Alan64 Posted June 22, 2009 #1 Share Posted June 22, 2009 We're interested in a canoe trip near a glacier, and our choices are between the Mendenhall Lake canoe trip in Juneau vs the Glacier Point Wilderness Safari (Davidson glacier) in Skagway. Both seem to get good reviews. The Skagway trip is significantly more expensive (probably because it includes a catamaran trip and short hike as well as the canoing). We're willing to pay the difference if the canoe experience is better there, but if the canoe/glacier part is equal then we'd just do it in Juneau. Opinions one way or another? Thanks to all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrogLover215 Posted June 23, 2009 #2 Share Posted June 23, 2009 We've only done the Mendenhall Lake canoe trip, but boy did we love it! The most amazing part was going by the chunks of ice that have broken off the glacier. They looked exactly the color of blue topaz. You could reach out and touch them (and we did). They towered over us in the canoe. Here's a description from start to end: We were picked up at the pier by a bus and driven a short way (maybe 20 minutes?) to a part of Mendenhall Lake far from the visitor's center. There, we suited up in the waterproof gear they provided (kinda unpleasant as it was a little cold and wet inside); they have a whole range of sizes including for kids, and kids also got floatation jackets. There were 2 canoes so we broke into 2 groups and boarded the canoes, 2 people to a row. The canoes were long and seemed very stable. We set off across the lake, and everyone rowed the amount they wanted. The ride was pretty enough, but nothing spectacular, until we rounded a spit of land and saw the glacier. It was so huge! The temperature dropped immediately, like someone opened the freezer door and we were standing in front of it. We rowed as close to the glacier as we were safely allowed. Then we rowed over to a rocky beach next to a waterfall and got out to stretch our legs, look around, and have a little snack (crackers and cheese, maybe more but I forget). The waterfall was really neat, and we learned that it was covered by the glacier until just a few years ago, when it was revealed by the glacier's retreat. Then we got back in the canoes and rowed back, passing very close to several iceburgs. They had a little race between the canoes to see who could get back first. I had read that the canoes would have motors to power us back on the return trip, but that wasn't the case and we had to row. The guides were really nice about keeping the rowing low-pressure and stressed that you could row as much or as little as you liked. The pros: AMAZING view of the glacier and so breathtaking to be up close to the beautifully-colored iceburgs. Nice info about the lake and glacier from the guides. Very welcoming to my kids, who were 13, 8, and 5 at the time. The cons: It was COLD once we came around that spit of land, and the dampness of my waterproof suit and boots was really gross. Luckily I rarely felt the discomfort because I was so in awe of the scenery. I wish I could compare this trip to the other you mentioned, but I hope this is a complete enough review. We really did like the trip and have already booked it for our August cruise; this time, we've convinced my 60-something dad to join us. If interested, book early because I know this tour has been waitlisted for some time on my cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tepid Cruiser Posted June 23, 2009 #3 Share Posted June 23, 2009 We did the Menedenhall canoe trip the 1st weekend in June. If you're only going to visit one glacier on your trip, I'd pick Mendenhall over the other. I think the glaciers in Skagway are significantly smaller (check google) & with the name "wildlife safari" it hints that the glacier isn't enough to fill the entire excursion. If you're more interested in wildlife than ice, however, then Skagway might be your choice, as you won't see much around Mendenhall (flock of birds that nests near the glacier, maybe an eagle, maybe goat/sheep in distance if you bring binos). Our guide says there's generally not much wildlife around that lake due to the high silt and resulting lack of plantlife/fish in the water. While Mendenhall is not the biggest glacier in Alaska, it's the most accessible, and it is a unique experience to be on the water so close to it with the ice chunks/bergs floating with you. We had 6 adults on our trip, so we all rowed; it's a relatively short trip across the lake (maybe 1/2 hour), and you don't encounter ice until the half-way point. When we were there, the lake was low enough so that people from the visitor's center could walk to the waterfall as well, so there were about 30 people and a couple of dogs tooling around the beach area; as summer progresses, our guide says the path to the beach gets cut off by rising lake levels, so it might be even more "special" by the time you go if you're the only ones there. It gets cooler near the glacier, so even if it's great weather, consider pants & long-sleeves. (All were happy to have jackets on our trip.) You might get wet toes if wearing mesh sneakers. We enjoyed it well enough, not our favorite excursion but special because of the uniqueness. Our guide was OK; it was the start of his 1st season, so I'm sure they all improve as summer progresses. (Side note--a lot of the guides we met were just summer-employees who lived in the lower 48.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcbcw Posted August 1, 2009 #4 Share Posted August 1, 2009 We just did the Mendenhall canoe trip and we loved it. You were able to get close to the floating icebergs in the lake. It was a fun activity and something you don't normally get to do. The only drawback was that we signed up for the 12:30 trip and they combined us with the 1:30 trip and we weren't notified until after I called the Alaska Adventure wondering where our guide was. So if you do this tour call them that morning to confirm your time, if it's changed at least you will be able to go shopping or do the Mt. Roberts tram instead of waiting around and waisting 1 1/2 hours like us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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