are there, don't miss this on your first trip. For the second, take a plane or helicopter ride.

This park is as good as it gets. They say its Alaska's best attraction and it is. You can ruff it or do it in comfort,theres lots of good camping, buses that are free that you can take get on and off anywhere and get on the next one, they run all day. We tried a couple days from different locations but never got a good look at Mt. McKinley at the top,that dosent matter it just give you an excuse to back again. Theres no cars allowed past the first few miles busses run about 110 miles in for your comfort and they are narrated by the driver or assistant as you travel. Wildlife can be seen every were, and every day its different. It is a must see even if its just for one day and you don't stay there. We were there before 2014

DENALI-THE GRAT ONE ( MOUNT McKINLEY) FLIGHT OF FANCY-MOUNT McKINLEY UP-CLOSE (ALASKA’S HIDDEN BYWAYS I) Over the years, we have visited about 40 National Parks and numerous National Monuments, but the two-three hours spent in and around the Alaska Range and Mount McKinley, both from the air, and on a glacier, ranks as one of the greatest thrills of our travels. Not only did we get up close and personal with these inspiring peaks, but they put the world and our very being into an interesting perspective. The feeling that we carried away from this aerial expedition was that “NATURE WILL WIN”. Our trips, which I plan out, are flexible expeditions involving planning and coordination. Tour ships are not our thing, and neither is camping. Therefore, lodges, rental cars, and special pre-arranged activities (i.e. back-country flights, rafts, bear viewing trips, etc.) are planned months in advance, as well as the route taken. What was the process to set things up? We had flown over the Wrangell-St. Elias Mountains four years earlier with Wrangell Mountain Air, out of McCarthy, AK, so we were familiar with the type of air operation that fit our needs. A little research brought us to TALKEETNA AIR TAXI (TAT), operating out of Talkeetna, AK. A few telephone calls later found us booked on a Cessna single engine aircraft for a specific date in July. This firm (TAT) came highly recommended and has participated in many expeditions in the Alaska Range and Mount McKinley. In addition, they will pick you up from your hotel and return you there after the adventure. With the date and flight set, we needed accommodations near the Talkeetna airport. We decided on the Talkeetna Alaska Lodge, which proved to be a wonderful base of operations. This is a world class Lodge with beautifully appointed rooms, excellent food and services, and an ideal location. We booked this at least 8-9 months in advance of the trip, once the flight into the Alaska Range was finalized (deposit required). Once this section of our trip was set, I built the rest of the trip around it. This involved a visit to Cordova, AK, Denali National Park, the Ayleska Resort, Homer, and Brooks Lodge in Katmai National Parks. These areas will be discussed in other TripAdvisor submissions. One of the principle problems in setting up a flight like this is the Alaskan Weather. The Alaska Range rises abruptly from the northern Pacific Ocean/Bering Strait area and has a tendency to have radical shifts in weather. This can occur very rapidly, so windows of opportunity may not be frequent. For flight seeing and glacier landings, good weather is essential. A back-up date is advisable, as long as it fits into your schedule and is arranged with Talkeetna Air Taxi, or an equivalent service. Some prayers to the weather gods may also help. When we arrived in Talkeetna, AK, the day before the flight, the weather was great and the Mountains were visible. The reason for this statement was that on our previous visit to Denali National Park four years earlier, we were told that Mount McKinley had not been visible for 14 days, and we had lucked out. We checked in to both the lodge and Talkeetna Air Taxi, and were informed that we were “GO” for our flight on the next day. We also spent some time wandering, and photographing, the beautiful lodge grounds. A few words about high mountain photography; I was using a digital SLR Nikon Camera. I set the camera for the maximum number of pixels/frame and used an 18mm – 105mm zoom lens. I also decided to run the camera on shutter priority, with an ISO setting of 125. I also used a backed off Polarizer to help reduce the snow glare. I used a new SD card and carrier a spare card and battery in the event that they were needed (they were not needed). We were picked up at about 8:30AM from our lodge and taken to the Talkeetna Air Taxi (TAT) office in order to fill out the necessary paper work and pay the tariff (i.e. cost about $1100.00 US) for the exclusive use of the Cessna and pilot (Bill P.). We have found, due to our extensive photographic requirements and special