1 Planning
The Process
Register with the National Park Service 60 days before climbing Denali and Mt. Foraker.
Arrive in Anchorage, purchase supplies (food and climbing), and pick up any rental gear.
Arrange for shuttle, airplane, or rail transportation to Talkeetna.
Check in with the K2 office to confirm the departure day and time.
Take care of all required orientations and remaining climbing forms.
Prepare for takeoff!
Registering with the National Park Service
All climbers must register with the National Park Service 60 days before climbing Denali or Mt. Foraker. Registration costs $430 per person, or $330 for climbers 24 years or younger.
Registration Process
Select an expedition name and leader to put on all paperwork.
Register online or mail in your registration.
Note: If mailing registration paperwork, mail all expedition members’ information at the same time and put the expedition name on each registration.
Contact the Talkeetna Ranger Station by email or phone (907-733-2231) to confirm they have received your registration.
Schedule your required orientation with the Talkeetna Ranger Station. Orientation must be completed prior to departure for Base Camp. Appointments must be scheduled in advance by the expedition leader with the Talkeetna Ranger Station. Appointments are available from 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., seven days a week. Expeditions should arrive 15 minutes before their appointment time. Bring photo ID when you check in.
Important Considerations
Put your selected expedition name on all correspondence with the National Park Service.
To add someone to your expedition, the expedition leader should contact the Talkeetna Ranger Station.
After returning from Base Camp, you must check out with the Talkeetna Ranger Station.
Transportation
Your expedition has a few options for transportation between Anchorage to Talkeetna. Most expeditions choose a shuttle service because it costs less and allows them the flexibility of shopping on their way to Talkeetna.
Air Transportation
K2 Aviation
Contact our office. We provide one-way and round-trip quotes.
Shuttle Services
Denali Overland Transportation
(907) 773-2384
www.denalioverland.com
Railroad
Alaska Railroad
(907) 265-2494
www.akrr.com
Accommodations
Contact the locations directly for current pricing.
Anchorage Lodging
Alex Hotel & Suites
907-243-3131
www.alexhotelalaska.com
Coast Inn at Lake Hood
1-800-716-6199
www.coasthotels.com/coast-inn-at-lake-hood
Talkeenta Lodging
Swiss Alaska Inn
907-733-2424
swissalaska.com
Communications
Cell Phones
Cell phones have limited use in the mountains, and should not be counted on as an emergency form of communication.
Family Band Radios
Monitored – The National Park Service monitors the Family Band Radios from their 7,200 and 14,200-foot camps.
Receive Weather Reports – The Kahiltna Base Camp Manager transmits the weather forecast at 8:10 p.m. each evening.
Good Coverage – The lightweight build and relatively good coverage make Family Band Radios popular when climbing.
Gear
In Anchorage, you can stop by Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking or REI in Anchorage. They are located within a short walk of one another, and they have a wide selection of gear for purchase.
Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking
www.alaskamountaineering.com
907-272-1811
REI
www.rei.com
907-272-4565
If you’ve made it to Talkeetna, head to Talkeetna Gear Shop — they’re just across the street from our office. You will want to check with them ahead of time to see if they have what you need.
Talkeetna Gear Shop
www.talkeetnagearshop.com
907-707-3618
Fuel
White Gas
You can purchase Coleman Fuel/White Gas from our office. Our Base Camp manager will distribute the fuel/white gas when you arrive at Kahiltna Base Camp. For those traveling to other locations within the range, you will need to purchase it at our office and take it with you.
Butane/Propane
Several pressurized butane and butane/propane mix fuel containers are not approved for aircraft transport. Please keep this in mind when purchasing supplies. We recommend GIGA Power or Primus Power Gas. Most MSR and Coleman products are unapproved. K2 Aviation will carry the approved canisters for sale at the time of check-in.
How much fuel should we take?
It is recommended that you take ½ pint per person per day.
Food
Anchorage is the best place to purchase food for your expedition. Costco, Fred Meyer’s, and Carrs will have almost anything you could want. Most shuttles will include a stop as long as you make a request.
2 Pre-Flight
Step Inside and Breathe Easy
Your expedition commences at K2 Aviation’s modern facility, conveniently located at the Talkeetna State Airport. Step into a welcoming space, relax in our comfortable waiting area before your scheduled Talkeetna Ranger Station orientation, and gear up in our dedicated hangar for climbers.
Meet the K2 Rampers
A dedicated team awaits your arrival at the K2 office. Our experienced rampers take the load off off your shoulders, literally. They will:
Assist with luggage transfer, including picking you up from your Talkeetna accommodation (if applicable).
Carefully transport all expedition equipment to a designated space for you to meticulously organize and review everything you need for the climb.
Getting Sorted
Check-in, gear up, and get ready for takeoff.
Check-In
Head to the K2 Aviation front desk to complete the check-in process. Our friendly staff will assist you in confirming your departure date, flight time, expedition details, and return information.
Ranger Station Orientation
Crucial for departing on your expedition, you’ll attend the mandatory orientation at the Talkeetna Ranger Station prior to your departure. If you have not scheduled your orientation or have questions regarding the orientation, click here.
Gear Sorting and Weighing
Make your way to our designated climbing hangar to meticulously check and organize your equipment. Each climber is allowed 125 lbs of gear. Excess incurs a fee of $1 per pound.
Pre-Departure Requirements
Before boarding your flight, you must:
Complete all necessary forms and paperwork.
Purchase white gas (to be picked up at Kahiltna Base Camp)
Purchase sled rental, if applicable.
Declare all hazardous materials.
When everything has been taken care of, you can securely store your personal belongings in our designated lockers for peace of mind while you conquer your peak.
3 Takeoff
Arriving at Kahiltna Climber Base Camp
On arrival, the Base Camp manager will check you in, brief you on camp operations, and distribute purchased fuel from our cache.
When you return to Base Camp. the manager will contact K2 Aviation to request your return flight. For those climbing in areas where there is no communication, a predesignated pick-up time and place will be established prior to departure.
Base Camp on Denali is located at 7,200 feet on the southeast fork of the Kahiltna Glacier. The Base Camp is jointly operated by the air taxi services of Talkeetna with the primary purpose of providing information about weather and aircraft landing conditions and coordinating the arrival and departure of climbers.
Important Notes
Climbers must check in with the Base Camp manager upon arrival.
The Base Camp manager will distribute purchased fuel.
The Base Camp manager provides weather information via family band radio at 8:10 P.M.
You must bring your own rigging to use sleds.
After climbing, you must check in with the Base Camp manager to schedule your return flight to Talkeetna.