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marky
climber
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Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 29, 2008 - 10:18pm PT
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Seems like a nice town. Haven't been, but will be going soon.
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fairweather
Mountain climber
Roseville, CA
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Feb 29, 2008 - 10:50pm PT
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I was actually a little disappointed in it. I somehow expected more. I can't really say anything bad about it. It just doesn't seem to live up to the hype. In great weather the view of Denali is hard to beat. For lower key, and closer to the mountain, I prefer Caldwell.
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fear
Ice climber
hartford, ct
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Feb 29, 2008 - 11:07pm PT
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Kinda neat place. Worth the trip IMO. There are (or were anyway) all these white-supremecy militia kook camps on the drive up there.... Lots of odd folks in the town itself.
Reindeer sausage... That was good...
-Fear
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survival
Big Wall climber
arlington, va
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Walleye,
No. It's a quaint little drinking village with a small climbing problem....
Fairweather, what hype? A nice little AK town to climb on airplanes at? Geesh, what did you expect Zermatt?
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T2
climber
Cardiff by the sea
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My first experience rolling into Talkeetna.
After checking in with our bush pilot (Doug Geeting) we headed on over to the legendary Fairveiw Inn for a couple of brews. Sitting at the bar with brew in hand I noticed a sign on the wall stating "CHECK ALL FIREARMS IN WITH BARS MAID" I chuckled to my partner and sarcastically say "How many people you think actually check in their firearms?" the lady behind the bar overhearing my comment say's to me "everybody except you guys." Hmm I say to myself as i look around. Then a few moments later some guy says good night to the fine lady behind the bar, she says good night in return as she puts down his .45 on the bar that he picks it up, holsters it, then walks out. I realize then that I am in the "WILD WEST" and not in kansas anymore. haha
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Scared Silly
Trad climber
UT
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Done 5 seasons in the AK range, been over 20 years since my first visit. Talkeetna is slowly growing. It is used to be in the spring time mostly climbers hanging out. But now with more and more cruise ship turons coming up from Anchorage to do flights around the hill climbers are being squeezed out to some degree. Last time I was there the Fairview was closed. I can not remember why. There were also more boutique eateries but the places like the Road House are still my favorite for breakfast. Enjoy it for what it is - a little diverse piece of Alaska.
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John Moosie
climber
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Whats perfect about Talkeentna is its location. Alaska !!! I had a blast. I want to go back. That is one beautiful state. There is just something in the air. Wildness. Rawness.. I love that feeling. The northern lights are a dream. Bears are cool. The Salmon are to die for. Watch out you don't die getting one. haha. The moose are trippy. They are so big and yet they can move pretty fast.
Its BIG. Not Talkeenta.....Alaska. I hopefully will get to go again.
What is Talkeenta? It is a base from which you can go explore wild places.
Oh.....and there is a big effing mountain right close.
Other then that. It sucks. LOL
Not really...But beer is not cheep.
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Marco
Ice climber
Maine
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http://www.talkeetnaair.com/webcam/index.html
Here is the view from the hill as you drop down into town.
I've been going to the AK range for a while. Town is getting bigger and has many more tourists than it used to - thanks to the train full of folks from away stopping to take a look. Still a great place to begin and end a trip. Agree the Road House is the best breakfast around....the perfect way to begin the morning on the day you are flying in...
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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I have to admit that, despite the imperious thread title, the responses have been moderately enlightening.
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
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Shot of whiskey and a beer at the Fairview, then things will start to look good. Nice town, amazing setting.
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L
climber
Malibu, baby....in a Cheetah shirt
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Spent a little time in Talkeenta a while back after being away for 9 years. The place had grown, but was still primarily a frontier town. Everything's more expensive, and there are less modern conveniences than you'd expect with all the touristas syphoning through. Which was good, in a way.
Still the center of some of the most beautiful wilderness I've ever bushwhacked through.
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renoenvy
climber
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Talkeetna's great. Camping on the river. Breakfast at the Roadhouse. There was also a Tom Waits songbook on the piano at the Roadhouse. Last time I was up there the "west rib" had cook your own steak night.
And the tourists are only there in the middle of the afternoon. Then they get back on the train or bus and head up to the park.
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tolman_paul
Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
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As long as you realize it isn't a destination in and of itself, and that it's a small town, it has it's own charm. Couple decent places to eat, a neat small museum and that's about it.
