Denali Ski Base Camp

The Central Alaska Range has the biggest mountains in North America including Denali at 20,320 feet and Mount Foraker at 17,402 feet. Surrounding these giants are smaller peaks and terrain perfect for skiing. The snowpack is often deep and stable.

We’ll drive three hours north from Anchorage to the character-laden town of Talkeetna. After checking in at the ranger station, we'll weigh and load our gear onto a Talkeetna Air Taxi bush plane and fly an hour into the mountains. On the glacier, we'll set up a fat base camp and review crevasse and avalanche companion rescue. We’ll spend the next days skiing as long as your energy and conditions allow. Much of the trip is about living and being in these magnificant mountains.

Accomodation

Our base camp will be fun and comfortable, but not luxurious. We will sleep and cook altogether in a six-person Hilleberg tent that is tall enough for standing. When the weather is forecast for cold, we will bring a heater. For bigger groups we have a mess tent that that connects onto the sleeping tent. Additional smaller tents are available for bigger groups or if you want privacy. The food is not gourmet, but plentiful and the kind you crave after big days of skiing. The latrine will be a Denali Clean Mountain Can from the Park Service so we can transport the waste out of the mountains.  

Terrain and Location

Where we go in the Alaska Range depends on conditions, your interest, pilot knowledge, and Joe’s experience from 100 trips over 25 years into the Central Alaska Range. We’ll make the final decision minutes before getting on the plane. Terrain options exist for all abilities: from moderate glacier runs to steep chutes. Most of the skiing will be on cirque glaciers that hang above the bigger valley glaciers. These cirque glaciers have smaller crevasses, which allow us to ski downhill unroped. 

Denali Weather Links

• Windy.com, Pika Glacier

• NWS Point Forecast for Pika Glacier

• Mountainweather.com, South-Central Alaska page

• FAA Weather Cams, find McKinley South, northwest view

• Sheldon Air Cam

• TAT Cam

• NWS Denali Recreational Forecast, May-July

• NWS Denali Links

• Denali Base Camp 7,200-foot weather station

• Denali 14,200-foot camp weather station

• Tokositna Valley Snotel at 850 feet

Skill Level   

• Intermediate to advanced alpine ski skills.

• Endurance for consecutive full days in the mountains.

• Recent avalanche rescue practice.

• Previous winter camping experience is helpful, but not required.

• Previous glacier travel experience is helpful, but not required.

Dates

March-June. Six days on the glacier. 

Flexible Itinerary

Note: longer trips allow for more weather delays

Day 0: Meet at your B&B in Anchorage at 5pm for trip overview and gear check. We'll make last minute gear purchases at AMH and REI and then have dinner at a brew pub. 

Day 1: Meet at your B&B at 7am. Drive two and a half hours to Talkeetna and load gear into a bush plane. Fly 45 minutes into the Alaska Range. After setting up a fat base camp, we'll review avalanche and crevasse companion rescue. If time allows, we'll go for an evening ski. 

Day 2: Tour all day.

Day 3: Tour all day.

Day 4: Tour all day.

Day 5: Tour all day.

Day 6: Ski in the morning. Pack up and fly back to Talkeetna for burgers and beer at the Denali Brewery. Drive back to Anchorage, or stay in Talkeetna.

Day 7: To account for weather delays, please leave Anchorage no earlier than the redeye on Day 7.

Cost 

• 2 clients: $5,500 each

• 3+ clients: $4,250 each

• Joe is permitted to take three clients alone, or up to six with a second guide

• Contact Joe for custom trip quote

• In partnership with Alaska Guide Collective.

• More booking info.

Includes

• AMGA/IFMGA Mountain Guide Joe Stock for six days. A second guide may be added.

• Glacier air taxi for you and the guide.

• Mountain food for you and the guide.

• Group cook gear, tents, and ropes.

• Navigation, first aid, and repair kits.

• Emergency shelter and communication.

Does Not Include

• Road transport between Anchorage and Talkeetna, and for day skiing around Anchorage if we have a schedule change. Using a rental car or your personal car is the best option. If possible, Joe will ride with you.

• Lodging, food, and drinks off the mountains. See Southcentral Alaska logistics.

• Personal ski gear. See Backcountry Ski Gear List.

• Rescue and trip insurance. See Booking for details.

• Costs from schedule changes such as hotels, meals off the mountain, and transport.

The Air Taxi Caveat—Please Read and Ask Questions

While air taxis add to the Alaska experience, they also add delays that are out of Stock Alpine control. We estimate that half of the fly-in trips have some flight delay. Air taxi delays include, but are not limited to: mechanical delays, multi-day weather delays both on the flight in and flight out, scheduling complications and pilot complications. Of course our goal is to minimize these complications and maximize the skiing and success of the trip. Alaska requires flexibility. If you are flexible the rewards are huge. If you have expectations and are not flexible then we recommend a trip elsewhere. 

Photos from Denali Ski Base Camps