Stories by Parajumpers - Alaskan Bush Pilot
Alaskan Bush Pilots have been the brave and iconic adventurers of the skies for over a century. They have tamed America's most outlandish natural landscapes thanks to their outstanding courage and one-of-a-kind gut instinct – and Leighan Falley, a Talkeetna-based pilot, is one of them.
Falley is one of the very few female Alaskan pilots to continuously push boundaries in the great northern skies. Always graceful, even when under pressure, she explores Alaska's idyllic yet raw nature with the courage of an explorer, following her instincts, while calculating risks. “The first memory of my entire life is being in the backseat of my father's airplane,” Falley recalls. “I must have been a tiny baby, I remember feeling the airplane moving through the air and seeing the trees and the river below.”
In Talkeetna, situated some 115 miles north of Anchorage on the southern edge of the Denali National Park, Falley is one of the Talkeetna Air Taxi pilots. The company was established in the 40s, the early days of Alaskan aviation, and currently runs 10 bush aircraft. “I moved to Talkeetna about 13 years ago and the summer I moved to town I learned to fly,” Leighan Falley smiles. “The first time I flew an airplane by myself – they call it your first solo – was probably one of the most amazing moments in my life.”
In a northern wilderness filled with hazards – think blizzards and whiteouts, snow-covered glaciers, unexpected storms, heavy rains and wild rivers – raw survival skills are needed in addition to tech-savvy expertise, and Leighan Falley excels in both. “The part of Alaska that is accessible by road is very different from the one accessible by plane. The first is more comfortable, the second keeps you away from the craziness of the big city life. It's like having two different Alaskas. I like both parts, but prefer it when the road ends because this is when airplanes begin. I like to fly the Beaver, it's my favorite Alaskan Bush Plane,” she continues. “There's a famous sign in Talkeetna which is an advertising board for the early air taxis that says 'Fly an hour or walk a week'.”
She flies to the remotest locations in Alaska in order to capture the adventurous everyday life of the Great North, while bringing mountaineers to their final destination and helping those in need. Living her dream, Leighan Falley is not only a brave pilot, but also a mother, a ski guide, an alpinist, having reached the peak of Denali Mountain six times out of twelve expeditions. “Alaska is probably my favorite place on earth,” she continues. “I've been through different continents, climbed different mountain ranges, including the Himalaya, but Alaska is my favorite. It is so big and so wild, vast and untouchable. The biosphere is intact, the animals live in their natural habitat. Mountain ranges rise from a hundred meters to six thousand meters – it's simply beautiful. In a place as beautiful as Alaska, you have to have an airplane to see all of it,” she concludes. “Discovering Alaska and climbing its mountains is a journey that involves a lot of beauty, a lot of hardship, and a lot of testing yourself mentally and physically.”
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Fly Denali with Talkeetna Air Taxi
Flying to Mount McKinley (Denali) on Talkeetna Air Taxi ... Music by Tommy Emmanuel
Landing on the Ruth Glacier with Talkeetna Air Taxi, 05-01-11
My first glacier landing. May 01st, 2011. Ruth Glacier, Denali National Park.
Walking around Talkeetna Alaska
The morning after the ekoostik hookah show in Talkeetna at the Fairview Inn, after breakfast, my video camera and I took a walk around town.
TALKEETNA, ALASKA // Family Hike at Caribou Lodge Alaska
#talkeetna #alaska #cariboulodgealaska
Caribou Lodge is located 15 air miles from Talkeetna, Alaska. We are 20 miles over land to the nearest highway, and just outside the Denali National Park boundary by less than 20 air miles.
Our family lives here year-round and hosts tourists during the summer months. Hiking in Alaska is so amazing, and something we enjoying doing as a job but even more so when we get to go out hiking with our family. Joe and Bonnie's little one loves being outside, and going out for picnics is one of Alyssa & Zac's girls favorite things to do.
