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Jerry Pillarelli | profile | all galleries >> Travel and Nature >> US Travel; by Trip, by State >> Alaska National Parks Trip - Summer 2015 >> Denali National Park – Alaska >> Mount McKinley, Denali National Park – Alaska tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Mount McKinley, Denali National Park – Alaska

Images of Mount McKinley from the air in Denali National Park – Central Alaska, taken in July 2015.

At 20,320 feet Mount McKinley holds the distinction of having the largest vertical rise from bottom to top of any mountain in the world. It is massive, an incredible site to behold from the ground, and even more awe inspiring from the air.

I was in Talkeetna Alaska for my K2 Aviation flight to “the high one” anticipating an experience that would rock my world. Little did I know that I would be rocked even before I boarded the plane. The pilot was discussing the passenger load with another K2 employee when the earth began to move, only for a few seconds, just enough to make me worry. Then it happened again! I looked at the two of them and the employee said to the pilot ‘I’m going to say it was a 5.0, how about you?’ He replied, ‘I’ll say 4.8”. ‘Great’ she said, ‘I’ll start the pool sheet’. Apparently this happens often enough that everyone here simply bets on the strength of the tremors, winner takes the pool! Turns out the epicenter was only 25 miles from Talkeetna, the first tremor was a 4.9, followed by a 5.1. I’m not sure who won the pool but I simply marked it down as another interesting Alaskan travel experience…

The flight to the mountain was spectacular! I had talked with the pilot to see if he would let me ride up front and he had no problem with it. Someone would have to sit there, it might as well be me and since the mountain would be in front of us as we made our way to it, it was the best seat in the house. It was beautiful watching Mount McKinley get closer but the real fun began when we started weaving our way around the mountain. It’s a completely different experience when you’re flying and looking up at peaks and cliffs! Then, as if that was not enough, we land at the 5,500 foot level on the Ruth Amphitheater on Mount McKinley and spend 30 minutes just marveling at the scenery. It was amazing and, because of the clouds, we never even got to see the mountain top. Maybe next time…
Flying toward the Alaska Range over the Chulitna River from Talkeetna
Flying toward the Alaska Range over the Chulitna River from Talkeetna		 Mount McKinley with the Tokositna and Ruth Glaciers in the foreground
Mount McKinley with the Tokositna and Ruth Glaciers in the foreground		 Mount McKinley above the clouds
Mount McKinley above the clouds		 Mount McKinley with the summit obscured by clouds
Mount McKinley with the summit obscured by clouds		 Mount McKinley with glaciers in the foreground
Mount McKinley with glaciers in the foreground
Mount McKinley with glaciers in the foreground
Mount McKinley with glaciers in the foreground		 Mount McKinley from the southwest
Mount McKinley from the southwest		 Mount McKinley from the west
Mount McKinley from the west		 View from the copilot seat as we move through the mountainous areas around Mount McKinley
View from the copilot seat as we move through the mountainous areas around Mount McKinley		 The flank of Mount McKinley
The flank of Mount McKinley
A snow covered peak with Mount Huntington on the right
A snow covered peak with Mount Huntington on the right		 Flying past snow covered peaks
Flying past snow covered peaks		 Mount Foraker summit above the clouds
Mount Foraker summit above the clouds		 A windswept peak west of McKinley
A windswept peak west of McKinley		 Mount Huntington southwest of McKinley
Mount Huntington southwest of McKinley
View of Mount Huntington
View of Mount Huntington		 Snow clings to the top of a ridge
Snow clings to the top of a ridge		 The peak of Mount Huntington
The peak of Mount Huntington		 Flying by the peak of Mount Huntington
Flying by the peak of Mount Huntington		 Snowcapped peaks on the flank of Mount McKinley
Snowcapped peaks on the flank of Mount McKinley
Looking toward our landing zone on the Ruth Amphitheater
Looking toward our landing zone on the Ruth Amphitheater		 Flying over our landing zone on the Ruth Amphitheater (see planes, center)
Flying over our landing zone on the Ruth Amphitheater (see planes, center)		 The Ruth Glacier passing through the Great Gorge
The Ruth Glacier passing through the Great Gorge		 Mooses Tooth Peak on the edge of the Great Gorge and the Ruth Glacier
Mooses Tooth Peak on the edge of the Great Gorge and the Ruth Glacier		 Ruth Glacier and the Great Gorge on Mount McKinley
Ruth Glacier and the Great Gorge on Mount McKinley
Final approach to our landing on the Ruth Amphitheater
Final approach to our landing on the Ruth Amphitheater		 Seconds from touchdown on the Ruth Amphitheater on Mount McKinley
Seconds from touchdown on the Ruth Amphitheater on Mount McKinley		 Windswept mountain peak on Mount McKinley
Windswept mountain peak on Mount McKinley		 A wind cave high on a peak above the Ruth Amphitheater
A wind cave high on a peak above the Ruth Amphitheater		 Mountainous area surrounding the Ruth Amphitheater
Mountainous area surrounding the Ruth Amphitheater
Explorers Peak on the edge of the Ruth Amphitheater on Mount McKinley
Explorers Peak on the edge of the Ruth Amphitheater on Mount McKinley		 Mount Dan Beard near the Ruth Amphitheater on Mount McKinley
Mount Dan Beard near the Ruth Amphitheater on Mount McKinley		 The sun through the clouds from the Ruth Amphitheater on Mount McKinley
The sun through the clouds from the Ruth Amphitheater on Mount McKinley		 Ruth Glacier on Mount McKinley from the air
Ruth Glacier on Mount McKinley from the air		 Flying over Ruth Glacier as it passes through the Tokosha Mountains south of Mount McKinley
Flying over Ruth Glacier as it passes through the Tokosha Mountains south of Mount McKinley

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