McKinley Expedition: Burns and Team Fly onto Glacier
Posted by: Seth Burns, Ben Thorneycroft, Margo Kerr
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 7200'
May 23, 2026 - 12:50am PDT
And so, it begins.
After another Talkeetna morning cursing the clouds, we distracted ourselves practicing crevasse rescue, anchor systems and running belays. By noon there were glimpses of hope in the eyes of the pilots, a potential clearing in the evening. Our tender hearts had heard it before, so we kept doing what we do best: hacky sack and repacking. At around six our pilot came in with confirmation that it looked good enough to give it a shot! Our eager crew sprang to life, called our loved ones and loaded the planes. To our surprise lots of the range was visible in the setting sun, with a few dark clouds wisping with the wind. We flew down into the Kahiltna with little turbulence and landed at base camp. Stunned by the magnificent views that peaked in and out, we set up a hasty camp with smiles on our faces. We are all happy to be here and ready for the challenge ahead!
RMI Guide Ben Thorneycroft and Team!
