Hike to Mendenhall glacier?

[RandomIam]

I think we are going to pass on the expensive Juneau excursions (we are going whale watching in the morning) and try to make the hike to Mendenhall glacier.

 

I read in Fodors? or another travel book that the hike from the visitor center is 3 miles roundtrip and takes about 3 hours. Has anyone made the hike to the glacier before? Is the length/time accurate? How intense is the hike, advice, etc.

Thanks

[Yukon]

I think we are going to pass on the expensive Juneau excursions (we are going whale watching in the morning) and try to make the hike to Mendenhall glacier.

 

I read in Fodors? or another travel book that the hike from the visitor center is 3 miles roundtrip and takes about 3 hours. Has anyone made the hike to the glacier before? Is the length/time accurate? How intense is the hike, advice, etc.

Thanks

 

You need a car to get to that trailhead (the West Glacier Trail - see http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/trails.html ). You can, however, get within a couple of hundred yards of the glacier by going to Nugget Falls - see the lower part of http://www.youralaskacruise.com/reviews/2007/page2.html (it's about an hour round trip).

[tddragoon]

The West Glacier trail will get you all the way to the glacier. Only about a mile or so is maintained and the rest seems to be off the beaten path. If you want to actually get all the way to the glacier you'll need to do some rock scrambling. We left our ship around 9 in the morning and got back around 4:30. We spent an hour on the glacier. If you choose this trail, you might want to enlist the help of a guide. If you just want to get closer to the glacier than the visitor's center, I'd do the trail to the falls. The other puts you right at the face of the glacier.

[RandomIam]

You need a car to get to that trailhead (the West Glacier Trail - see http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/trails.html ). You can, however, get within a couple of hundred yards of the glacier by going to Nugget Falls - see the lower part of http://www.youralaskacruise.com/reviews/2007/page2.html (it's about an hour round trip).

 

 

Just read through your 'cruise diary'. We may change our plans for Mendenhall but we picked up some great tips for some of the other ports!

 

Do you know anything about the Whale Park in Sitka?

 

Did you do laundry on-board or notice if they had laundry service? We are flying from FL and are obviously limited on how much we can bring.

[dchip]

last month! I didn't make it out onto the glacier but our sons did. It was gorgeous. Enjoy the pics. Here is the link: http://www.pbase.com/dchip/west_glacier_trail

 

Here is info I posted on another thread:

 

Hi, I hiked it with my kids and guides all in their 20's and 30's. I quit at the rock where you see me sliding down. That was half mile from the glacier. The kids said it got harder after that.

 

There are places where you need to hang onto tree limbs to get up and down the rock. Also the last 1/2 mile the trail is only marked by ribbons. We went with Patrick and Lisa who live in Juneau and hike the trail frequently.

 

It took us 4 1/2 hours total round trip. I walked back by myself at a fairly slow pace and it took me 1 1/2 hours. I still wish I had pushed myself more but since I hurt my back the day before we left on the cruise, I decided to actually listen to my body and not do something stupid.

 

My son who is in excellent physical shape and hikes frequently said it was the toughest hike he had ever been on but was worth it for sure.

 

Hope this helps

 

Denise

 

 

Cheers, Denise

[TMS9539]

Wow! Those photos are amazing! I wasn't planning on doing that hike, but I may have to rethink it...

[Budget Queen]

The East Loop trail is 3 miles, then you can take Nugget trail. Have to do both, for the closest view of Mendenhall. The East Loop has very little view and is mostly wooded. I like taking the first trailhead which is the switch back up, then the stairs down. There is no glacier access with this.

[nonrev1]

Can anyone recommend a guide guide and contact information? We would like to do the West Glacier Trail .... Denise, your pictures sold us!

 

Thanks!

[Budget Queen]

Can anyone recommend a guide guide and contact information? We would like to do the West Glacier Trail .... Denise, your pictures sold us!

 

Thanks!

 

Above and Beyond. http://www.beyondak.com/index.html

 

As a side, I assume your screen name indicates you are an airline emp?? It can be tough getting to Anchorage, Seattle and Vancouver, especially if not high senior, which I am. I allow at least 2 days myself.

[tddragoon]

I'm going to second Above and Beyond AK. We used them and they were very great about keeping us informed and safe. I was nerous about the scramble and because of them, I didn't once second guess myself. They provide all the gear you need and there is plenty of space in the backpacks for your other things. They only provide one bottle of water, which you can refill on the glacier, but if you think you might go through more than one bottle on each way, bring a second, or third.

[nonrev1]

Yes - we are both airline / ex airline employees. My husband is retired and stayed with one airline his entire career, so we have very good seniority. I was with several airlines - so, my seniority doesn't do much!

I am doing some advance planning - we are cruising next season on a 14 day repositioning cruise from SFO - YVR. We have been fortunate ( yes, I am knocking on wood) to have very good travel kharma - we flew standby in and out of both London and Rome for previous cruises. But - given all of the schedule reductions coming up in September-we are using miles. :)

 

Thank you very much for the guide information! It sounds like an excellent adventure.