requests, to book items such as small planes for our party ONLY. It does avoid crowding and disagreements, since my wife and I usually agree on our program. In addition, use the bathroom facilities before departing. The mountains are cold.We also brought heavy clothing, gloves, and hats. We were told that a simple sweatshirt should suffice. We were also told to don glacier boots, since we would be walking on a glacier. A pair of sunglasses is essential due to the sun glare on ice. I sat in the front next to the pilot, while my wife occupied the rear seat. I discussed my mental image of what I wanted to see and photograph with the pilot (Bill P.). I have found that this is helpful in many different occasions since the pilot is very familiar with the terrain and can safely get you, and your camera, into the correct position and photographic angle. We took off from the Talkeetna airport, passed over the scrub forest and into the Front Range of the Alaska Range. The first few minutes of this flight was not impressive, until the hint of blue ahead of us resolved into the true Alaska Range. The enormity of the scene made us gasp, even though we had been in many areas of “Glaciated Mountains”. As we passes over the KAHILTNA GLACIER, we saw, and photographed, Mount Crosson and on one side, while the bulk of MOUNT McKINLEY (20320 ft) occupied the other (see images). We continued to gain altitude as we began our circumvention of Mount McKinley, with the famous West Buttress coming into view (see images). The West Buttress climbing route was pioneered by Bradford Washburn and is still the preferred route of climbers of this mountain. As we swung around the mountain, the Wickersham Wall, the steepest side of Mount McKinley, occupied one side of our Cessna, while the other side opened up with a view of the Upper Kahiltna Pass and NE side of Mount Foraker (see image). This was one of the most thrilling moments of the flight, with a view of Mount Foraker, the second highest peak in the Range, sitting in the middle foreground like an inverted ice cream cone. We continued our ascent, with Karstens Ridge & Harpers Glacier-Mount McKinley coming into view (see image). We were soon at a level allowing for a close-up, fascinating view of the summit area of Mount McKinley, the goal of many climbers (see image). The upper reaches resemble snowy hills, even though they are not. We also viewed the area known as the “Football Field”, which climbers cross at altitude. Our route took us over Upper Traleika Glacier (see image), as Mount McKinley (20320 ft) slipped away behind us. Our pilot (Bill P.), who handled this Cessna in this difficult terrain, was at complete ease in this environment, bespeaking of many years of experience. This enables us to enjoy our flight and obtain the images that I wanted without difficulty. He even suggested shots and maneuvered the Cessna into a favorable position. We maneuvered past the Upper Ruth Glacier-Don Sheldon Amphitheater (see image), heading to our glacier landing spot on Second Shot Glacier. Bill P. put us down on the glacier with a feather-like landing. After we exited the Cessna, we did some tourist images with us in them, leaning against the Cessna. We were two happy people.I spent about 20 minutes photographing this beautiful glacial cirque. When we landed, we join another flight-seeing aircraft already on the glacier. Taking images of the take-off (see image) provided us with some great photo opportunities. After the other plane had departed, our pilot Bill P. told us to be quiet and listen. In the ensuing silence, the only noise heard was the cracking of the glacial ice. We had become one with the mountains, breathing in the cool air and living the moment. All senses were operating in a magnified scale, with sounds and colors enhanced. This was one of the rare points of time which we strive to acquire, but is very elusive. Sadly, we departed Second Shot Glacier on our way back to Talkeetna. Our route took us over some beautiful peaks called “Little Switzerland”, then down the Ruth Glacier and back to civilization as we know it. Travelers, if you can do this trip, find a way and do it. Forgo the deck of the cruise ship and get to see what the REAL ALASKA is, and has. I have run into too many people who are reluctant to plan their own trip. All one has to do is use rental cars, lodging, planes, trains, rafts, and common sense, and not rely on the ideas of other “TRIP SPECIALISTS”. It is not difficult to plan this yourself, giving you the opportunity to go and see what YOU want, and in the time frame you allocate. In fact, if you are interested in doing this, contact me at TripAdvisor and I will help you (FREE!!!!) get started. DO NOT DEFACE THE ROCKS OR ITS SURROUNDINGS. YOU ARE ON FEDERAL/STATE PROPERTY, AND IT IS AGAINST THE LAW. LEAVE IT THE WAY NATURE INTENDED IT TO BE LEFT! Enjoy the trip and be safe. ALASKASEEKER (B.I.N.)