The best way to describe service in Alaskan restaraunts as bad to very bad, just don't order a meal and expect it to arrive quickly, even if the place is empty.
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Gimp
Trad climber
Grand Junction
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First time I was there was 1973, didn't get back until 84. Last time was 2001. Town has changed a lot with paved mainstreet, lost of artist shop's etc.
Fond memories
Flew with Lowell Thomas Jr, Doug Geeting, Cliff Hudson, Jay Hudson, Jim Okonek, and the last time with the late Keli Mahoney.
Remember Talkeetna Days when guys from the north shore were paying hundreds of dollars for pies, and Geeting staggering over to his little red byplane to do another air show.
Remember one year just giving the bartender at the Fairview a bunch of money and closing the place down acting as our own bartender.
Liked it better before it became an artist colony but you can't stop the people wave no matter how hard you wish.
Steve
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Double D
climber
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The Bird in Photo Garb, Talkeetna AK 1980? 1st Mooses Tooth Attempt
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Emon
Trad climber
Palo Alto, CA
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One of the best reasons to visit Talkeetna is coming right up:
The OOSIK. March 15.
http://www.anchoragenordicski.com/Events/oosik.htm
50km of double-poling to get your lats in shape for climbing season and a great party (great homemade food, beer and a band in the local bunker) afterwards.
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Michael D
Big Wall climber
Napoli, Italy
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Run the stopsign, nobody will notice. Walk in the middle of the street, nobody cares. Passout on the beach, nobody checks. Paint your building purple...oh, my God! Check out Wal-Mikes on the way. Cheers, Michael
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survival
Big Wall climber
arlington, va
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Lookit all those hexes below Birds right foot,...bitchin'!
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SteveW
Trad climber
Denver, CO
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Not only the salmon is good--try some of the halibut!
MMMMMMMM!!!!!
Take lot's of mosquito repellent, and something
to cover your eyes to sleep in the midnight sun!
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Hard Rock
Trad climber
Montana
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At the Fairview inn I was worried that Doug Geeting needed to have a second job and was playing with the band. But they were OK and I'm not that much of a music critic. The flight was ok and better than the first one. That year Jay (no last name) wanted to show his 18 year old girlfiend the glaciers and asked if she could come along. We said sure. Never fly through one shot pass with a young one trying to impress his girlfriend. Seem to me the town has alot of character(s).
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Hootervillian
climber
the Hooterville World-Guardian
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it has a decent view....
and some good sportcraggin'....
but it ain't Winchester.
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Brian in SLC
Social climber
Salt Lake City, UT
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I think the first time I went to Talkeetna was in '87 or so. Was with my girlfriend at the time...and...that caused a stir. Bit more wild and wooly back then. Place has changed a bunch in the last number of years. I think I've flown out of there around 6 times over the years (last time was 2005).
I think the Fairview was closed for some structural reason. Dimly recall closing it down once and sleeping on Geeting's hanger floor, and the damn air compressor fired up in the morning. Thought my head was gonna burst.
Geeting used to have an a-frame cabin on the river out of town a short ways. Let climber types stay in it, which, was kind of a mistake 'cause most were piggish. There were squashed mosquitos over every square inch of that thing...
Breakfast at the Roadhouse! Good bread and jam. Not a bad place to stay, either.
Cemetary is a sobering place to spend some time before flying in to the AK range.
West Rib has been a nice addition to town. Never have made it to Michelle's. She was our taxi driver in '96 or so and picked us up at the Anchorage airport in hot pink short shorts. Yikes.
and the last time with the late Keli Mahoney
Yeah, RIP Keli. She flew us into the Surprise Glacier (first time for anyone, methinks and a very close call coming in to get us) and into Foraker in 2002. Great pilot. Article below.
-Brian in SLC
Keli Mahoney
Carolyn Disselbrett
Bruce Andrews
Mark Wagoner
Four die in air taxi crash
Talkeetna pilot was ferrying 2 climbers, passenger to McKinley area
By TATABOLINE BRANT, ZAZ HOLLANDER and CRAIG MEDRED, Daily News reporters, May 29, 2003
An air taxi ferrying two mountain climbers and a sightseer crashed in the Alaska Range near Mount McKinley on Wednesday, killing all three passengers and the pilot, the National Park Service said.
