Glacier "tours"

[alise007]

Are there any glaciers that one can visit without flying up onto it?

 

Last time hubby and I did a helicopter that landed on Mendenhall but can't afford that option this time.

 

With 4 of us too pricey but would love for the kids to be able to walk around a bit (carefully) on one.

 

We plan to do the Vancouver to Seward trek then spend a few days in the Kenai/Anchorage area. Most likely RC Radiance cruise in May 2011

[Suzanne123]

http://www.exitglacierguides.com/

[Glaciers]

Matanuska Glacier is one of the most easily accessible glaciers that you can walk on. It’s about 2 hours north of Anchorage. You drive across private land that costs $15pp. It is fairly safe to walk to an area where there is a picnic table located but anything further than that should be done with a guide. There are a couple of guide services in that area. Once you get to the table you may want to go even further but there are extreme safety issues with proceeding.

 

The main difference between Matanuska and other glaciers is that you can drive right up to it and be on the ice in about 15 minutes.

 

There is another recent post regarding this that suggests it may not be worth the drive if you aren’t going with a guide. There are certainly more impressive glaciers if you simply want to view one rather than trek.

 

Photos of Matanuska here.

http://picasaweb.google.com/AlaskaTravelFun/MatanuskaGlacier#5222712323384191970

[Budget Queen]

The Exit Glaicer reference above, requires fitness and the hike to the glacier is more extensive.

 

Matanuska is very accessable, but I would not consider going there, UNLESS you get a guided tour. It is hardly worthwhile to just walk on the very edge, which is all black ice, with all that other great "stuff" just beyond that point. :)

 

Mendenhall is also accessable with an extended guided hike, also requiring "fitness".

[daze823]

We are considering going to the Matanuska glacier, and take a guided tour around the glacier, but in looking at the pictures, I'm a bit concerned about the fact that we will be in a 32' R.V. Do you think the road is sufficient for an R.V., or should I go back to considering exit glacier for our tour?

 

ps - a little weary of going to exit glacier because will be with in-laws, and the hike to and from the glacier may be a bit much.

[alise007]

thank you for the other options! Will check out the cost of a guide!

[Budget Queen]

Hopefully, you are going to be able to manage the RV?? Not sure what the concern is for the Matanuska area?? You aren't driving on the glacier. :)

[Glaciers]

You should be fine in your RV. The road is dirt and gravel as soon as you turn off the highway but it is wide enough for turns. There were several RVs down at the parking lot last year. You may also be able to park at your guides office and all go down together in their vehicle.

[mytime53]

On a glacier, you never know what it will look like week-to-week, but a couple years ago, some friends of ours visited Matanuska Glacier during their trip here. Here's one of their pictures; they had no guide--didn't need to go that far to be on ice, and as you can tell from the picture, were just in tennis shoes.