We got lucky, on both the flight in and out, as well as several days while at the lodge, Denali was "out" and clearly visible.

With only a day to spend we took a 6 hour bus tour into the park. It was worth every dollar and every minute to see such spectacular sights. We were lucky to see the mountain after we got into the park. Our bus driver/guide was knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this tour to anybody.

We spent a week in Northern Alaska and the peaks were visible from far away.We did a glacier landing from Talkeetna and saw the mountains first hand. From Denali we spent two days in the national park driving and camping in the park, the peaks are majestic and so royal, they look after the people of Alaska !!An experience of lifetime !!!

When I visited in April, the park road was open to cars (to a certain point). I relied on information from the staff at the visitor center to stop at various points where I might be able to get a look at Denali. The peak was covered for much of my drive, but it was exciting to stop along the way. And eventually everything cleared, and I could see the peak! It is so beautiful, even when you can't see the peak.

Took the 70 mile bus trip into Denali through Aramark. The bus driver/guide was excellent and added a lot of depth to the trip. Saw lots of wildlife and the transition of landscape into trundra. This is a "Must Do" when touring Alaska. Plus, driving up from Anchorage (we had a rental car) we had an unobstructed view of Mt. McKinley

On a clear day the view of Mount McKinley is breathtaking.It completely dominates the skyline.Need a good telephoto lense to appreciate the sight

We here some of the 30% people that got the chance of seeing it uncover... take more then one tour in several days and you increase your chance of seeing him...

We didn't see it while we were in Denali National park, but along the highway there and to Fairbanks, we took pictures. Impressive!

We loved landing on a glacier on Mt McKinley. We took a small plane that held 11 people and it was amazing! We needed a jacket and this trip was worth every penny!

God smiled on us--we had 2 days of perfect weather while at the McKinley Princess Lodge--got to see "the mountain" pretty much all day--2 days in a row !! It was GLORIOUS!!!

We got to catch glimpses as we wandered around but never got the full view. Beautiful area not to be missed.

