Let's Take a Walk on the Matanuska Glacier

The mountains, glaciers, and national parks of Alaska are calling, so we're continuing our journey to the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, where our next adventure awaits. Recently, on our way to our boondocking spot, we paused at a scenic overlook to admire a glacier glimmering in the not-so-distant landscape. "Wouldn't it be fun to walk on it?" Doug commented. "For sure", I answered with just a hint of sarcasm. Well, I should know better than to encourage him, because that evening after a quick Google search, he announced ...

"Let's take a walk on the Matanuska Glacier!"

 I don't usually turn down the offer to take a walk, but all I can think of is the slippery ice fields, unstable crevasses, and falling chunks of ice and rocks. And in my head, I was thinking, "Um ... thanks, but no thanks."

But, after 40+ years together, I’ve learned that even Doug’s more audacious ideas turn into over-the-top amazing RVentures. So, I set aside my doubts and simply said, “That sounds like fun! What time is our ‘walk’ scheduled for tomorrow?”

And yes, I, too, was grinning ear to ear the next day when the rain ended and we donned our crampons to begin our ...

Walk on the Matanuska Glacier!

The Matanuska Glacier, located 100 miles northeast of Anchorage along the Glenn Highway, is one of Alaska's most accessible glaciers. This valley glacier, at 27 miles long and 4 miles wide, is the largest glacier in the United States that can be reached by vehicle. Because the land surrounding Matanuska Glacier is private property, the only way to access it is through the guided tours led by Glacier Tours on the Matanuska. The cost was actually quite reasonable (by Alaskan tour standards) at $150/person for a 2.5 hour tour.

After a steep drive down to the tour company's property, we were introduced to our guide, Finn. We walked on floating docks as he led us across the glacial lake to the start of the ice field. An interesting fact is that when this company began leading glacial walks 50 years ago, the glacier ice came right up to the tour company's welcome center. Today we had to walk quite a distance over the floating docks in order to reach the edges of the glacier. I felt a little uneasy at first, 

.... but once I saw that our guide prioritized our comfort and safety, my nervousness quickly faded, and I was filled with awe at the incredible beauty that surrounded us.

Yes, I was in ice field heaven!

Glorious Glacier Moments included ...

Watching the youngest member of our group diligently work the ice pick in order to chip out a "real old piece of ice",

which I kind of think looked like a heart.

Tapping a glacier water source to fill our bottles.

Seeing how the melting

... and the movement of the ice reshapes the beauty of this glacier every day.

Wondering what kind of forest will grow up around these two huge boulders a few hundred years from now when the thick ice beneath them eventually melts.

But most glorious of all was seeing

and sharing Doug's excitement of being able to ...

Take a walk on the Matanuska Glacier!

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