Mendenhall Lake still has ice

Mendenhall Lake still has ice on it. The ice is riding because the streams into Mendenhall Lake are running fast. That raised the water level which lifts the ice up. It would be crazy to walk out there now. It is still white all the way to the Glacier to see it.
The ponds on streams by the boardwalk are starting to thaw out. The beavers have some work getting their dams back into shape. It was snowing/raining mix most of the day today. As I was leaving the Glacier viewing area, a lady who had not been their for a couple of years saw the glacier and was upset at the melting and changes that have taken place. I felt that same emotion last fall when I saw it. Climate Change is real and it is not a good thing for Alaska, which is going to impact the whole world.

Mendenhall Glacier - No more walking out to it

Last weekend I went to the Glacier to check it out. No one was on the ice and I did not attempt it. It would have been my last opportunity to get out to the glacier. My going out to the glacier itself over frozen ice pack is done. We have two weeks of weather over freezing. A couple of days, there was ice on the windows and ice on mud puddles. The next time I get out to the glacier itself, it will be in a kayak.
February and March I had good access to the glacier.

Mountains down the road

Mountains seen going down the road.

Big ice cubes

3/27/11 - Mendenhall Glacier

I probably made my last hike out on the ice at Mendenhall Glacier for this winter. It was 45 degrees and straight sun. The ice is rising because the streams are running pretty good now because of the melting. The increased water causes the ice to rise and the cracks in the ice are noticable. I made it very far in and even saw a huge rock, VW size, break out of the ice and crash down a the big glacier. It was noisy and threw up a lot of ice. I was pretty far away. I was one of only two people who made it in all the way. Most people went into the ice bergs and went back. One boot fell through the ice into about 9 inches of water. The boots are 14 inch tall boots so no problem. Funny thing is, It was in an area where I thought I was safe. I had been in some places where I thought I was pushing it but no problem there. I was able to climb up a couple of ice bergs too. They are generally straight ice and super slick. Now, with warm weather, the ice bergs have a bit of grip to the surface so I could climb up and felt pretty safe.
Winter is basically over - my trips to Mendenhall Glacier over ice may well be over for this winter.

Mendenhall Glacier

Eaglecrest Ski Area 3/11

Herbert Glacier - The final pictures from this trip

It really was a nice day and a nice trip. My toes got beat up pretty good. I had to go through some drifts that were 5 feet deep and I fell on the ice about 5 times.

Going in to Herbert Glacier

This shows the trail going into Herman Glacier. There was a lot of pine needles and little branches along the trail because of all the winds we have had the previous week and a half. Great trip.

More Herbert Glacier - going in to it

Here are a few pictures of going into Herbert Glacier. There was a lot of litter (tree litter) from the winds.

There is supposed to be a video here but the video did not come up. Same with the last post too. Oh Well!

Herbert Glacier, AK Video 1 (3/11)

This video was taken 3/5/11. I had to cross country ski 6 miles to get to the glacier. I then cross countried around the flats so I could get to where this picture was taken. I am not sure that the video made it onto the blog - so if there is no video, some technical glitch is taking place.

I was standing on ice which had been exposed to sun. That caused a black ice type condition. I fell 3 times on the ice - not fun.
It was about 20 degrees with a very slight wind. Walking out, I walked into a few 3, 4, and 5 feet snow drifts which were a pain to get out of. I have had kind of a soft 3 weeks because of blasting winds or rain, so I was testing myself to see what kind of condition I am in. I actually did better than I had anticipated. I am ready to do another trip after my aches leave me. We had a super sunny and 25 degree weekend which is perfect weather for Juneau. I like it

This glacier is also a place for wolves. I did not hear any but other have told me, if you want to hear wolves - go to Herbert Glacier.

Herbert Glacier - A tribute to my Uncle Herb.

This is Herbert Glacier. I commemorate this picture to Herbert Meador, my departed Uncle. He was a great man who lived a life of caring for his family and helped with my family too. He was the most gentle and loving man I ever knew. He was unlike my dad in so many ways (that is good actually.)
I crossed country skied about 14 to 15 miles to get this picture, and a few more. I got tired and fell about 7 times. 3 times I was on black ice type conditions - super slick.

It was Uncle Herb's birthday last week but we had 60 MPH winds so I could not get into the glacier. I barely got out of the house except for going to school to teach.

I will have more pictures up next week to show the trip into and out of Herbert Glacier.

Mendenhall Glacier

2/20/11 Mendenhall Glacier