Attempting Mount Denali Day 1 of 15:

Loading our bags into a Talkeetna Air Taxi, we embarked upon one of the most beautiful plane flights I have been on. Creeping towards the mountain, I sat in the co-pilot seat, giving me access the a 180 degree view. At first, I moved around a good amount, “Please stay on your side,” the pilot instructed.

flight seeing mount denali — Seeing Mount Denali out the passenger window of a bush plane on a flight-seeing tour of Mount Denali National Park. Photo by Dalton Johnson

“Copy that,” I responded, thinking I was cool and knew the lingo.

As we flew, the Alaska Range skyline reviewed itself to us. Transitioning from green to white, we glided over glaciers, jagged peaks, and stared out upon our object. Thirty minutes passed and the descent towards the glacier began. Time had moved faster than ever before.

My ears popped and the frozen landing strip grew larger and larger. Looking out the front window, I was amazing to see the glacier was uphill. Nerves. Clutching the camera, I did my best to stabilize, but the landing bounced me around. “Okay every, we are here. We will have you unloaded in just a second.” The pilot announced as he hopped out of his door.

As a total newbie, I had no idea what to expect. I had never been flown onto a glacier, heck, I had never been in a bush plane. Unbuckling the seatbelt, I wandered to the ladder in the back. Stepping down onto the glacier, the efficiency of the pilots and guides left me behind. Bags were getting tossed, I was trying to shoot what I could, but everything was new. Bag after bag was getting unloaded and shuffled. The pilot was already talking with his next group, they were getting ready to leave the mountain. They had successfully summited.

Tossing my bag over my shoulder and pulling a sled with two duffle bags off the airstrip, I was still in shock. I needed to stand still. I wanted to remember this moment forever. Being here, on this glacier, was something I could not have imagined. Hell, if you would have asked me six months ago, I would have told you it would be a life-long dream to give it a go. Probably more of a pipe dream than a reality. Yet, here I am.

flight seeing mount denali national park — Saying goodbye to our shrinking plane after getting dropped onto the glacier to climb Mount Denali. Photo by Dalton Johnson

Hannah came over to Bill and I to give us the low down. “For the rest of today, we will rest here. Do you see that peak over there, that is Forker. That one there, that is Hunter…” She went on giving us a lay of the land.

Absorbing the information like a sponge, I snap images, both mentally and physically, before we set begin to set up camp for the day. We could move further as it is only 11:30 am, but we are going to stay put for the night time, so we can cross the glacier when it is frozen, at 2 am. For now, we snack, drink water, and start to take care of ourselves.

Still attempting to retract my jaw and avoiding pinching myself—if this is a dream I don’t want to wake up quite yet—I am inside the tent typing into my computer, importing files, and staring out the window at my life for the next 20 days.