Complementing the natural splendor of its environs, this engineering marvel is a remote, yet luxurious experience where guests will find themselves without internet access, allowing them to truly "get off the grid." From September through April, the vivid and awe-inspiring blue, purple, and green colors of the Aurora Borealis reflect off the snowy peaks and glaciers -- visible from the chalet with a clarity rarely experienced elsewhere on earth. In the upcoming fall, winter and spring seasons Denali also offers prime geophysical viewing, full moon glacier treks and pastel sunrises and sunsets. Sheldon Chalet offers the only perennial way to explore Denali in true comfort and luxury. Spend your day skiing, sledding, exploring ice crevasses, or glacier trekking on Ruth Glacier and end it with a cozy fireside evening, sauna, and gourmet dinner prepared by Sheldon Chalet’s chef showcasing the finest Alaskan locally-sourced ingredients.

At 63 degrees north latitude and an elevation of 6000 ft, Sheldon Chalet’s troposphere is some of the thinnest on the planet, allowing guests to experience shooting stars more often and brighter than anywhere else. With little to no light pollution, the stunning landscapes frame the sky turning pastel evenings into nighttime heavenly displays of aurora and stars. Guests’ proximity to the stars and the riveting topography of Denali National Park offers a surreal and uninterrupted stargazing experience above the glacier and mountains. Expert guides are on hand to educate guests about the aurora and offer insight into the night sky constellations. World-class stargazing is enhanced by the cozy fire and satisfying beverages custom crafted by your private chef.  

In addition, to a luxury experience, guests get an in-depth look into the geophysical nature of their surroundings. The guides lead guests in reading the glacier’s centuries old layers, and how ice interacts with rock. Furthermore, the Sheldon Chalet and historic Mountain House will serve as the base for research in Spring 2022, studying the true depths of the glacier. Pending final scheduling, guests may participate with a team of scientist attempting to map the Don Sheldon Amphitheater and Great Gorge ice depth, as well as glacial floor using state-of-the-art technology unavailable to previous generations of explorers.

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Since 1966, the Sheldon family has operated the historic Sheldon Mountain House, serving various purposes such as accommodations for recreationalists, as a communications base, and even for rescue mobilization efforts. 

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Robert Sheldon adds, “As guests explore the Ruth Glacier, they’re also catalyzing scientific exploration of some of the most remote and untouched terrain on earth. Through sharing our knowledge of this magnificent landscape, creating optimal passages and providing Sheldon Chalet and the historic Sheldon Mountain House as an operations base we hope to continue contributions to science and geography, just as our dad, Don Sheldon, began here on Denali more than 70 years ago when he and Bradford Washburn surveyed the Alaska Range by air and ground. The two of them conquered the mapping of Denali we see from above; now we're taking on the challenge to map below the icy surface.”

This research will hopefully unveil mysteries and stories locked away by time, both inside and beneath thousands of feet of compressed ice; an area which arguably has not been observed by humans for 120,000 years. In February of 2021, as reported in Frontiers in Marine Science, stationary life was discovered deep within Antarctica's ice shelves proving that aquatic life can exist deep below ice, is incredibly adapted, and special to its extreme conditions. Leading glaciologists believe the Don Sheldon Amphitheater and the Great Gorge of the Ruth Glacier may have its own surprises in store for humanity.