One of my reasons for flying to Talkeetna was to wait for a good weather day, and go visit Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley. I've been to Denali National Park once, but only got to enjoy a one day bus tour of the park, with the mountain off in the distance, shrouded in clouds. I've always wanted to see it up close. This morning turned out to be perfect conditions for the flight!
I woke up bright and early in Talkeetna, and got the plane started and moving before sunrise.
Nice large airport name painted on the ramp.
Taxiing out in the morning mist.
Ready for takeoff on runway 01.
Taking off to the north, with the big
Susitna River behind me. I've read that the Susitna is the 15th largest river in the USA. Denali is ahead of me and to the left, on a northwest heading.
Heading northwest toward Denali. I was so excited about finally getting to see Denali from the air, that I captured a lot of snapshots. I'll let them speak for themselves most of the time, and throw in a comment here and there.
Denali is lighting up, as the rosy morning sunlight hits it.
Sun rising off my right wing.
With Denali ahead and left, I've chosen an altitude of 17,000 feet for my flight counter-clockwise around Denali. That leaves me about 6,000 feet below the top of the mountain, which should provide a great viewing angle, if I can get close enough. With clear skies, my main concern about getting close, is clear air turbulence near the mountain, so I'll be on the lookout for it.
This might be the Ruth glacier, which I've read occupies the southeast side of Denali.
Great view of this magnificent mountain, reflecting the light of the sunrise, from my nice warm vantage point inside the cockpit.
Starting my first left turn, to circumnavigate the mountain counter-clockwise. There will be a lot of left turns in the next few minutes.
Denali with the moon behind it. With this current viewpoint from below the aircraft, it looks like I'm above the mountain, but that's just a false perspective.
Here's another perspective, that more accurately shows my altitude relative to the mountain.
I think this is the Peters glacier, which I've read occupies the north and northwest portion of the mountain.
The rising sun peeking up above Denali and North Peak.
I think this is the Kahiltna glacier, which I read occupies the southwest side of Denali.
Heading away from Denali, back towards Talkeetna.
The early morning rising sun is now off my left wing, as I head back southeast.
Talkeetna is straight ahead, at the confluence of the Susitna, Chulitna, and Talkeetna rivers.
Talkeetna airport is just past the Talkeetna river that flows across my path ahead.
This is a good angle on the confluence of the Susitna and Talkeetna rivers ahead, with the airport just beyond the Talkeetna river.
On left downwind for runway 01 at Talkeetna airport, with the sun just above the horizon.
Turning from base leg toward runway 01 at Talkeetna airport.
Turning onto final approach to runway 01 at Talkeetna airport, which is hard to see in the haze, on the far side of the river, at the upper left of this snapshot.
On final approach to runway 01 at Talkeetna airport.
Exterior view of the Vision jet on final approach to Talkeeta runway 01, visible in the upper right of this snapshot.
Approaching the runway 01 threshold at Talkeetna airport.
Landing at Talkeetna airport, with the rising sun just above the horizon.
Stopped on the runway, with my map terrain warning display telling me with all the red, that there's a lot of ground around me, that is within 100 feet of my wheels. Perfectly reasonable!
On the ground at Talkeetna airport, with the airport buildings glowing in light of the morning sunrise.
I decided to park next to a sweet little L-5, right near the big Talkeetna letters painted on the tarmac.
All shutdown and ready for another night in Talkeetna.
