Glacier Trek, Juneau, AK, August 2013

I was lucky enough to go on a glacial adventure this weekend with the help of NorthStar Trekking!

Going underneath the Mendenhall Glacier is one thing, but putting on a pair of crampons and checking out all the features on top of it is awesome… as is scaling the face of a frozen slab of ice. In all, the exploring lasted about three hours. Throw in the helicopter rides and perfect weather and well, needless to say, it was a pretty epic afternoon.

Below are just a sampling of the nearly 500 photos I snapped. I did my best to capture the full breadth of the experience, but I would highly recommend making your own way onto the Mendenhall if you can, even if you’re from Juneau and you see it all the time. There’s nothing like it!

On the Ramp

On the Ramp

Fly By

Fly By

Heli

Heli

Mendenhall Glacier + Valley

Mendenhall Glacier + Valley

Suicide Falls

Suicide Falls

Previous Trekker

Previous Trekker

Blue Water

Blue Water

Yellow Tent

Yellow Tent

Glacial Pool

Glacial Pool

Mt. Stroller-White + Mendenhall Glacier

Mt. Stroller-White + Mendenhall Glacier

Crampon Walking

Crampon Walking

Glacial Traverse

Glacial Traverse

Mendenhall Towers + Thunder Mountain

Mendenhall Towers + Thunder Mountain

The Blues

The Blues

Ice Fall

Ice Fall

Glacier Waterfall

Glacier Waterfall

Watery Blues

Watery Blues

Base Camp

Base Camp

Trek 19

Trek 19

Waterfall + Stream

Waterfall + Stream

Ice Climbing

Ice Climbing

Intent Watching

Intent Watching

Summit!

Summit!

Coat Rack

Coat Rack

Ascending

Ascending

Trek 26

Trek 26

Rappeling

Rappeling

Summiting

Summiting

Glacier Water

Glacier Water

The Guide

The Guide

Landing Zone

Landing Zone

Blue Peaks

Blue Peaks

Deep Blue

Deep Blue

Glacial Stream

Glacial Stream

Valley

Valley

Slowly Decaying Leaf

Slowly Decaying Leaf

Water Drops

Water Drops

Sunshine + Stroller-White

Sunshine + Stroller-White

Returning

Returning

REAL Glacier Water

REAL Glacier Water

Moulin Bleu

Moulin Bleu

Glacierscape

Glacierscape

Rocks

Rocks

Yellow + Blue

Yellow + Blue

Juneau Airport

Juneau Airport

Landed

Landed

On the RampFly ByHeliMendenhall Glacier + ValleySuicide FallsPrevious TrekkerBlue WaterYellow TentGlacial PoolMt. Stroller-White + Mendenhall GlacierCrampon WalkingGlacial TraverseMendenhall Towers + Thunder MountainThe BluesIce FallGlacier WaterfallWatery BluesBase CampTrek 19Waterfall + StreamIce ClimbingIntent WatchingSummit!Coat RackAscendingTrek 26RappelingSummitingGlacier WaterThe GuideLanding ZoneBlue PeaksDeep BlueGlacial StreamValleySlowly Decaying LeafWater DropsSunshine + Stroller-WhiteReturningREAL Glacier WaterMoulin BleuGlacierscapeRocksYellow + BlueJuneau AirportLanded

 


Mt. Bradley (aka Jumbo), Juneau, AK, July 2013

I would say that there’s not much better than hiking up a mountain on a sunny and warm Juneau day, but… Juneau’s pretty awesome that way. No matter what you do on a sunny and warm Juneau day however, you can never go wrong by making your way to the top of a mountain!

Mt. Bradley, otherwise known as Mt. Jumbo, is a 3,337 foot peak on Douglas Island, offering great views of downtown Juneau, the backside of Douglas, the airport area, and pretty much everywhere else.

The trail is about three and a half miles long and up, up, UP. It’s well worth the effort though…

Willow Ptarmigan

Willow Ptarmigan

Downtown Juneau from Above

Downtown Juneau from Above

Beer + Mountain = Awesome

Beer + Mountain = Awesome

Seeing Forever

Seeing Forever

Shadowy Wavy Snowy Abstract

Shadowy Wavy Snowy Abstract

My Own Shadow

My Own Shadow

Layers and the Chilkats

Layers and the Chilkats

Admiralty Island

Admiralty Island

Gastineau Channel

Gastineau Channel

Mountain Harebell

Mountain Harebell

July Snow

July Snow

Sunset Glow

Sunset Glow

Fields of Green

Fields of Green

"One of these things is not like the other..."

