Grand Adventure

Sheldon’s pilots are intimately familiar with the landscape, effortlessly pointing out key features as the flight navigates the foothills of the Alaska Range. Denali’s immense size seems distant until you pass the foothills and ascend the Tokositna Glacier, with Little Switzerland appearing to your left, a favored area for technical climbing and scenic day trips. The journey continues through One Shot Pass and over the vast Kahiltna Glacier, which winds toward Denali, coming within six miles of its towering summit. The Kahiltna Glacier is massive, easily recognized as the largest in the Alaska Range. Just before reaching the glacier’s head, a small branch veers eastward to the landing area established by Don Sheldon, where climbers begin and conclude their ascent of Denali at Base Camp. Along the way, the rugged peaks, ancient glaciers, and vivid cobalt-blue glacier lakes create a breathtaking panorama, with Mooses Tooth, Bear Tooth, and Broken Tooth peaks visible across the Don Sheldon Amphitheater.

Throughout the climbing season, Sheldon pilots transport teams to and from the Kahiltna Glacier Base Camp, the launch point for Denali summit attempts. The flight also provides a view of Don Sheldon’s Mountain House, built in 1955 as a refuge for climbers and a private retreat, now a coveted overnight destination with reservations often made years in advance. On the return to Talkeetna, the journey concludes with the stunning Ruth Gorge, sometimes called the Great Gorge, plunging up to a mile deep with the rugged Ruth Glacier at its base. Along the way, travelers can spot vibrant pools of bright-blue glacier meltwater, completing a remarkable aerial adventure through the heart of Alaska’s wild and majestic landscapes.