All this
Goes in here
And this doesn't include group gear like stoves, tents, CMCs, pickets, food, etc...
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Sunday night flight to Anchorage and morning drive in to Talkeetna
Mark, Brenon and I arrive at the beautiful Fireweed station and Mark and I go for a short hike up the tracks
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Apparently, you need to wear sun block on this stretch of track
The main lodge of the Fireweed station. Thank you for your hospitality Hobs!
The bustling metro of Talkeetna (filled with tourists)
Hobs was kind enough to let Mark and me take their van in to town for lunch on Monday
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Our route as shown in the museum
A thrown for a king. We'd soon learn our group was full of the stuff that goes in these cans.
Fireweed station has been influenced by all the Alpine climbers and their neigbors Todd Burleson and Willie Prittie. My little cabin is on the right.
Mark and I went on another hike over to Todd Burleson's AAI compound while waiting for the rest of the team to arrive.
We ended up wandering on to Willie's property and meeting Todd and Willie (legendary climbers and guides)
The next day, we arrange our gear in Todd's hanger
Larry, John, Mark and Joe
Willie and his beard
The Alaska Range as we drive in to Talkeetna for our last civilized meal and our flight to the Kahiltna Glacier
Before (De Havilland Turbo Otter with skis, 1000HP of love)
John AKA Steel
Bye bye tundra
Hello snow
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Unloading some 1000lbs of our gear on one of the spurs of the main Kahiltna
Top Left: Larry, Joe, Brennan, John, Mark. Bottom: Jim, James, Matt
Mt. Hunter in the background
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My brother wanted to know if K2 Aviation flew up here as well. There is your answer.
Setting up Base Camp
Our runway
The NPS uses Lamas to resupply the rangers
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Massive avalanche on Hunter just above our runway
The lower face takes several days to climb
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Mt. Foraker across the main Kahiltna
Breath in the socksegen. Even at midnight, one can still read in the tent with natural light
Day two, kinda, we get a midnight start to cross the lower glacier so the snow bridges aren't soft from the sun. It never really gets dark.
Steel and I were 2nd on our two ropes so the poor guy only had me to talk to at breaks
Brennan and Jim taking a 'break' looking up the lower Kahiltna towards our destination at 7,800'.