I had two near death experiences while attempting to summit Mt. McKinley, in central Alaska during the first three weeks of May 1983. Yet; it was an adventure of a lifetime, and I would gladly attempt to summit it again; if my health permitted! Our expedition started by flying from Talkeetna, AK.; in a Cessna 180 with skies, and landing on the Southeast fork of the Kahiltna Glacier. Subsequent to landing, setting up a large two-way radio & battery under a box on the glacier; which was to be used for contacting "Don Sheldon" in Talkeetna; when we were ready to return, or if an emergency occurred; that required an airlift off the mountain! We waved "Good-By" to our pilot; as he lifted off the glacier, for the return fight to Talkeetna, some hundred miles away! Then there was simply utter silence, and the view of vast white stretches of snow, glacier, ice, and rocks. Subsequent to trekking on the main branch of the Kahiltna, we frequently could hear the loud pounding of avalanches nearby; as snow and ice cascaded down the nearby ridges! We donned our packs, and snowshoes, roped up, and began the trek to the main branch of the Kahiltna Glacier, a couple of miles away. In addition to our personnel equipment, we had brought food and fuel, to last four weeks, should we be stuck somewhere on the mountain. The next five days were essentially uneventful; as we slowly trekked up the Kahiltna Glacier. We made each trip twice, ferrying packs with extra food, and fuel, and caching it along the way as we slowly ascending the glacier. Each of our packs weighed over 60 pounds; which made the travel slow. And the weather too was unusual; as each day it would reach almost 90 degrees; with the intense snow glare on the glacier, and then each night, the temperatures would plummet, often to below zero. I slept with my inner felt boots in my sleeping bag, and the outer shells would be frozen solid each morning! If usually took over an hour of climbing each morning before your boots became pliable again! About day nine, the weather turned bad. It began to snow, first flurries, then very heavy snowfall, and winds. This created white-out conditions', and made our travel come to a complete stop! We were at an elevation of about 11,200 feet by this time. With no change in weather conditions , we dug, and designed ourselves a snow cave to move into. Actually, subsequent to a few hours of work, and we had nothing but time; we had dug a rather extensive snow cave on the side of the mountain. Moved our equipment inside, lit a stove, and it eventually it was warm enough to remove our down jackets, and boots! Time seemed to pass quickly at first, then the days became longer, after the fourth day inside this snow cave, we had had enough! And made the decision, to rope up, climb to a higher elevation, and perhaps get some relief from this storm? Subsequent to about three hours, and ascending a rather steep wall of snow, I suddenly emerged from the clouds, and into sunshine, with blue skies overhead. The view was incredible; as you could see as far as the eye can see, and there were dozens of smaller mountain tops peaking through the clouds in the distance! My partner soon joined me above the clouds, and our next stop was at "Windy Corner" at 13,000 feet. We did not stay here long; as there were many large rocks strewn about on top of the snow, and glacier ice; which had been blown there from the cliffs; which hovered above us! We had switched from snowshoes to crampons; as we left our snow cave, and ascended the snow wall; which was now behind us. However, we were now on hard packed snow, and ice, and needed the crampons to continue. As we traversed the glacier , which would lead us to high camp; at about 17,200 feet, my first accident. Suddenly the packed snow gave way, and I dropped through the surface, and into a hidden crevasse! Fortunately, I was roped up, and my climbing partner was able to stop my fall. It was dark in the crevasse,; I looked up and could see the outline of my boots, and backpack, where I had broken through the snow, and even a patch of blue sky far overhead! Fortunately, I was not physically injured; however this fall had gotten my attention, and I still had to get out of the crevasse? After gaining my composure, I removed my pack, and let it drop below me, hanging on a safety line; which was tied to our primary rope. I then donned my jumar ascenders', and slowly inched my way back up the rope to the edge of the crevasse. Getting over the edge, at the top of the crevasse was quite difficult; as my rope kept cutting into the snow around the top! However, after some time, I had inched myself out of the crevasse, and just lied there flat on the snow covered glacier, exhausted, both physically, and mentally. My partner was soon to join me, we exchange gratitude, and discussed the incident with excitement. Too we both agreed that this was enough for the day, and so we proceeded a short distance further up this section of the glacier, to and area that seemed to be safe from falling rocks, and set up our tent for the night! The next morning, we had great climbing weather, and were excited about the climb ahead of us. And we had beautiful weather conditions, so right after breakfast, we roped up and began traversing this section of glacier; which was sloped at a downward angle. Within the next two hours, and while cramponning on hard ice at about 14,200 feet, I tripped, and fell! This time I was sliding down an icy slope, which led to a precipice. And in what seemed to be a matter of seconds, I went over the edge of this icy cliff! Again my partner self arrested, and stopped my fall, or we would have both fallen to certain death! I was suspended in the air, dangling on my climbing rope, and spinning around, and upside down, about fourteen feet below the edge of this precipice. What to do? Unfortunately, there was no communication with my climbing partner above, because of the distance between us, and the wind! My recovery from this fall was similar to the previous fall into the crevasse, using the extra safety rope to drop the weight of my pack, and attaching my jumar ascenders' to use for the climb back up the rope to safety. This fall was significant, both of us had facial cuts, and bruises. And subsequent to reaching a safe spot away from the precipice, I began to shake; which I thought to be unusual; yet could not control. I think my body was in some type of shock or something, and still recovering from a terrifying fall! After resting for nearly an hour, recomposed we again proceeded, roped up, and ascending the glacier. It wasn't too long before the weather changed again, and both the clouds moved in, and snow began to fall. We had moved further up the glacier, to our high camp at 17,200 feet, and actually just in time; as the weather continued to deteriorate. Both the wind picked up, and snowfall became much heavier. We quickly set up our tent, started our stove, melting snow for hot chocolate, mixed with some coffee! And then retreated to the comfort of warm sleeping bags, to wait out this storm, and make plans for continuing our climb, when the weather clears. Or not? With the recent two near death experiences, combined with whiteout conditions, our though were turning to the idea of descending this mountain, while we were still able to do so! Yes, it was disappointing not to have reached the summit, only a few thousand feet above us at 20,320 feet; yet we had certainly given it our best! Subsequent to two more days of heavy snowing, we had a break in the weather, and descended the mountain; without further incident!