Mendenhall Ice Caves, Juneau, Alaska

Placed just 12 miles outside of downtown juneau, alaska sits the mendenhall glacier. Hundreds of heaps of visitors gaze upon its splendor each 12 months. However only a few human beings virtually see it from its most stunning attitude : the inner.

Inside the glacier is a series of ice caves that are virtually otherworldly — like on foot thru the cloth wardrobe into narnia. Simplest all of narnia is blue. And also you had to hike a fairly strenuous 3.5 mile trail (every way) to get there.
But, the caves are fast melting and collapsing. Get to juneau as speedy as possible! This is, if you have any hobby in photographing your self as a smurf experiencing this surreal herbal wonder!

Realize earlier than you go
This trail may be dangerous, onerous, and is really unmarked in sure spots. A few human beings each 12 months come sick-organized, get lost, slip and fall, sprain their ankle, or want rescuing. I enormously recommend no longer hiking this one alone if you’re not an skilled hiker.

Assume the hike to take between 2–three ½ hours every way. Begin early and don’t underestimate the time. Plan it so that you’re not coming again in the darkish! You should additionally realize that you aren't guaranteed access into the ice caves. Be aware of the weather and usually use not unusual experience on the subject of your protection.

What to carry
Dress in layers, carry snacks and water for the day, and understand that you’ll get moist! This means safeguarding your phones and your cameras with protective instances! My lifeproof nuud water-resistant iphone case* stored me on this experience!

A warm sweater or mild rainjacket to alternate into can be wanted after you get in the direction of the cold moist glacier. Convey proper hiking boots or shoes with ankle aid, and wool socks. Chapstick with spf, sunscreen on sunny days, and mosquito repellent are precise thoughts too.

Crampons in your footwear are extremely helpful if you need to walk at the pinnacle of the glacier and snigger at all of the those who paid hundreds of dollars to do the identical element on tour. I used to be recently sent a pair of stabilicers to test out and i really like them! Actually bringing these on all my ice and glacier hikes to any extent further. Plus, they donate 5% of income to the countrywide park basis! Gloves to defend your arms whilst scrambling down the rocks over the past bit of the hike could’ve been available to %, too.

And of route, please remember the fact that this is an exceedingly beautiful natural marvel in need of safety and safeguarding. Practice your leave no hint capabilities — and if you p.C. It in, percent it out.

How to get there
The west glacier trail is at the western aspect of the glacier starting at mendenhall lake. This out-and-lower back trail will convey you to the caves. You may additionally veer off on the “point of view” join up the trail. This can still carry you to the caves, however on a one of a kind course (the cairn route).

In case you’re now not on a tour, you could pressure your personal car, rent one on the town, or take a taxi. In a taxi, inform the driver you propose on doing the west glacier path off of skater’s cabin avenue. Use the google guidelines beneath if using your self.
Start at the west glacier trailhead. If you can, set up a gps to tune your course earlier than you begin the hike. This can make finding your way returned a whole lot easier. I also dropped a pin on my smartphone’s map when I started out and took note of the time.

If you opt to take a guided excursion, you’ll be shuttled through van out of your choose-up point to the trailhead. The van should additionally bring you back as soon as the excursion has ended.
The west glacier path starts out in a forest and within reason degree to walk on for a while. It is able to get muddy and slick in some regions. A good part of the trail has uplifted rocks and roots. It starts offevolved to get pretty steep and you’ll must pass over bridges, switchbacks, and stairs. There’s additionally a large boulder with a knotted rope to useful resource in mountaineering up it. (obstacle path, each person?)

You’ll attain a few scenic overlooks till you come back to a place with shrubbery and uncovered rock near the glacier. Once more, not all the trail is marked. Look for the colourful ribbons tied to timber, or for cairns — rocks piled orderly on top of each other — that different hikers have created to help distinguish the path. The closing bit is that free rock scramble downhill to reach the cave front.

Exploring the caves
Once more, the last little bit of the west glacier trail has you scrambling down a hillside of unfastened rocks and pebbles. Take into account of your footing and go slow. The cave entrances are right in front of you. You’ll see holes in the aspects of the glacier with an icy bubbly blue hue inner. There’s a little flow running thru them.

Caution : after you input the ice caves, you’ll want to stay forever and you will seriously contemplate adapting to the cold and taking an ice bug as your spouse.

Fun fact — yes, ice worms honestly exist! They spend their whole lives in glacial ice, most effective coming to the floor in mornings and evenings. They feed on algae and pollen grains. Their bodies absolutely liquify if they experience temperatures of forty one° f (5° c) or higher! So looking back, maybe pick a exclusive wife species whilst you make a decision to live right here forever. Unless you want to grow to be a widow thanks to worldwide warming. ;)

This glacier is receding!
The mendenhall glacier is receding and melting quicker than it could collect snow and ice. The snowstorm at the head of the icefield is closely depended on. However with increasing global temperatures, it’s not searching very longing for glaciers.

Granted, the overall disappearance of the mendenhall glacier would probably take centuries. But the ice caves inner of it are disappearing at a miles faster fee.

I first visited the caves in July 2014. Days later, a ranger knowledgeable me that the primary entrance had melted and collapsed! Communicate approximately timing! I returned to those ice caves in august 2017 and the distinction was alarming. The new entrance changed into a good deal smaller and the caves weren’t as big or enormous. Water was nonetheless dripping and pouring from its “ceiling”.