Photos by Elaine and Don Quilici

  • Elaine Quilici taking photos of the scenery around Ruth Glacier.
    Elaine Quilici taking photos of the scenery around Ruth Glacier.
  • Don Quilici the co-pilot
    Don Quilici the co-pilot
  • Passengers taking photos after landing on Ruth Glacier.
    Passengers taking photos after landing on Ruth Glacier.
  • Andy the pilot on the left and Don got to sit as the co-pilot on the right.
    Andy the pilot on the left and Don got to sit as the co-pilot on the right.
  • Denali at a distance with some of its glaciers.
    Denali at a distance with some of its glaciers.
  • Denali up close
    Denali up close
  • Some of the scenery as we flew around that general area.
    Some of the scenery as we flew around that general area.
  • More of the scenery
    More of the scenery
  • Looking down into a snow covered crater
    Looking down into a snow covered crater
  • Flying close to a rocky ridge
    Flying close to a rocky ridge
  • The DeHavilland Otter (10 passenger) plane that flew us around the glacier on June 25.
    The DeHavilland Otter (10 passenger) plane that flew us around the glacier on June 25.
  • The glacier boots we wore over our shoes for walking on the glacier
    The glacier boots we wore over our shoes for walking on the glacier

Carson City residents Don and Elaine Quilici returned recently from vacationing in Alaska, where they were treated to an airplane ride of a lifetime, touring Denali, the highest point in North America at 20,320 feet and then landing the tour aircraft on Ruth Glacier, which is 3,000 feet thick.

The highest altitude flown was 14,000 feet. Click-thru for photos of their journey.

Don and Elaine Quilici are Carson Now’s Outdoor editor and photographer Emeritus and Emerita.