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Denali National Park Flightseeing Tour from Talkeetna
If you’re thinking of coming to Alaska to soak up its boundless beauty, then one stop on your journey is likely to be Denali National Park and Preserve. The undisputed gem of the park is Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley). The Koyukon people who inhabit the area around the mountain have referred to this peak as Denali for several centuries. This famous mountain has the highest peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet above sea level. We were lucky enough to get a clear view of the top of Denali, which I reveal towards the end of the video.
For our tour we used Sheldon Air Service, which we found was more budget friendly than the other Denali flight tour providers in Talkeetna. Although the plane was manufactured in 1951, it had been mechanically updated and was just fine to give us amazing views of Alaska’s dramatic landscape and rugged wilderness. If you have a little extra time and money to do a flightseeing tour around Denali National Park, then you must do it! It may be the highlight of your trip.
If you enjoyed this video showcasing Denali National Park FlightSeeing Tour from Talkeetna Alaska, then make sure to give it a thumbs up, share and post a comment below!
Music Credits:
Kai Engel, Idea
Kai Engel, Warm of Mechanical Heart
Kai Engel, Daedalus
Talkeetna Air Taxi
Flight from Talkeetna, AK to Skwentna Iditarod Checkpoint
March 8. 2010
Cessna 182, Pilot: David
Talkeetna, Alaska
Recorded June 29, 2007.
Talkeetna is a census-designated place (CDP) in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. Talkeetna is located at the confluence of three rivers, the Susitna, Chulitna and Talkeetna. Flightseeing, rafting, mountain biking, hiking, camping, fishing and hunting make up a large portion of the local economy. Talkeetna is a 2.5 hour drive from Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska. The core downtown area is classified as a National Historic site, with many buildings dating from the early 1900s including Nagley's General Store, Fairview Inn and The Roadhouse.
From:
Alaska x Part 2
10+ states, 2 countries, and a million stories later, WE MADE IT TO ALASKA!!!! This will forever hold a special place in our heart. Such gorgeous landscapes, friendly people, and all the best feels here. The second half of our Alaskan trip was spent in Talkeetna, Anchorage, and Soldotna. Favorite part? SEA PLANE RIDE W/ THE ALASKAN FLOAT PLANE COMPANY :D
(we had to separate this into three parts due to tech difficulties:)))
Instagram: @youmeandriggy
Road Tripping to Talkeetna, Alaska
We took off on our first camping trip of the year to South Rolly Lake. We go exploring in the small town of Talkeetna in search of their Mayor, Stubbs the cat! We got hit with a 5.1 earthquake and had to use the bear spray. And a family camping trip just wouldn't be complete with out someone throwing up.
Filmed with:
DJI OSMO
DJI Phantom 3 Professional
Canon 70D
GoPro Hero 3+
Music from Epidemic Sound (
Denali Plane Crash- Recovery Efforts Halted
The National Park Service has halted recovery efforts of the victims of a flightseeing
plane crash in Denali National Park
The search for five people onboard a flightseeing plane out of Talkeetna has been put on pause because of weather.
It's now been more than 72 hours since the plane crashed on Kahiltna glacier inside Denali National Park.
But survivors and their rescuers are facing challenges.
Search and rescue crews return to the Talkeetna airport- their mission, again, unsuccessful.
A flight seeing plane from K2 Aviation crashed early Saturday night, near the summit of what’s known as Thunder Mountain, at an elevation of nearly 11,000 feet.
The pilot was able to make a satellite phone call to K2 Aviation, he did report some injuries, he made another phone call about an hour later at 7pm, and the is the last known communication anyone has had with the pilot, says Katherine Belcher of the National Park Center.
The National Park Center is one of the agencies involved in the search, along with the alaska air national guard, the U.S. Army, and Alaska state troopers.
Search organizers say the the plane had likely been on its way back to the airport when the crash took place. Because of the altitude, any rescue will have to come by air.
It’s a very tricky terrain up there, it’s basically a sheer vertical cliff, lots of ice, lots of snow, lots of rock.
Each of these planes is equipped with survival gear, including food, sleeping bags, a pot, and a stove. But, what the pilot and his four passengers really need right now is, better weather.