The plane, a Cessna 185, was operated by McKinley Air Service of Talkeetna, authorities said.
The pilot was Keli Mahoney, co-owner of the company and an Iditarod musher.
Mahoney was flying two climbers into the Kahiltna base camp, along with scenic passenger Carolyn Disselbrett of Salem, Ore. The two climbers were identified by the park service as Alaska Mountaineering School guide Bruce Andrews, 39, of Lafayette, Colo., and AMS client Mark Wagoner, 31 of Snow Camp, N.C. The two mountaineers were intending to climb the Sultana Ridge of Mount Foraker, the park service reported.
Authorities said the plane left Talkeetna about 12:50 p.m. and crashed between 2 and 3 p.m. Another Talkeetna-based air taxi spotted the wreckage shortly thereafter, said Park Service spokeswoman Jane Tranel.
The wreckage was located in a glaciated area south of 14,573-foot Mount Hunter, known as South Hunter Pass, inside Denali National Park and Preserve. Pilots routinely fly over the pass to get to Kahiltna Glacier base camp, the starting point for the hundreds of climbers each summer who try to summit McKinley, North America's tallest peak. The area sees lots of summer flightseeing traffic as well.
Skies were relatively clear, and there was no radio communication between the plane and the base camp indicating a problem, Park Service spokesman John Quinley said.
The crash site was at approximately 8,200 feet. The Park Service sent rangers to the site Wednesday afternoon in a specially designed high-altitude helicopter and confirmed that all four people on board the Cessna were dead, Tranel said.
The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known. An investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board arrived at the site around 7 p.m, said Quinley. The plan was to use the helicopter to move the bodies by nightfall to the Kahiltna base camp and then transport them from there on a plane to Talkeetna, he said.
Three summers ago, an air taxi broke apart in midair south of Mount McKinley, killing well-known Talkeetna pilot and musher Don Bowers and three park service rangers.
The mood in Talkeetna Wednesday was "pretty emotional," Quinley said. "We knew Keli, knew the mountaineering guide."
Bruce Andrews has been a climbing guide and teacher for 14 years, according to his biography on the Alaska Mountaineering School Web site. He has worked for Outward Bound and Colorado Mountain School, among other places, and has led high-altitude expeditions all over the world.
The crash comes in the heart of the McKinley climbing season. A quiet, snow-blanketed, Bush-like community for nine months of the year, Talkeetna throbs with activity for the other three months as the tourism business sprouts to life for the short summer. Particularly in May and June, the air strip on the edge of town is a buzz of light airplane traffic on any given day as a handful of air taxis keep busy hauling climbers, sightseers, National Park Service officials and supplies to and from the Kahiltna base camp at 7,200 feet on a glacier sprawling off the southwest side of 20,320-foot Mount McKinley.
McKinley Air Service is one of seven services authorized to land on glaciers on the south side of McKinley.
Mahoney, 35, started flying while still a high school student in Quincy, Mass., according to her Iditarod biography. She had her pilot's license by the age of 17, and by the time she turned 21 she'd found a job as a commercial pilot on a TWA commuter shuttle. But she fled the East Coast for adventure in Alaska in 1991.
She flew Bush planes out of Bethel for two years before settling in Talkeetna. She and LeeAnn Wetzel started McKinley Air Service in 1995. The slogan on their brochure: "Two Babes and a Bird." Like the other Talkeetna air taxis, the business focused on ferrying climbers to and from the Kahiltna base camp and taking tourists on scenic flights around North America's tallest peak.
"McKinley Air Service is the only women-started air service and one of only a handful operated by women in the world," their Web site says.
Mahoney was a conservative pilot who knew the Alaska Range, said her longtime friend Annie Duquette, who used to work for McKinley Air Service and also was a manager at Kahiltna base camp for 10 years.
Mahoney had not had an accident in the Alaska Range before Wednesday, according to her company's Web site.
When Mahoney wasn't busy flying, she was busy working with dogs, a second passion. She ran the Iditarod in 1997 and finished 30th. A second attempt in 1998 did not end as well when she was forced to scratch.
She had in recent years turned her attention to the wilder, less-publicized Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Yukon.
Duquette said her husband was on the helicopter that went to the crash site Wednesday. She said there was no indication that the plane skidded down, but that it apparently came in "pretty hard." There were some reports of wind, she said.