What airline?

 

Lauri

[PennyAgain]

Amazing photos! Thank you! You have perfect weather. It is rare to have such a beautiful clear day.

 

Thanks so much for posting the link!

[dchip]

Glad you liked the photos. To tell you the truth, I can't stop looking at them!!!!!!!!

 

Yes, we had perfect weather at every port and rain every sea day. Couldn't have worked out better :D

 

Cheers, Denise

[OhioJeff]

Glad you liked the photos. To tell you the truth, I can't stop looking at them!!!!!!!!

 

Yes, we had perfect weather at every port and rain every sea day. Couldn't have worked out better :D

 

Cheers, Denise

I also loved the pics. Im hoping the weather is as nice during my visit.

[TMLAalum]

Have a rental car reserved so can get to the West Glacier trail, but I am concerned that we will have enuf time to do the r/t hike. DH & I are fit and have hiking boots & sticks to help us along but we are only in port from 2-10 pm. Is it safe & doable for independent hikers, or should we look for an alternative?

[tddragoon]

Experienced hikers should be fine, but the problem is that the trail is not clearly marked after a while. And if it's been raining a lot the lake could flood part of the trail and you'll have to make your own.

 

As for time, we left our ship at 9 in the morning, picked up another group, had an hour on the glacier with a couple of breaks along the way, and we were dropped off around 4:30. I struggled more than a bit which slowed us down. But I am not in the greatest shape nor am I a hiker. I just wanted to be on a glacier. If you don't plan on getting on the glacier you should be fine, but remember to keep a hastened pace. It may be cutting it close with picking up and returning a rental car though.

[celebrate20]

Thank you for sharing your pictures. They are awesome. I wish I felt confident that I could make that hike! I want to so badly, but afraid I wouldnt be able to do it.

I have question for you. The pictures that you took of the water fall, how did you get to the waterfall? Was it on your private hike, or can you get to it on one of the easier trail.

Thank you!

Allison

[dchip]

Thank you for sharing your pictures. They are awesome. I wish I felt confident that I could make that hike! I want to so badly, but afraid I wouldnt be able to do it.

I have question for you. The pictures that you took of the water fall, how did you get to the waterfall? Was it on your private hike, or can you get to it on one of the easier trail.

Thank you!

Allison

 

Thanks, I am so glad you liked the photos. You have no idea how much I wanted to continue on that hike and then I saw the photos and it was worse:( But I was very proud of myself for listening to my body.

 

The good news is this: the waterfalls were at the very beginning of the hike on an excellent and easy part of the trail. :D

 

Cheers, Denise

[PennyAgain]

I hiked Mendenhall with a family member who is a professional guide. He owed me a really big favor. He later told his mother that taking me on that hike was 'like hauling a cow up a mountain'.

 

Having said that I am up in years but have hiked and walked far all my life. I had trouble on the downhill and slippery parts due to pain from a worn out knee.

 

Am I glad I did it? Yes

 

Would I do it again? No.

 

If you have good weather:

 

Take the number of hours that you honestly have to do the hike and divide them into 3 parts. If after 1/3 of the time is gone access where you are and how you feel. If you have to turn back, you will have plenty of time to do so. This is just about what the lady who posted the fine photos did.

 

I would recommend that you have a professional guide as the trail is far from obvious. Even with a professional guide, I would not hike beyond my comfort zone.

 

As for the young man who felt he'd hauled a cow up a mountain........I'm having a hard time remembering his name now.

[dchip]

I hiked Mendenhall with a family member who is a professional guide. He owed me a really big favor. He later told his mother that taking me on that hike was 'like hauling a cow up a mountain'.

 

 

As for the young man who felt he'd hauled a cow up a mountain........I'm having a hard time remembering his name now.

 

That would have been me if I had continued!!!! Thanks for giving me a great giggle first thing this morning.

 

Cheers, Denise

[PennyAgain]

Denise, you are a very wise woman (and a fine photographer!)

 

I'd had to live down the 'cow' comment. A very sore subject. I thought I was doing OK and didn't realize that I had been converted from a woman to a cow in my escort's mind.

 

Most people think that going uphill is harder than going downhill, but going downhill really causes me pain. I also seem to have only one forward speed and that speed is too slow for younger folks to put up with.

 

There is a huge risk of getting too far out on a trail and running out of daylight, time in general, strength or luck.

 

You made the correct decision at the best time to do so! You also avoided the title of 'cow'.

 

I give you a great deal of credit! No charge for the giggle.

[celebrate20]

So, can you get to the waterfall by following a trail from the visitors center? If so, which trail. Thanks so much for your help!!!

[PennyAgain]

For a new weather report from Alaska please read: LIVE from ALASKA.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=815392