Denali West Buttress
Denali Base Camp
Denali Base Camp sits at 7,200′ on the Southeast Fork of the Kahiltna Glacier. Arrive via a scenic hour-long flight from Talkeetna, and prepare for your climb amid dynamic glacier views and busy expedition activity.
Flight to Denali Base Camp, Landing on the Glacier, and Preparations for the Climb
The flight from Talkeetna to Base Camp takes about an hour and covers 75 air miles as we leave the lush green of the Alaskan Tundra and enter the granite and ice-filled gorges of the Alaska Range. Our approach flight usually goes up either the Ruth Glacier and over South Hunter Pass and into the Base Camp landing strip, or directly up the Kahiltna Glacier from its toe, giving climbers the opportunity to look down on the world’s longest glacier (43+ miles from head to terminus).
Base Camp is at 7200 feet on the Southeast Fork of the Kahiltna Glacier. Base Camp is a hub of activity with climbers coming and going at almost all hours of the day. Because of the abundance of daylight in the spring, planes are able to fly early in the morning and late into the evening. Most groups spend very little time at Base Camp and pitch tents hastily upon arrival, only to tear them down, pack and head out again late that night or early the next morning. We will make a cache of emergency food and items for our return in three weeks.
