About This Camera
Talkeetna Airport (PATK) is the staging point for climbing expeditions to Denali — at 20,310 feet, the highest peak in North America. The FAA WeatherCam here captures the changing weather that controls when ski-equipped Air Taxi flights can land climbers on the Kahiltna Glacier at 7,200 feet for the start of their climb. The Alaska Range dominates the view to the north — Denali, Mount Foraker (17,400 ft), Mount Hunter (14,573 ft), and the supporting peaks of the range are visible from the airport on clear days.
PATK is one of the busiest small airports in Alaska during the climbing season (typically April through mid-July) and during the summer tourism season. K2 Aviation, Talkeetna Air Taxi, and Sheldon Air Service operate fleets of de Havilland Beavers, Cessna 185s, and Pilatus PC-6 Porters on skis and wheels. Glacier landings, flightseeing tours of Denali, and remote lodge access fill the daily schedule. Helicopter and fixed-wing search-and-rescue operations stage out of Talkeetna for any incident on Denali.
Weather on Denali itself is some of the most extreme on Earth — winter temperatures have hit -75°F with winds over 150 mph. The climbing window is short: May and June offer the best balance of weather, snow conditions, and daylight. The Talkeetna airport view often shows clear skies at the airport (450 ft elevation) with the upper mountain hidden in clouds.
The town of Talkeetna (population around 1,000) is the model for the fictional Cicely, Alaska of the 1990s TV show "Northern Exposure." Visitors come for the bush-plane culture, the Talkeetna Bachelor Society Ball every December, the Mountain Mother Contest, the great river-running and rafting on the Susitna and Talkeetna rivers, and the railway service via the Alaska Railroad to Anchorage and Fairbanks.
All Views at Talkeetna 4 cameras
FAA WeatherCams — PATK Auto-refresh in 300s
Fetching local weather…
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