Being able to fly is the dream of many of us. Visiting Alaska, its wild lands, impressive mountains and lush wildlife, is another, for sure. I was already fulfilling my first dream after spending 10 days travelling between Anchorage and Fairbanks, passing through the emblematic Denali Park - the most famous and visited in the state - so when I was offered to board a seaplane and take off to fly over this majestic park, my heart was thrilled!
On the way down to Anchorage, I stopped at Talkeetna, the park's gateway when you come from the south (although to get access to the first hikes, you will have to drive for another two hours). I didn't regret taking off from this small tourist village. The prices are indeed significantly cheaper than in Denali itself, but in addition, there is a lot of choice on the size of the charters.
I chose N2 Alaska, a small company run by David Hicks, a proven pilot for over 30 years. I chose to be alone aboard his Cessna 185 seaplane because I wanted this experience to be my own. We first took off from Christiansen Lake before flying over a variety of breathtaking landscapes to Denali Park: tundra, taiga, deep valleys, glaciers and peaks of the park, the area of which is equivalent to 4 French departments. One of the richest ecosystems in the world was before us. Among the trees, ferns and lichens, we have been able to observe a few moose, but it is not uncommon to see grizzlies, black bears, caribou, mouflons, and even lynxes, which are more difficult to spot, but not impossible thanks to David's expert eye.
After One Shot Pass, the landscape went from magnificent to grandiose as we approached the mountains. At an altitude of 4000 metres, the giant pines looked like matches. The beautiful rocks, on the other hand, were still as majestic, massive, with Mount Denali reaching a peak of 6100m. During the high season (May-June), there is a continuous flow of climbers climbing the highest mountain on the North American continent.
It was a sunny day, and the white of the snow-covered peaks made the landscapes sparkling. David was incredibly precise about the information about the park, its history, wildlife, geology, naming each place we flew over: Base Camp nestled in the hollow of the Kahiltna Glacier, the most breathtaking Wickersham Wall peak, the sparkling expanse of the Don Sheldon Amphitheater and the Ruth Gorge on the way back, before a soft landing on the lake.
Although I had the feeling that time had been suspended, lost at times in silence and contemplation, it was necessary to realize that 1h30 had passed since takeoff. It was undeniably the highlight of the trip and the experience was well worth every penny invested
