Quick Details
The focal point of our Base Camp Tour is a close-up look at Mount Hunter, the Kahiltna Glacier (Denali’s biggest), and the Kahiltna “”Base Camp”” where the majority of Denali’s climbers really begin their journey, at an elevation of 7,200 feet.
Our popular Base Camp flightseeing air tour gives the passenger a good look at both the base camp and the enormous Kahiltna Glacier. This route also includes all of the highlights of the Don Sheldon Mountain House Tour.
You’ll depart from Talkeetna and experience the vast rivers and forest lands on the flight to the Kahiltna Glacier in the Alaska Range.
The river and forest lands are home to Alaska’s wild game such as black bear and moose. In addition the occasional lodge can be sighted along the lake shores, often only accessible by float plane.
On the way, this route gives you outstanding views of Little Switzerland, a popular destination for both technical climbing expeditions and fun day trips. This particular subset of the Alaska Range is characterized by steep rocky peaks similar to the European alps. Accordingly, many experienced climb teams come to this location for the pure technical climbing challenge.
Next you climb over the Kahiltna Glacier, easily the largest glacier in the Alaska Range, as it winds toward Denali.
Nearly at the head of the glacier is a small branch off to the east that contains the landing area Don Sheldon pioneered as the arrival point for climbing expeditions. This is where the climbers begin and conclude their trek up Denali — Base Camp.
If you wish, you can ask to add a glacier landing to this flight, and we can land on the Ruth Glacier. Landing on the Kahiltna is reserved for climbers. As Sheldon Air co-owner Dave Lee says, “A landing lets you put the flight into perspective.” It gives you a moment to appreciate the scale of the surroundings in flight.
Your route continues with a cut through a pass which eventually leads to the Don Sheldon Amphitheater at the top of the Ruth Glacier.
You will see Mooses Tooth, Bear Tooth and Broken Tooth peaks, popular climbing destinations on the far side of the Amphitheater.
In the course of the May-June Denali climbing season, Sheldon pilots deliver and pick up climb teams to the base camp in varying weather. As the video at the top of the page shows, even if it is overcast in Talkeetna, outstanding scenery can be observed once in flight.
To top off your Alaska flightseeing adventure you will experience the majestic Ruth Gorge on the last leg of the flight through The Range.
The Great Gorge, as it is also called, is a mile deep in some places. The floor is the rugged Ruth Glacier. Make sure to watch for the brilliant bright blue pools of glacier melt water atop the glacier!
On the way back, the Tokositna River area at the base of the Alaska Range offers another opportunity to view moose and bears in their natural habitat.