"Our gut feeling is something must have happened," Duquette said. "Keli's too good of a pilot. Unless it was a huge wind shear, she can maneuver herself in anything. Something drastic must of happened for her to go in like that."
Mahoney was the only pilot for McKinley Air Service. Duquette said she was with Wetzel at her home when the call came in that there had been a crash. "LeeAnn walked in and had this look on her face," she said. At first no one knew for sure if there were fatalities.
Wetzel and Duquette didn't want to wait around to find out. They drove over to McKinley Air Service at the airport right away, Duquette said.
"You could just tell by people's faces; nobody wanted to tell you anything," she said.
Wetzel sat Wednesday evening on the steps of her business, surrounded by friends. She said she was not yet ready to talk about the accident.
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the Fet
Knackered climber
A bivy sack in the secret campground
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Just before you get into town there is a good scenic overview looking out at McKinley/Denali. If it's not clouded in.
It's farther from McKinley/Denali than I expected. I expected a climber's town near the mountains. But the town was there long before the climbers, and caters to fishing/hunting etc.
Some cool historic buildings.
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survival
Big Wall climber
arlington, va
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If you're anywhere near Talkeetna on the first weekend of August, you must see the Talkeetna "bluegrass" festival. There's not really much true bluegrass, it's more like a melting pot, but it is the Woodstock of Alaska every year.
Buggs and I have played at it many times, and there's nothing like it. Bikers, kids, punks, naked people, cool vendors and lots of WILDNESS!! The cops are thicker than fleas up there for a couple days though.
I heard a guy talking about getting pulled over on the way in and somebody asked him, "What'd you get pulled over for?" and his response..."Uh...about fifteen minutes."
A friend visiting from Oregon was on stage with us playing a Pink Floyd tune, tearing it up, and a gal with great..uh...equipment flashed him and he about fell off the stage. Afterwards, he came up to me and said "I like Alaska,..
A LOT!!!" Ha..
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marky
climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 7, 2008 - 02:49am PT
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bump, and a question: how does the budget-minded climber get from Anchorage airport to Talkeetna?
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O.D.
Trad climber
LA LA Land
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If you enjoy stream fishing for big fish, you'll think you've died and gone to heaven; three major salmon streams converge at Talkeetna. Imagine catching a 12-lb king salmon and feeling jaded because it's so small (that happened to me).
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Double D
climber
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marky: "how does the budget-minded climber get from Anchorage airport to Talkeetna?" Train.
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Scared Silly
Trad climber
UT
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marky: "how does the budget-minded climber get from Anchorage airport to Talkeetna?"
Hitch hike ...
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SteveW
Trad climber
Denver, CO
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Marky
They have shuttles. The prices vary, but the more climbers
you can round up, the cheaper the rate per climber. Look through the literature from the NPS and I think they list some of the operators. Or just do a google search for shuttle transport to Talkeetna
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Brian in SLC
Social climber
Salt Lake City, UT
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"how does the budget-minded climber get from Anchorage airport to Talkeetna?" Train.
The train isn't cheap, but, it is pretty neat. Cuts off from the highway so you get to see some scenery that's not available from the road. The trip from Talkeetna to Denali park is really good. Whistle stop, too.
Train ticket round trip from Anchorage to Talkeetna is 82 bucks and they only allow you to check 2 bags at 50 lb each. And, you have to get to the train depot, which is around a 20 minute or so car ride from the airport. Not sure any local buses do that route, but, could be done in a cab for around 20 bucks I'd think.
So, you do that math, and, then realize also that you can't get decent groceries or cheap liquor enroute and the shuttles from Talkeetna just make too much sense. Standard grocery/liquor stop in Wasilla (I'm very familiar with the selection at the Oaken Keg). The grocery store in Wasilla has an impressive selection, way better than most groceries in the lower 48 (really). Just pulled up Talkeetna Shuttle, and they're 125 round trip. I think I've used them and another service in town. Nice thing about these shuttles too is that they can take your luggage no problemo, and they'll pick you up anywhere in Anchorage, and drop you anywhere in Talkeetna (like your flight service or whatever lodging you've booked).
Schlepping bags from the depot in Talkeetna to the air taxi isn't so far, but, with heavy bags...
For shorter trips, where I'm going into the Ruth for a week or so, then driving around afterwards, I've just rented a car. Weekly rate works pretty well and its super convenient to have transport in case the weather is poopy and you want to get out of town for a spell.
