Mendenhall Glacier Plus

The Mendenhall Glacier from near the Visitor's Center, Sunday

 

 

The sign I didn't see Saturday - someone had hung a lost crampon on it - I took it off so folks could see the sign!

Me close to the glacier - I am standing on what would be liquid most of the year.

Yosuke entering the ice cave - these colors in clear ice are beyond stunning!

Looking out from the cave - the differences in texture, clarity, and colors of the ice are marvelous. 

The 2 large pieces in front which look like rocks are ice - likely one has already detached, but it sort of froze back for now.  Notice the crevasses beyond - would be near impossible to get out on your own.

Looking out from the cave "floor" - This ice is so smooth, smoother than tiles or glass.  I rubbed it for a while and was rewarded with very fine grit on my palm. 

These are pieces of wood which must have traveled many miles since there is nothing but ice for a long, long way above!!!

A hole in the ice above the cave

This is one of the already calved pieces laying about the lake bed.

This is me sitting in a curvy hole in the same iceberg as above to give some perspective of size.  (not my size!)

Yosuke and Darcy in front of the Mendenhall! 

Saturday, January 21,  I picked up my friend Yosuke whom I met in Fairbanks Aurora watching.  He had been to the Glacier taking pictures (he is an excellent photographer) in an ice cave the previous day.  Intrigued, I wanted to go.  We walked across the lake seeing icebergs stuck in the ice in various positions.  While I did question the security of the ice, many people were out there with us - some skiing, some skating, some walking like us, some with dogs.  I returned on Sunday to learn from USFS employees in the Visitor's Center that those trapped icebergs will roll or flip, but that it usually happens at night.  They stressed the ice is never safe, and you can see the picture of the sign saying so....didn't see it yesterday :{.  But, we had a wonderful time, and saw things I had never heard of before.  Ice caves are underneath glaciers.  We climbed into one - it is like fairyland!   The ice is smooth, very blue, and you can see the dirt, the rocks, and crystals inside the ice.  We also saw a joint between 2 pieces of ice.  We did hear cracks and would go outside to relative safety.  The colors were beyond exquisite,  like nothing I've seen before.  I learned in the VC that iceworms do not live on this glacier as they do on some in Southcentral Alaska and elsewhere.   There are more pictures to be shared, but these should give you an idea.  The colors were much more vibrant in real life, especially when the sun would peek through.  Ask me later to see other pictures, and check out Yosuke's pics, too. 

From Whittier to Juneau

Waiting for the ferry - gorgeous colors in the sky!

Sunrise on January 19, 2012

Sunrise a little later - the fingers of God!

Icefield along the Gulf of Alaska - note the ice on the Kennicott, too!

This is Sophia's Point, named for my beautiful granddaughter, no doubt!

Some of the ice on our boat!

These waves were wild!!   Great job bringing us in safely, though - what a crew!!!!

Spray on our boat from the high winds!!!   One ferry turned back rather than travel in this - good decision, but too late for us!

This was quite a trip - the first day the water was calm, the sky was blue, and the views were spectacular.  I took many pictures.  There were lots of cars on board, but not too many people.  Legislators fly into Juneau, apparently, and have someone send or bring their cars when the ferry travels.  Met some nice folks.  Three of us ladies slept on the Solarium deck.  The second night, winds were up to 95 knots.  Several crew members offered to help us move down to a more stable deck, but we were able to get some rest where we were.  The waves were high, spray covered the ship often, and there was a lot of rocking.  Those who get seasick likely were!!!   I have to hand it to the crew - they did a wonderful job  getting us safely to Juneau.  There, we had 90 mph winds predicted downtown and on Douglas Island, especially.  The hostel where I'd planned to stay is on a very steep hill downtown, on an icy road, with only street parking available when it can be found.  The wind made simply walking a challenge.  I didn't feel comfortable leaving my car where I would have had to with all my possessions in it, so ended up in "the valley" in a motel.  The next morning began the next adventure....more to come!!!