Downtown Scenery

Downtown Scenery

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Through the Trees

Through the Trees

Mt. Jumbo

Mt. Jumbo

Hiking Down

Hiking Down

Lone Tree

Lone Tree

Mountain Lillypads

Mountain Lillypads

Little Niagara

Little Niagara

Willow PtarmiganDowntown Juneau from AboveBeer + Mountain = AwesomeSeeing ForeverShadowy Wavy Snowy AbstractMy Own ShadowLayers and the ChilkatsAdmiralty IslandGastineau ChannelMountain HarebellJuly SnowSunset GlowFields of Green"One of these things is not like the other..."Downtown SceneryWildflowersThrough the TreesMt. JumboHiking DownLone TreeMountain LillypadsLittle Niagara

Mendenhall Glacier Cave, Juneau, AK, June 2013

This was my third hike to the glacier cave at Mendenhall Glacier that has been the “go to” cave for the past few years. I went in July 2011 and October 2011 – for moving at glacial speeds, it’s amazing how much has changed in between visits!

Much more of the face has calved off and melted over these two short years and the entrance to the cave itself has receded at least 100 feet. It actually looks a bit more stable now, as the previous ice outcropping that was at the entrance before was relatively thin looking. Inside the cave is just as amazing – the bluest of blues and the sound of water rushing under the glacier. If you go, be safe and bring rain gear!

Enjoy the photos.

Glacier Cave Entrance

Glacier Cave Entrance

Peering In

Peering In

Looking Out

Looking Out

On the Glacier

On the Glacier

Hiking Out

Hiking Out

Glacier Dog

Glacier Dog

Lower Glacier

Lower Glacier "Cave"

West Glacier Unnamed Creek

West Glacier Unnamed Creek

Glacier Cave EntrancePeering InLooking OutOn the GlacierHiking OutGlacier DogLower Glacier "Cave"West Glacier Unnamed Creek

The Getaway, Hawaii, HI, May 2013

This year’s big summer vacation was to Hawaii (the Big Island). Can’t say enough good things about the place… relaxing, great food, so much to do. It’s incredible. The photos below don’t do it justice, but I tried to include a little something different than the usual Hawaiian vacation photos.

Two highlights: driving 14,000′ above sea level to the top of Mauna Kea and hiking out to the southernmost point in the United States (coming within a year to the day of visiting the northernmost point in the United States!).

Hope you enjoy the photos!

Holy Coconut

Holy Coconut

Pink Hibiscus

Pink Hibiscus

Frangipani

Frangipani

Waiting for a bite...

Waiting for a bite...

On the Water

On the Water

Butterfly + Frond

Butterfly + Frond

Yellow-billed Cardinal

Yellow-billed Cardinal

Gecko

Gecko

South Point Fishing

South Point Fishing

Alaskan Brewing Co. Represent!

Alaskan Brewing Co. Represent!

Looking Up

Looking Up

Windswept

Windswept

Southern Hawaii Grafitti

Southern Hawaii Grafitti

Southernmost Landfill?

Southernmost Landfill?

Lost Sole

Lost Sole

Green Sand Beach

Green Sand Beach

Green Sand Surf

Green Sand Surf

Broken

Broken

South Point Sunset

South Point Sunset

Grazing

Grazing

Windfarm and Cows

Windfarm and Cows

Moo

Moo

Powerful Sunset

Powerful Sunset

Wrapped Up

Wrapped Up

Peek-a-boo

Peek-a-boo

Pencil Urchin

Pencil Urchin

Partial Solar Eclipse

Partial Solar Eclipse

Maui from 14,000 Feet

Maui from 14,000 Feet

Mauna Kea Observatories

Mauna Kea Observatories

Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope

Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope

Most Scenic Stop Sign Ever

Most Scenic Stop Sign Ever

Mauna Kea Fog

Mauna Kea Fog

Hilo Alley

Hilo Alley

Hawaiian Zebra

Hawaiian Zebra

Road Closed... Really?

Road Closed... Really?

PBR + Lava

PBR + Lava

Lava Field

Lava Field

Sunset + Clouds

Sunset + Clouds

Holy CoconutPink HibiscusFrangipaniWaiting for a bite...On the WaterButterfly + FrondYellow-billed CardinalGeckoSouth Point FishingAlaskan Brewing Co. Represent!Looking UpWindsweptSouthern Hawaii GrafittiSouthernmost Landfill?Lost SoleGreen Sand BeachGreen Sand SurfBrokenSouth Point SunsetGrazingWindfarm and CowsMooPowerful SunsetWrapped UpPeek-a-booPencil UrchinPartial Solar EclipseMaui from 14,000 FeetMauna Kea ObservatoriesCanada-France-Hawaii TelescopeMost Scenic Stop Sign EverMauna Kea FogHilo AlleyHawaiian ZebraRoad Closed... Really?PBR + LavaLava FieldSunset + Clouds