If you remember, in the last blog I mentioned we needed special footwear for our next stop. Yep…we needed micro spikes, which are metal spikes attached to a rubber harness that is stretched over the bottom of hiking boots. We were off to hike on the Matanuska Glacier. Another fun Alaskan adventure!
The Matanuska Glacier is the largest US glacier accessible by car. It currently runs about 27 miles long and 4 miles wide. Below is an aerial photo of the glacier and where it is in Alaska. It took us a little over 3 hours to drive to an RV park near the Glacier from our last stop in Whittier.
Although the glacier itself is an Alaska State Park and open to the public, the Cook Inlet Region, Inc., a Native American corporation, charges a toll on the only bridge connecting the park to the nearby Alaska Route 1. In addition, you can only access the glacier at this location by taking a guided tour. I am not sure how it works with the glacier tour company; perhaps they lease the land for their operation from the corporation as well.
And what an operation it was. Greg, Helen, Dave, and I arrived the requested 30 minutes prior to the scheduled hike time. The hike was to last 2 hours, so Murphy stayed back in the RV. We checked in, signing our life away on a release of liability form, our trucks were allowed through a gate, and we drove 2 miles to the next stop. This was a large building with lots of restrooms (there are no potty stops out on the glacier). We donned helmets and met our guide, Thomas and the other 9 in our group. Thomas led us across the lake in front of the glacier terminus (where it ends), where we next donned micro spikes to help with our footing on the glacier. And off we went!
Rather than a 2-hour hike, Thomas kept us on the glacier for almost 3 hours. We hiked up and down, around and across crevasses (deep cracks), and looked down moulins (full confession – I did not get close to look down the hole but brave Greg did). Moulins are somewhat circular, vertical well-like shafts formed where a surface meltstream exploits a weakness in the ice. Nope, I am not going to walk near a “weakness” in the ice. But Helen and I did scoot into a small ice cave.
Another interesting fact about glaciers is why the ice is blue at times. Simply said it is blue because the ice absorbs red light and reflects blue light. When the ice is dense and compact, with few air bubbles (as they are squeezed out by the weight of the glacier), the light can travel farther and loses the red photons, leaving more blue light. This occurs more in the summer when the thickest layers of the ice are exposed. So beautiful.
And we are now off heading back to Canada. But first, Greg & Helen are off on another adventure. There are two ways to travel east/west between Canada and Alaska. One is across the Alaska Highway from Whitehorse to Tok, which we did heading west. The second is to travel from Whitehorse, northwest to Dawson City (home of the Klondike Gold Rush), over the Top of the World highway, to Chicken and down to Tok. We had planned to drive this route but had to change our plans due to a fire blocking the road up to Dawson City. And, we knew we could drive it in reverse on the way back so it was all good. Well…since that time, I have learned more about the Top of the World highway. Yes, I knew it was a gravel road and quite bumpy, but you just take it slow. What I did not know (or had seen any pictures) is the road is quite narrow, with no shoulder, and steep drop offs (with no guard rails). Pictures posted on Facebook and several people saying “I’m glad I did it but will never do it again” was all I needed to say, “No thanks.” Me and my fear of heights won out and Dave graciously agreed to go back the “lower elevation” route, while Greg & Helen explore the northern route. I cannot wait for them to share their trip via another special edition blog.
Before we parted ways, we stopped at our first “repeat” stop at the Sourdough Campground in Tok. If you remember, we tossed pancakes towards a bucket and if we succeeded in landing the pancake in the bucket, we received $10 off breakfast. Helen succeeded last time we were here and Greg tossed it right into the bucket this time. Way to go! Dave and I have a few extra days on our route, so we stayed a second night and tried again. This time I hit the rim of the bucket, but it did not go in. Dave struck out as well. Dratz! But I loved the sourdough pancakes (with blueberries) that we enjoyed breakfast both mornings we were there.
We have now crossed back into Canada and our spending two nights in a campground in the Yukon. There is a small airstrip on the property. The number of small airstrips we have seen during our trip is amazing. It makes sense with so many remote areas, small planes are often used. We often hear of the importance of “bush flying,” these pilots fly small planes (and sometimes sea planes) into the remote wilderness, usually with limited infrastructure, and rarely even landing strips. There are six times the number of licensed pilots per capita in Alaska than in any other US state. Planes deliver building supplies, food, and heating fuel to remote communities. Remote healthcare by plane is common; and small planes are also used to transport mail, teachers and even students. Alaskans are so great in adapting to their environment.
It is bittersweet to say farewell to Alaska. Helen learned that when common fireweed plants have bloomed to the top, there are 6 weeks left till winter. Based on the plants I saw during a recent Murphy morning walk; I think we are there. I guess we are in Alaska’s fall season, in early August.
You can leave Alaska but Alaska never leaves you Brenda, We will be back soon Dave, Where did Greg & Helen and their treats go Murphy
WOW! Wow, wow 😊
Reliving my experience on a glacier hike, but 3 hours without a potty? I’d have to pack Depends for that awesome hike.
Thanks for sharing & seems lucky you opted out of the narrow bumpy road route.
I never thought I would see Dave and Brenda standing on a glacier! Nope, not ever!
Interesting. Did you see any yellow ice on the glacier ?
The color ingo was interesting because when scuba diving you lose colors the deeper you go. They change at every 33 feet. The reds go first then the blues then the, I believe REDS
3; feet is called an atmosphere. Common sense would tell you to see all colors, one would have to stay above 40’. At 100 ‘ everything is dark grey. Almost a black. To see real colors at various depths, one caries a dive light (flashlight) and the colors come out only in the light beam.