Unfortunately it’s zero visibility, and very low cloud cover, so, our search crews have been visually unable to locate the crash site. We know approximately where it is, but, we just haven’t been able to put eyes on it.
Search crews return to Talkeetna not empty-handed, but, they did not carry the most precious cargo they had hoped to find.
It's a really dangerous spot, steep, over, overhanding, you couldn't climb there at this time of the year, the plane is also in a crevasse on the side of a mountain.
(KTVA for CBS News)
Departing the Village Strip in Talkeetna, AK
This video was taken, with the Fairview in the background, while checking out in a Super Cub
Mountain bush plane flight from Talkeetna Alaska
The awesome view from a bush plane mountain flight in Alaska. You can't get this close to the Denali range in a 747. Well, at least you probably shouldn't. We took off from the small town of Talkeetna near the Mt. McKinley National Park.
Arctic Flight Preparation is not an easy job. Talkeetna, Alaska
Arctic Flight Preparation is not an easy job. Talkeetna, Alaska.
Flying in Lake Christiansen, Talkeetna with Don Lee....
Glass-domed Train from Talkeetna to Denali, Alaska
As our train meandered across the unadulterated landscape, I found that I was reassuring myself that it was real. Such scenery…as though it was “too beautiful” to be true. I rode along with Awe, Wonder, and Amazement, as we all shared in an exchange of childlike fascination. While being a train ride, I’m inclined to default to recommending it, but truly, this stretch of track will lead you through a mere part of the heart of Alaska, but it will invite you to the center of your being, where you're reacquainted with your youth.
This ride was just over four hours, where passengers relaxed in their comfortable seats, while enjoying refreshments and narration, or enjoyed the brisk air on the cars’ “porches.” Lunch was enjoyed on the lower level of the car. All luggage, carry-ons included, were stowed, not to be seen again until disembarkation. I should note that the cars we rode in on this trip were private cars, not to be confused with Alaska Railroad’s Goldstar Service cars, found on its website; I indulged in one, though, to Seward:
(Fun facts at the end of the video are from displays at the Talkeetna depot.)
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Details about the Talkeetna to Denali Route:
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Alaska Railroad:
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TV show about it, “Railroad Alaska”:
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The Hurricane, or Hurricane Turn Train:
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Sherman City Hall, Alaska.
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Music:
One Fine Day by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (
Artist:
Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge Hotel - Talkeetna, Alaska
Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge 4 Star Hotel in Talkeetna, Alaska Within US Travel Directory Less than 10 minutes' drive from Talkeetna town centre, this Alaska lodge offers on-site dining options and a fitness room. All guest rooms feature mountain or forest views.
Rooms at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge include a flat-screen TV with cable and free Wi-Fi. The comfortably furnished rooms feature a fridge and coffee facilities.
Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge features The Foraker Dining Room and Base Camp Bistro, both offering traditional Alaskan cuisine including seafood, steaks and game. The Base Camp Lounge boasts an extensive wine list as well as signature cocktails.
Airplane and jet boat tours are available. A free shuttle service to Talkeetna Train Depot, Talkeetna Airport and downtown Talkeetna is offered.
Alaska 2017 - Seward - Denali - Talkeetna
Trip to Seward AK Salmon Snagging - Denali National Park - Moose, Bear, Caribou, Dall Sheep. Talkeetna Air Taxi with Glacier Landing.
Flying to The Top of North America- from NTA Talkeetna 2_2013
Being one of the tallest mountains in the world, Denali is inaccessible to all but the hardiest of climbers. But with a little help from a flight service, tourists can experience the scope, beauty, and sheer magnitude of this natural monument, and even land to walk in its shadow.
Mount McKinley (Denali) from Talkeetna Alaska
Clear day in April 2015 driving to Talkeetna. Mountain is about 2 hours away and can be seen from this far. Only full mountain can be seen on clear days because so high. Usually reaches through the clouds. On a good day can be seen from anchorage which is 4 hours away.
Watch us fly into Talkeetna Airport in Alaska
We are a group of flying fanatics with cameras. Watch our riveting footage landing into Talkeetna Airport in Alaska. landingpatterns.com