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

 


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

East Glacier Trail, Juneau, AK, October 2012

The leaves are brown, the air is crisp, and the sky is gray… autumn has definitely arrived in Juneau!

Here are some photos from a weekend hike around East Glacier Trail.

Grassy Rain

Grassy Rain

Creek Falls

Creek Falls

Forest Gnome

Forest Gnome

Trail Marker

Trail Marker

Bridge to Somewhere

Bridge to Somewhere

9 Leaves

9 Leaves

Grassy RainCreek FallsForest GnomeTrail MarkerBridge to Somewhere9 Leaves

Exhibit: December 2, 2011 @ 2nd Street Heritage Coffee Company

It’s been a long, long time since my last photo exhibit, but I’m proud and very excited to announce that I will have a collection of glacier cave photos on display at the Heritage Coffee Company’s location at 216 2nd Street in downtown Juneau.

The exhibit will open for Gallery Walk, this Friday, December 2nd, and will remain up for the remainder of the month.

If you are interested in purchasing a print you see on the wall, the large rectangular (16×20) and large panoramic (10×30) prints are $60/ea, and the square (12×12) and small panoramic (10×20) prints are $40/ea.

Here’s the official show blurb:

“Beneath the Mendenhall”

Glacier caves are formed when water runs through or under a glacier, the warmth of which melts the glacial ice to form an air-filled cavity. Having the Mendenhall Glacier right in our backyard provides a unique opportunity to discover and explore these deep-blue voids, provided you are willing to take the risks associated with wandering around underneath a massive, constantly shifting slab of ice and snow. This show presents photos taken over two trips to the same glacier cave this summer and highlights the cerulean glow and patterns that make glacier caves so mesmerizing.

So if you’re out and about in the downtown area for Gallery Walk this Friday, stop by the 2nd Street Heritage and say hi!


Mendenhall Glacier Cave, Juneau, AK, October 2011

A crisp, clear October morning turned into another hike out West Glacier Trail to the face of the Mendenhall Glacier, then on and under the glacier for a repeat visit to a glacier cave I was last at this past July. The interior of the cave has opened up and is much wider and taller at points, while the arch at the entrance looks significantly less substantial than it did – I have a feeling that this winter’s snow will be too much weight and it may collapse at some point. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see!

In any case, the cave was just as exhilarating as it was three months ago: the colors, the sound of the water echoing off the walls, the temperature, everything. I definitely noticed that upon exiting the cave, my heart rate was up and I had a bit of an adrenaline rush going! All in all, this was an awesome way to spend a sunny October Sunday.

Hard to stay inside on a Juneau day like this.

Hard to stay inside on a Juneau day like this.

Closing in on the Mendenhall Glacier.

Closing in on the Mendenhall Glacier.

Iceberg viking ships!

Iceberg viking ships!

Standing where the glacier one was.

Standing where the glacier one was.

Looks like fun!

Looks like fun!

Sunny valley behind Mt. Bullard.

Sunny valley behind Mt. Bullard.

Nondescript ice cave entrance.

Nondescript ice cave entrance.

Looking into the depths.

Looking into the depths.

The ceiling can be very aurora-like.

The ceiling can be very aurora-like.

Some idea of perspective here. The ceiling was anywhere from 20 feet high at the entrance to less than 4 feet as it got deeper. About 9 or 10 feet here.

Some idea of perspective here. The ceiling was anywhere from 20 feet high at the entrance to less than 4 feet as it got deeper. About 9 or 10 feet here.

Frozen water and rushing water. Oh the juxtaposition.

Frozen water and rushing water. Oh the juxtaposition.

Ice cave waterfalls.

Ice cave waterfalls.

Ice cave abstraction.

Ice cave abstraction.

And more abstraction...

And more abstraction...

Got the blues.

Got the blues.

Going towards the light.

Going towards the light.

End of the tunnel.

End of the tunnel.

Let there be light!

Let there be light!

On the glacier looking back towards the valley. Not a usual view.

On the glacier looking back towards the valley. Not a usual view.

Hard to stay inside on a Juneau day like this.Closing in on the Mendenhall Glacier.Iceberg viking ships!Standing where the glacier one was.Looks like fun!Sunny valley behind Mt. Bullard.Nondescript ice cave entrance.Looking into the depths.The ceiling can be very aurora-like.Some idea of perspective here. The ceiling was anywhere from 20 feet high at the entrance to less than 4 feet as it got deeper. About 9 or 10 feet here.Frozen water and rushing water. Oh the juxtaposition.Ice cave waterfalls.Ice cave abstraction.And more abstraction...Got the blues.Going towards the light.End of the tunnel.Let there be light!On the glacier looking back towards the valley. Not a usual view.

