Life brings many opportunities. Some we can take and others we cannot. One opportunity which stared me in the face, was to return to Alaska and open my documentary ‘Frostbitten’ at the Talkeetna Ice Festival. It was too good to miss.
Dave Hanna (producer and director) joined me for the trip to Alaska, and we set up base in East Talkeetna. We were very lucky to have arrived just after flooding and power outages had brought the town to a standstill, and were greeted by sunshine and snow.
The Ice Festival had a packed programme, and we were determined to be part of it. I immediately entered the ice carving competition (not a clue what I was doing), and we joined everyone in a Talkeetna version of the gameshow ‘Jeopardy’ at the Sheldon Arts Hanger. The town really comes together and has a very tight community spirit. Being 15 miles from the main road, and with nowhere else to go, people work with people, support each other and know that the weather is in charge.
Jetlag was having its effect, but we had little time to waste. The festival was getting into full swing and I began ice carving in earnest. I decided to create a pagoda roof distillery, complete with glasses of ice and a bottle of SMWS 42.83 ‘Muscovado Pipe Tobacco’ inlaid for good luck. Everyone was so helpful, lending tools and advice, to such an amateur as me. Other sculptures were stunning compared to my rather basic look, but we all supported each other. We joined Roger and Pam Robinson for a pizza at the Flying Squirrel Bakery, then all attended a concert of Irish music. Roger stars in the documentary and worked as a park ranger for many years. he’s also the creator of ‘Clean Mountain Cans‘, and I was fortunate enough to be given one of these by the Ranger Station in Talkeetna. You may ask why I’d like a container made for human waste..? Simply, we have no right to fill the mountains with our shit, and I’d like to spread the word through my educational and speaking work in the UK. If we can keep Denali clean, we can keep every mountain clean.
Saturday was the big day. Talkeetna was packed and the main street was polished off, ready for the competitions. I took part in a kick sled race for the over 50’s and got 2nd place..! Dog keg pulling was hilarious, and a wonderfully excited, but relaxed buzz filled the air. The sun was out and it was around -15C, which were perfect conditions for the festival.
And so, Saturday night came, and the opening of ‘Frostbitten’. Roger opened the documentary to a packed house, and there were tears and cheers galore. So many people in Talkeetna have helped with the project, and we couldn’t have made the film without them. They have fallen over backwards for us, helping with contacts, locations and support, both in Talkeetna and when we’ve been at home in the UK. We felt they deserved to see there piece before anyone else, and after the showing, both Dave and I held a long Q&A with everyone, until I was dragged out to the ice park, to open the malt and toast the town. The evening was held as a fundraiser for the Volunteer Ranger Services and raised over $670.
The party went on late into the night, before we crept into bed around 2 am. My feet aren’t really built for dancing these days, but there was such a wonderful party atmosphere in the town.
The next day I felt broken, but I still took a flight with the wonderful folk at Talkeetna Air Taxi to see an old friend. I climbed into the co-pilots seat of the DeHavilland Otter, which was expertly piloted by Andy. We climbed over the snowy foothills and were soon over the range, but as ever, the weather had other plans. The skies were clear and sunny, but a 100mph+ crosswind was howling over the summit of Denali, and a few folk were only just holding on to their breakfast. I wasn’t disappointed though as we rounded the Moose’s Tooth and other parts of the range, in full winter condition.
I have now met three generations of Talkeetna Air Taxi cat. In 1999, Cessna stared down from a shelf, in 2024, Beaver sat on our lap and in 2025, Pratt just likes being combed..!
The rest of our time in Talkeetna disappeared into a blur as we were exhausted. Time in the Fairview and Latitude 62, catching up with new friends and taking part in the pub quiz were a welcome decompression from the last few days.
We were interviewed by Andrew at KTNA 88.9 Radio, which is an excellent local radio station and festooned with vinyl..! Radio is a second home for me, and half an hour had soon passed, before we said our goodbyes.
Roger and Pam Robinson invited Dave and I into their home for a final dinner and we received personal copies of Denali Ranger by Lew Freedman, which is about Rogers Mountain Life.
We headed south to Anchorage, to meet up with a very special man. Daryl Miller was instrumental in my rescue and we were delighted to meet up and show him the piece. He had a house full of mountaineering friends, and the afternoon was filled with stories, smiles and laughter.
The final evening brought another wonderful meeting when I caught up with Patrick Minder in Anchorage. Patrick was a huge help to my sister Amanda and I back in 1999, and had just returned from a climbing trip to Nevada.
Sadly our flights home were delayed due to bad weather over SE Greenland, but I know all about bad weather..!
The people of Alaska have been so helpful, so gracious and so wonderful. I can’t thank them enough for welcoming us into their lives and inviting us back again. In Talkeetna we’re now classed as locals.
We’ll be back…