Andrew Edge's Photo Gallery :: 2002 Alaska Trip / Denali National Park 2a (flight seeing)

On Tuesday, the skies were clear and the weather beautiful. Simon asked if anyone wanted to go flight seeing that day, and I jumped at the chance. This is our plane, it held Greg the owner/pilot and five passengers.

On Tuesday, the skies were clear and the weather beautiful. Simon asked if anyone wanted to go flight seeing that day, and I jumped at the chance. This is our plane, it held Greg the owner/pilot and five passengers.

More kettle ponds than you can count.

The Muldrow Glacier begins just below the summit of Denali, drops eastward to the base of the mountain, then does a U-turn and heads west. I would later hike to the bottom of the glacier, where it has a remarkably different appearance than it does at the top.

The Muldrow Glacier begins just below the summit of Denali, drops eastward to the base of the mountain, then does a U-turn and heads west. I would later hike to the bottom of the glacier, where it has a remarkably different appearance than it does at the top.

There were two airplanes flying around the Denali summit that morning. We occasionally caught glimpses of the other plane, giving a sense of scale to our surroundings.

There were two airplanes flying around the Denali summit that morning. We occasionally caught glimpses of the other plane, giving a sense of scale to our surroundings.

We flew clockwise around Denali. The higher south summit is to the left, the north summit to the right.

We flew clockwise around Denali. The higher south summit is to the left, the north summit to the right.

The glaciers had incredible textures when viewed from up close.

The glaciers had incredible textures when viewed from up close.

Discovering the details of the mountain features that can't be seen from the distant camp made the flight a great experience. After being up close, I see Denali in a deeper way no matter where I am.

Discovering the details of the mountain features that can't be seen from the distant camp made the flight a great experience. After being up close, I see Denali in a deeper way no matter where I am.

Elegant from the air, these crevasses would be a climber's nightmare.

Elegant from the air, these crevasses would be a climber's nightmare.

Once the glacier descends from its lofty heights, the upper level of ice melts, leaving behind a layer of rock, dirt, and debris. That layer serves to insulate the ice underneath from further melting. Ponds form in depressions, and eventually vegetation starts to grow. Some parts of this stable glacial mass have not moved in years, and thus are more correctly referred to as an ice-core moraine.

Once the glacier descends from its lofty heights, the upper level of ice melts, leaving behind a layer of rock, dirt, and debris. That layer serves to insulate the ice underneath from further melting. Ponds form in depressions, and eventually vegetation starts to grow. Some parts of this stable glacial mass have not moved in years, and thus are more correctly referred to as an ice-core moraine.

I gained some weight since 1996, and thus got promoted from the back seat to the middle seat of the plane. Each of us wore headsets with voice-activated microphones, except for the rear headsets which had no mikes. Greg made a wisecrack about putting the women in back for that reason alone. :-) Darlene in red was part of Pat O'Hara's photography workshop, and skipped his introductory lecture to go flight-seeing. I think she made the correct choice.

I gained some weight since 1996, and thus got promoted from the back seat to the middle seat of the plane. Each of us wore headsets with voice-activated microphones, except for the rear headsets which had no mikes. Greg made a wisecrack about putting the women in back for that reason alone. :-) Darlene in red was part of Pat O'Hara's photography workshop, and skipped his introductory lecture to go flight-seeing. I think she made the correct choice.

Camp Denali from the air. The plane hit some rough turbulence just as I snapped this photo; I'm surprised it came out ok. Having spent hours trying to land on this runway in Microsoft Flight Simulator, I had an appreciation for how difficult it was. Greg made it look easy. The

Camp Denali from the air. The plane hit some rough turbulence just as I snapped this photo; I'm surprised it came out ok. Having spent hours trying to land on this runway in Microsoft Flight Simulator, I had an appreciation for how difficult it was. Greg made it look easy. The

Having spent hours trying to land on this runway in Microsoft Flight Simulator, I had an appreciation for how difficult it was. Greg made it look easy. The final approach was steep, though.

Having spent hours trying to land on this runway in Microsoft Flight Simulator, I had an appreciation for how difficult it was. Greg made it look easy. The final approach was steep, though.