ALASKA

AUGUST 2025

DENALI NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA. Day 1.

Most people book this trip a year in advance. I didn’t even know I was coming five days before leaving. I flew out of Albany at 6AM on August 5th 2025 with everything on my back.

It didn’t fully hit me until I was flying into Anchorage—the vastness, the mountains, the endless rivers winding through a maze of untouched wilderness. I didn’t take any photos. No lens could capture that feeling.

After landing, I boarded a 6-hour bus north. Halfway up: my first glimpse of DENALI— 20, 310 feet of raw, towering presence. Alaskans prefer calling it DENALI, Not McKinley. From there, the road got smaller, the mountains got bigger, and everything started to feel real.

The bus dropped me off a few miles from the camp area at 9 PM. No taxis. No shuttles. Just me, a heavy pack, and a long walk ahead. I met a German traveler named Erasmus, staying in the same campground. He offered to walk back with me, but I told him my pack would slow him down—I planned to hitchhike and then he suggested we hitch together as Erasmus had hitchhiked here from Montreal! Being an experienced hitchhiker, I had to decline as hitchhiking alone is much more productive, and I wanted to get settled. I ended up getting picked up by a kind woman named Dana—and beat Erasmus back.

Picked up hitchhiking

I was up at 2:30 that morning, 26 hours of travel later—and there I was. Tent pitched, campsite secured, and I could stay as long as I want. Hotels start at $350 a night. Campsite? $25.

This photo of my site was taken at 11:30 PM—and as you can see, it’s still light out.

Erasmus and I reconnected, and we shared some great stories of our world travels.

DENALI NATIONAL PARK Day 2.

I decided to climb CATHEDRAL that day. Not that hard and located 30 miles into the park, accessible by shuttle bus. I met Sean from Indianapolis, Ann from LA, and Catherine from Long Island on the bus and we all agreed that it’s best if we hike as a team to discourage bears. note: See video of the Three Huge Grizzly Bears. I shot this video a few miles from where our shuttle dropped us off! These are beautiful creatures that can fuck you up in horrible ways.

Weather was perfect and our spirits were high. There is no trail and it was steep. You traversed as you climbed, trying to stay on the thick vegetation and avoiding the slippery rock scree. Some had a hard time with the steepness of it, making the summit and view of DENALI more rewarding.

I took the shuttle bus back to my campsite. It cost $33 a day and would pick you up or drop you off anywhere along the route. There was also a more expensive bus option with narration and TVs, but my drivers always ended up narrating anyway. The stop was just a short walk from my site, so I headed back and settled into my cozy camp.

It’s 9PM and I’m sitting by the fire. But strangely, it’s won’t be dark for 2 1/2 hours!

DEPARTING DENALI, Day 3:

I woke up in my tent at first light around 5 AM. The morning was noticeably cooler and clouds were threatening. I decided to walk into the village to try and book a flight to see Denali from the air. I learned the best way to do that was to fly out of TALKEETNA, a small town about 150 miles south. I called all three air services for a flight tomorrow, but they all said chances were slim. The other option was camping in the rain.

As the clouds rolled in and the forecast confirmed, rain seemed inevitable for the next few days. So, I packed up and caught the 12:30 train — a five-hour journey with incredible mountain views to TALKEETNA. It was a wonderful trip, and I slept through much of it.

Goodbye DENALI NATIONAL PARK.

When I arrived, I was surprised at how small TALKEETNA was! Struggling with my 60-pound pack, I wandered around the train depot but couldn’t find any businesses nearby. Not sure what to do next, I was directed to speak with Charlie.

Charlie owns an SUV and is basically the town’s only limo, taxi, and Uber driver all in one. He gave me a tour of the charming village, pointing out nearly every business along the way. When I told him what I was looking for, he recommended Latitude 62 — a place with booze, beds, and burgers. It was the closest spot to the train station where I could get a room before carrying my pack and leaving town.

I felt right at home. Morgan, the bartender, gave me a room for $108 cash and served one of the best halibut dinners I’ve ever had, paired with a great-tasting hefeweizen beer — all for $50. Sitting at the bar, I got to know a few locals who were warm and welcoming.

Most people might find the room unacceptable, but after sleeping the last 72 hours in tents, trains, busses, and planes, I give it five stars.

The next morning, I took a nice walk and was surprised to find nothing open until after 8 AM.

I called Sheldon Air Service, recommended by Charlie. I’d spoken to Robert the day before, and he said there was an outside chance I could catch the 11 o’clock flight. “Don’t expect clear skies,” he warned — and getting out with him was still a big question. As a cash customer weighing 160 pounds, I got a great rate of $380, this would be my only chance, but weather still not looking good.

TALKEETNA, ALASKA — Day 4

Arrived at the airport for my 11 AM DENALI flightseeing tour with weather still iffy. The rest of our group showed, and we got the green light — six of us plus our pilot, Tom. Tom and I instantly connected when he spotted the Adirondack 46er emblem on my shirt matching the one on his hat. Yep — we’re both 46ers! 🏔 adk46er.org

We lifted off, gliding through glacial moraines etched into the rugged mountains — pure magic. The plan was to land on a glacier near DENALI, but just before arrival, the headset crackled: weather shut us down and DENALI, socked in the clouds. Still, an unforgettable ride… and with a credit, my cost was just $200. Bargain.