Hitch hiking "might" work, but, with a ton of climbing gear, might be tough sleddin' especially if its raining cats and dogs...
-Brian in SLC
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Bldrjac
Ice climber
Boulder
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So........how does a budget-minded climber get from Anchorage to Talkeetna? Here are a few ways.
You can rent a car for $60 in Anchorage and arrange for climbers in Talkeetna to drive it back to the rental place after you have driven to Talkeetna from Anchorage. Both parties split the cost fo the car rental and gas. I've done this twice without any hassles, crashes or problems. Just call your taxi service ahead of time and ask if there is anyone wanting to come into Anchorage. There almost always is.
You can go into Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking (AMH) and if enough notice is given, one of the employees will often drive you and your gear to Talkeetna. Give them $100 total and it's still alot cheaper than either the bus, train, or shuttle.
Back in da day I used to be able to go into one of the "juke joints" on fourth avenue and for a large bottle of whiskey one of the local drunks would let me put all my and my partner's gear into their pickup trucks and drive it to Talkeetna.
You don't have to hire one of the shuttle companies in Talkeetna. There are also cheaper shuttle companies in Anchorage and their numbers are in the phone book.
Hitching IS an option but maybe not with 100lbs in two large duffles.
jack
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tolman_paul
Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
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FYI, the extended the Alaska Railroad right to the Anchorage Airport, so no shuttle needed to the depot.
I'm sure a shuttle would be much cheaper than the train, and I'm sure you could find a few.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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There sure seem to be a lot of creative ways to spell "Talkeetna". Phonics, perhaps. The Chamber of Commerce website has the following on the name:
'Three rivers, the Talkeetna, Chulitna, and Susitna, converge here to become the Big Susitna drainage. The word "Susitna" in Den'aina Indian language means "Sand Island River". The name "Talkeetna" loosely translated, means "River of Plenty", or more literally, "Place where food is stored near the river," meaning a place where a food cache was located. Chulitna means "River of Big Leaf Trees". The Den'aina Indians were an Athabascan subgroup who inhabited the Upper Cook Inlet drainage. – For some local residents Talkeetna simply means: "Where three rivers meet".
It's a pretty good site, with a fair bit of information about the history of the place:
http://www.talkeetnachamber.org/history.html
I haven't been there, but have spent a fair amount of time in northern B.C. and the Yukon, and a bit in the panhandle.
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marky
climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 8, 2008 - 08:21pm PT
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the train sounds pretty cool. If things go well on the hill, I'd like to fly out and spend a few nights carousing in T-town
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Buggs
Trad climber
Eagle River, Alaska
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Mar 27, 2008 - 03:22am PT
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"how does the budget minded climber get from anchorage to talkeetna"
Why she calls me in Eagle River and we suss out the details about the road trip. Always love to drive up to the high country.
cozmicbandito@msn.com
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Buggs
Trad climber
Eagle River, Alaska
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Mar 27, 2008 - 03:24am PT
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scuze me, Marky - she and/or he. : )
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Mar 27, 2008 - 08:29am PT
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Hey Buggs, I need a ride to Talkeetna. I have a guitar, but no fatties...do I need to know any special knots???
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Buggs
Trad climber
Eagle River, Alaska
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Mar 27, 2008 - 05:42pm PT
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Survival,
Guitars are cool, but you know me...no fattie, no ridie.
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marky
climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 11, 2008 - 08:01pm PT
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I liked it well enough. Tourists are as thick as the skeeters, but both disperse by midnight.
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Michael D
Big Wall climber
Napoli, Italy
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Jul 11, 2008 - 09:40pm PT
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Don't forget a Push-up or Rocket from Karen and Joes ice cream van! Cheers
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Doug Buchanan
Mountain climber
Fairbanks Alaska
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Jul 12, 2008 - 02:39am PT
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Cheap way to get to Talkeetna...
Because he stated that the approach to the mountain should be pure, and therefore a climber coming to Alaska to climb Denali should start hiking from the Anchorage airport, John Waterman relayed packs of all his gear to Denali, past the turn-off to Talkeetna, from the Anchorage airport.
Took awhile. He got to be known as the guy hiking along the highway.
Well, the choice should be mentioned. And it was done.
