Mountain House

Google Earth Approach to landing at Ruth Glacier

An ideal place for recreation, the Ruth Glacier is protected from wind and hard hitting snow storms.  The Ruth Glacier has a huge amphitheater surrounded by glaciers descending from all directions.

The Ruth Glacier has many landing areas.  Rock climbing, ice climbing, skiing, para-tenting, snowboarding or just being in the mountains determines where you want to land. 

The best view by far is from the landing area at the Don Sheldon mountain house, built in 1966 by pioneer glacier pilot Don Sheldon. 

The surrounding Ruth Gorge which is 1 mile wide and 5 mile long with 5000’ rock walls on either side, helps one feel the scale of the majesty of the Alaska Range.  The amount of peaks and degree of difficulty for climbers is unending in the Ruth Glacier area.  The glacier landing areas in the Ruth Gorge vary from 4500’ to 8000’ above sea level.

Don Sheldon's homestead

When you land near the Mountain House you can look up and view the perfectly placed hexagonal shelter Don built for his customers. 

During his flying career that spanned from 1947 until 1974 Don operated Talkeetna Air Service.  Two of Sheldon's friends (Ray Genet and Brad Washburn) supported the idea of this location for the Mountain House Don wanted to build as a haven for mountain climbers.  It has become a Denali institution.  No flightseeing experience is complete without at least an aerial view of the Mountain House.

Through the years many have enjoyed the shelter of the Mountain House at the Sheldon Amphitheatre, including Charles Kuralt who spent a night there enjoying the northern lights.

D. LeeDehavilland Beaver & passengers at the Ruth

This is the landing area at the Mountain House.   If the passengers in the picture looked up to the left they would see it.

The plane landed up glacier, or up hill, turned around in stopped in take-off position so customers could get out and experience the majesty of the Ruth Glacier and surrounding peaks.

Destination Rate: $515.00

Lat/Long: 62.971219,-150.747013

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