Alaska : Extreme Country, Extreme Weekend.

Departing Van Nuys Airport in the Cheyenne 82XL with Chris, Meghan, & JR.

On our first day we flew into Juneau Airport. It was a breathtaking surprise to drop below the clouds and see the vast, untouched beauty. Completely landlocked, Juneau can only be reached by boat or plane.

Beyond its extreme landscape, Alaska's bold native artwork is iconic of the people and its history.

A mystical forest on top of Mt. Roberts, Juneau.

On our second day we landed in Talkeetna.

After arriving at the wilderness lodge, we embarked on a tour of the Talkeetna River. Many houses line the river but can only be reached by boat, 4WD or a small train the services its isolated inhabitants. This is an indigenous compound, primed for winter living, hunting, and storing goods.

Flora & Fauna.

On the jet boat tour of Talkeetna River, Mt. McKinley in the background.

Talkeetna is the most quaint, spirited town I have ever been to. Because it is only 6 hours from the Arctic Circle, it has barely any sunlight in the winter and stays light almost all night in the summer. Walking around town you could feel celebration in the air, everyone in appreciation of the long beautiful summer days.

The next morning we took a ride up to the Denali Glaciers in a beautiful vintage plane with over sized ski's for landing.

Approaching Mt. McKinley. The glaciers move approx. 3 ft per day.

A magic carpet ride swirling around the tops of the glaciers.

On top of Ruth Glacier, Denali National Park.

A view of the planes on the glacier.

The first plane to land in Denali National Park, a 1960's Piper Cub.

On our last night we stayed in a very sleepy fishing town called Ketchikan. It is one of rainiest places in the world. Like the rest of Alaska, the town is mostly men, but as the saying goes, "the odds are good, but the goods are odd." I can confirm this statement to be true.