Doug
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Webmusher
Boulder climber
Meadow Lakes, Alaska
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Just a short walk South from Beautiful Downtown Talkeetna the Susitna River Lodges are a great place to get a cabin or lodge suite on the cheap.
http://www.susitna-river-lodging.com/talkeetna.html
A few guys can get a limo from Anch to Talkeetna for less than a cab. Stretch Hummer anyone? Lowest priced Airport Shuttle Service, from Anchorage to Palmer/Wasilla area $30 seat (based on two) or $60 for one each Way!
http://www.alaskansplendor.com/limo.shtml
From Wasilla you can stock up at the Sports Stores, Grocery stores, etc. and catch the train, cab, shuttle or hitch the rest of the way.
The ride from Anchorage to Talkeetna is about 2 1/2 hours.
Other ride options include...
Denali Overland Transportation
PO Box 330
Talkeetna AK 99676
(907)733-2384
(800)651-5221
FAX: (907)733-2385
E-mail: denaliak@alaska.net
Exposure Alaska (Also provides Expedition Food Packages)
200 W. 34th Ave. #82
Anchorage Alaska 99503
(907)761-3761
(800)956-6422
Talkeetna Shuttle Service
PO Box 468
Talkeetna AK 99676
(907)733-1725 or
(888)288-6008
FAX: (907)733-2222
E-mail: tshuttle@alaska.net
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Ottawa Doug
Social climber
Ottawa, Canada
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April 1979, Cliff Hudson is our pilot with a no smoking sign on dash and cigarette in his hand as we head towards Denali. Two weeks later into the Fairview Inn for beers. I didn't see any guns, but Cliff had told us that they didn't need police in town because if they had any problems, locals would handle it themselves. Great memories.
Cheers,
Doug
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Gimp
Trad climber
Grand Junction
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Been there 5 times between 1984-2001, lots of memories.
Like all places it has changed a lot.
People I can remember flying with
-Doug Geeting (also remember his airshow in 84 during Talkeetna Days with his biplane, he obviously doesn't get air sick even with a few under his belt)
-Lowell Thomas Jr, beautiful plane and real gentleman
-Cliff Hudson-Agree with Dougs comments.
-Jay Hudson-No flaps take off from the glacier and landing in talkeetna
-Jim Okonek-No comment
-Keli Mahoney-She talked me into serving as a Vet(to clarify since I in the past have answered some Doc questions,I am a MD&DVM) the next year at the Iditarod, a real loss.
Gimp
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ms55401
Trad climber
minneapolis, mn
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fun place, but not a lot of snow or ice, tourists, but not as many as one would find in, say, Yosemite Valley
days are long in summer; nights are long in winter
haven't had sex within city limits, but perhaps I will on my next visit
pizza in town is okay/not bad, breakfast usually is pretty good, no espresso machine in town as far as I know
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overwatch
climber
Arizona
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I have never been there but I felt compelled to post because of the thread title.
good thread always wanted to go
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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They know how to partay!
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
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Wonderful little town with mostly unpaved streets.
The West Rib pub is a must see. The walls are covered with signatures of folks from around the world that come to climb Denali. They have a 5# caribou burger with 12 slices each of bacon and cheese. If you can eat it in an hour you get a t shirt! And I think the burger is free.
A visit to Don Sheldon's hangar is a must. They frequently do a slide show and you can see the planes and think about all the adventures they were on. If you aren't a heavy duty mountaineer you can get dropped off at the Ruth Glacier for a few days, stagger around and get picked back up.
The Road House is truly a Road House. It's a combination cafe and hostel. At night the visitors will pick up a guitar and everyone starts singing. There are only large family style tables for eating and the best scones I've had anywhere. I've met people there from all over the world.
If you are sitting down by the river and the fog is clear seeing Denali in the distance is breathtaking. Especially if you see it as the fog is clearing. Just UNREAL.
If you get a chance do go see it. Especially if it's climbing season. A very special kind of deep resonating energy.
Susan
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fear
Ice climber
hartford, ct
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All roads lead to Talkeetna.
The reindeer sausages were good. Helped replace he 20 pounds I lost somewhere up higher.
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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I went to the Fairview Inn in scenic downtown Talkeetna for the first time back in May 1979.
A sign on the front door read, "Hippies use side door."
So, naturally, I went to the side door.
It was locked.
