Matanuska Glacier

It was another awesome day in Alaska and this one included bright sunshine.  On this sun splashed day, we completed an arduous adventure trek on Matanuska Glacier.  Our guide Hawk from Mica guides was professional, knowledgeable and quite nimble as he scaled and descended ice walls with great ease. He first made sure that we had all the proper gear including helmets, crampons, gloves, rain jackets, and harnesses.

One of the most fascinating things about Matanuska Glacier is that it's the largest glacier in the United States accessible by car, stretching 27 miles long and 4 miles wide. Unlike many glaciers in Alaska that require a plane or boat to reach, Matanuska sits right off the Glenn Highway, making it uniquely approachable for adventurous day-trippers. Despite its accessibility, it's still a dynamic river of ice, constantly moving and reshaping itself. Our guide told us it shifts about a foot per day, a reminder that even something so seemingly permanent is in constant motion. 

After a bumpy ride in an old Suburban, we hiked alongside the glacier before gearing up with our harness and crampons.  From here, we maneuvered on, around and in the glacier.  We scaled and descended ice walls with rope and harness.  Although the entire trek on the glacier was incredible, the deep blue glacier lake stole the show.  After climbing an ice wall, we came over a ridge and were rewarded with the bluest water that we had ever seen — glacier blue.  We abseiled down to this spectacular spot where we ate lunch and took many, many pictures.  The show wasn’t over as we made our way to an equally amazing ice canyon which was so picturesque.  Next, we did a dual harnessed climb out of the canyon and followed our tracks back to the Suburban.  Standing on this living icefield, surrounded by towering peaks and brilliant sun, made us feel both small and completely alive. Overall, it was another A++ day.