Thursday, June 30, 2011

Talkeetna Ranger Station

From Talkeetna Ranger Station
Undeniably the most beautiful building in town, the Talkeetna Ranger Station is a must stop for climbers prior to going to the 7,000' base camp on Denali mountain. This station features a film on the rigors of climbing Denali, the highest mountain in north America at 20,320'.

Measured from Wonder Lake, it has a vertical rise of over 18,000', higher than Mt. Everest. Winter lows at 14,500' can plummet to -95 degrees f. and winds can gust to over 150 mph. Beginners need not apply!

Talkeetna is used as the hub to shuttle both climbers and supplies to the base camp. Scenic flights are also offered out of the airport.

From Talkeetna Ranger Station
From Talkeetna Ranger Station
From Talkeetna Ranger Station
From Talkeetna Ranger Station
There is an interesting display of hoof and paw castings, made of some type of polymer or rubbery material. Pictures were hard to take due to contrast, but I think you will get the idea.

From Talkeetna Ranger Station
From Talkeetna Ranger Station
From Talkeetna Ranger Station
From Talkeetna Ranger Station
Talkeetna doesn't have a lot of moose or caribou in the area, but is infamous for it's black and grizzly bears. Remember everyone, yell "Hey bear" when walking in the woods!

For further information on the ranger station: Denali NationalPark

1 comment:

Jim and Sandie said...

Please be really really really careful out hiking. Had a hiker killed by a sow bear today in Yellowstone. And so are we going to see pictures from the top of Denali?