There was a deli across the street from the Fairview. On the counter was a very large pickle jar stuffed with cash. The jar was labeled, "Jimmy Carter Contract Fund."
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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Cliff Hudson's "hangar" in Talkeetna in May 1979
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overwatch
climber
Arizona
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funny s h i t about the hippies entrance
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rmuir
Social climber
From the Time Before the Rocks Cooled.
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Somebody left the screen door open, and now we've got a damned mosquito in here!
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Fossil climber
Trad climber
Atlin, B. C.
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Flew in and out of Talkeetna repeatedly with Don Sheldon in the 60s, had tea (with honey and rum) with him and lovely Roberta on occasion. The town was even more primitive then, but no one was packing far as I could see.
His hanger is still there but the airstrip has changed. Helped pack Winter Expedition gear into his Cessna 180, 42U. Plane was so packed that when "Farine" Batkin tried to get in with it I actually had to help him force his bunny boot into the last tiny space. He went into a crevasse next day and died.
Came back later to coordinate the rescue effort (that was a zoo!) for that team after they got pinned by storms. (Good book on that, "Minus 148" by Art Davidson.)
Sheldon was a funny duck, given to dramatic overstatement. When the summit party (Davidson, Johnson, Genet) emerged from their snow cave above Denali Pass and were spotted by military aircraft, Sheldon took off in a hurry with a reporter. When he landed I asked why he hadn't waited for supplies to drop. He said, "Oh heck, I dropped 'em a whole crate of oranges and a radio!" I questioned the crate of oranges and he said that "...well, there were three big ones!" They did not survive the drop.
I think the number of people involved in the rescue attempt damn near equalled the population. Must have been a real boost to the Talkeetna economy.
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christoph benells
Trad climber
Tahoma, Ca
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this plane?
and, we should start the same thread for Atlin, Fossil?
do you recognize this man?
how about this one?
Atlin Lake, sure is pretty
BACK TO TALKEETNA
oh, where you get beer to go drink by the river
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Fossil climber
Trad climber
Atlin, B. C.
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Don had a series of Supercubs - that may be a later one - can't see the number.
Guy by the boat is Archie Wiggins, a guy who can do almost anything, it seems.
Second guy -I think - is Toby Dittrich, a prof who works with the Juneau Icefield Research Project.
Atlin isn't a climbing destination so don't think it merits a thread, except OT. But it is awesomely beautiful,and there are great mountains and the adjacent icefield with some great challenging spires, and a heliski operation here. Nice thought, though!
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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The food....one has to climb a mountain to justify it. :)
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cyndiebransford
climber
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
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Feb 14, 2016 - 06:35pm PT
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Talkeetna has a little of everything. I was there for the 4th of July last year. The parade was small but had everything great about America parades. There was live music in the town park, an auction for half-life size wooden painted moose, and you can buy tickets for numbered dry moose poop that is dropped onto a target at the VFW and have a chance to win some money back. A new local brewery is in town. The residents have elected a cat as the mayor for the last 12 years. There is good food and a variety of people watching opportunities.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Feb 14, 2016 - 06:52pm PT
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No comment.. the inner working of Talkeetna are the greatest/dumbest story never told. The average local argument makes WOS look like kindergarten poo flinging.
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Fossil climber
Trad climber
Atlin, B. C.
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Feb 14, 2016 - 08:43pm PT
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That sure looks like Batkin.Was it?
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feralfae
Boulder climber
in the midst of a metaphysical mystery
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Feb 14, 2016 - 09:38pm PT
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Great to see some faces to go with the names. :)
Because Waterman was featured in the winter Alpinist, including the photo of him on Hunter, I though I'd re-post this comment that Doug made a ways back up-thread.
Doug Buchanan
Mountain climber
Fairbanks Alaska
Jul 12, 2008 - 02:39am PT
Cheap way to get to Talkeetna...
Because he stated that the approach to the mountain should be pure, and therefore a climber coming to Alaska to climb Denali should start hiking from the Anchorage airport, John Waterman relayed packs of all his gear to Denali, past the turn-off to Talkeetna, from the Anchorage airport.
Took awhile. He got to be known as the guy hiking along the highway.
Well, the choice should be mentioned. And it was done.
Doug
And have entirely too much fun in Talkeetna.
feralfae
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| Messages 1 - 63 of total 63 in this topic |
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