Some Photos from the trip to Whittier...

Drove to Whittier today - saw moonlight reflecting on the waters of Turnagain Arm, was overwhelmed by the lights on the side of the mountain of ski resort Alyeska, ate a "bearclaw" (that was just so I could use the restroom...heh), and saw piles and piles of snow - several dead ends which turned out to be places the dudes dumped the snow.  But, hey, they looked like roads!!!!  (They actually are roads in the summer.)   It is extremely slippery outdoors here, so I haven't walked very far, sadly.  While the temps got up to zero in Anchorage yesterday, here they got up to 11 above - very impressive!!!   Here are some pics:

Way across the sound is a glacier - doesn't show up well in the picture, but it's there!   Notice the Alaska Railroad engines.  There have been trains coming and going all day out there.  They carry all kinds of things inland from the port. 

The large building, built in WWII, was once the largest building in the state of Alaska.

Sunset behind me causes this lighting over the mountains and glaciers,  looking from my hotel window.

Isn't that clever how the snow hides the entire post for the sign?  A little more, and we won't be able to see the signs at all!  Already it is challenging to see whether a car is coming prior to proceeding or turning! 

This was sunrise today, looking to the west.  The colors in the sky are amazing!

Some of the mountains around Whittier (and a pile of snow!).

Now THIS is a pile of snow.  I do wonder just how they pile it so high!!!!!

Good not to forget the little doggies while plowing!

One of the beautiful peaks surrounding this little town.  One of these days I'll figure out how to get these pictures to get on here in the order I want them....today I wanted chronological since these were all taken today.  Sorry!

THANK YOU to Angela and Kimmo

Aurora!!!!!!!   Those lights downstairs are where we stayed.  Taken by Yosuke Samo.

 This is a thank you letter to Angela and Kimmo for the Christmas gift of this trip to Fairbanks.  I have yearned for years to spend time seeing the Northern Lights.  This seemed like a good year for the visit - solar activity, the 11-12 year cycle, etc.  My research led to this trip to Alaska for the winter.  However, the surprising weather (record amounts of snow so far) and increased costs for everything made it seem I would never see them, nor my wild polar bear in Barrow, nor Nome, nor Dillingham, when along came my daughter's idea of a gift trip to Fairbanks!!!  So, I flew there for 4 nights at a remote location owned by friends of friends, and here are some pictures!  The auroras move and dance, we could see the Big Dipper through it, the color is spectacular, and one doesn't feel the cold (41 below zero) when experiencing this beauty!  Only one night did we actually see auroras like this, but there were other things, including Denali in the sunset from the plane, which made the trip so special, too.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!

Denali from the plane...surrounded by clouds....sunset  :)

Keith and Velma Koontz, Proprietors.  Now they are my friends, too.  

Polar Bear at Fairbanks airport - he's BIG!

Snowing outside instead of auroras - hah!

One gorgeous animal!!!

Ice on inside - temps were about 45 below zero just outside

Wouldn't want one mad at me!!!!

Fox dog!  Name in Yu'pik means fox.

Sun in the daytime was gorgeous, too!!!

Aurora!!!

Not quite sure what I ever did to deserve this, but the aurora tonight has been spectacular!!!   The prediction was for snow the first three of my four nights scheduled here.  But, it is clear, very starry, Jupiter and the moon are out together, and I saw a sky full of green, dancing curtains, with the big dipper behind it!   Amazing!!!!!!!!

More photos...

The first 2 beluga sightings...see their white backs?

One swimming, one breathing!!!!!

Another view of the beautiful belugas!

Is this not the coolest?   See the disturbed water of another one?

Young moose having a little lunch - notice it's still daylight...

Another view of the Chugach, with more snow than last time.

Does anyone wonder how the snow gets INSIDE the tunnel?   (and why?)  Look at the tracks for a hint...