Flooding @ Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, AK, July 2011

Strange happenings at the Mendenhall Glacier! Apparently a lake in/on the glacier burst and released a lot of water into the lake and caused a lot of flooding. Read more here.

Enjoy the photos!

Mendenhall River rushing fast and high!

Mendenhall River rushing fast and high!

Flooded Steep Creek.

Flooded Steep Creek.

Almost over the footpath.

Almost over the footpath.

Paddling where you normally don't paddle!

Paddling where you normally don't paddle!

High waters.

High waters.

Sunny skies at the glacier.

Sunny skies at the glacier.

Bluesy.

Bluesy.

Waterfall.

Waterfall.

Mendenhall Glacier with a little extra water.

Mendenhall Glacier with a little extra water.

This squirrel loves his cottonwood all over his nose.

This squirrel loves his cottonwood all over his nose.

View from East Glacier Trail.

View from East Glacier Trail.

Fungus amongus.

Fungus amongus.

Flooded trail to Nugget Falls.

Flooded trail to Nugget Falls.

Daisies.

Daisies.

Stairway to nowhere.

Stairway to nowhere.

Peekingatchu.

Peekingatchu.

Well hi there.

Well hi there.

Butterfly and fireweed.

Butterfly and fireweed.

Mendenhall River rushing fast and high!Flooded Steep Creek.Almost over the footpath.Paddling where you normally don't paddle!High waters.Sunny skies at the glacier.Bluesy.Waterfall.Mendenhall Glacier with a little extra water.This squirrel loves his cottonwood all over his nose.View from East Glacier Trail.Fungus amongus.Flooded trail to Nugget Falls.Daisies.Stairway to nowhere.Peekingatchu.Well hi there.Butterfly and fireweed.

A Day Around, On, & Under the Mendenhall, Juneau, AK, July 2011

All I have to say is, “WOW.”

I’ve been to the face of the Mendenhall Glacier, but I’ve never been lucky enough to discover a glacier cave until now and I definitely understand why people get so excited about them.

It was amazingly bright no matter how far from the entrance you got. Light somehow found its way through the mass of ice above, which filtered out all but the blue light and gave an eerie glow everywhere you looked. I had a field day snapping photos and constructing makeshift camera platforms from rocks. These are the best in my opinion – enjoy!

Glacial melt.

Glacial melt.

Rain pool.

Rain pool.

Mountain stream.

Mountain stream.

Alternate route to the glacier.

Alternate route to the glacier.

Glacier up close.

Glacier up close.

Tip of the iceberg.

Tip of the iceberg.

Got the blues.

Got the blues.

Ice bridge and blue sky.

Ice bridge and blue sky.

Ascending.

Ascending.

Glacier layers. Both layers are ice, just one is dirty and one is not.

Glacier layers. Both layers are ice, just one is dirty and one is not.

Moonscape.

Moonscape.

Bluesy peaks.

Bluesy peaks.

Trekking across the ice.

Trekking across the ice.

Meltwater dripping from the ceiling.

Meltwater dripping from the ceiling.

Going down.

Going down.

The abyss.

The abyss.

Goodbye blue sky. Hello blue ice.

Goodbye blue sky. Hello blue ice.

It does stop eventually...

It does stop eventually...

Aurora borealis-like ice formations.

Aurora borealis-like ice formations.

Blue, blue, blue.

Blue, blue, blue.

The deepest blues are black.

The deepest blues are black.

Light at the end of the tunnel.

Light at the end of the tunnel.

Watch for falling rocks.

Watch for falling rocks.

Hanging on.

Hanging on.

Not a polar bear.

Not a polar bear.

Descending.

Descending.

Pink!

Pink!

Tricky.

Tricky.

Glacial melt.Rain pool.Mountain stream.Alternate route to the glacier.Glacier up close.Tip of the iceberg.Got the blues.Ice bridge and blue sky.Ascending.Glacier layers. Both layers are ice, just one is dirty and one is not.Moonscape.Bluesy peaks.Trekking across the ice.Meltwater dripping from the ceiling.Going down.The abyss.Goodbye blue sky. Hello blue ice.It does stop eventually...Aurora borealis-like ice formations.Blue, blue, blue.The deepest blues are black.Light at the end of the tunnel.Watch for falling rocks.Hanging on.Not a polar bear.Descending.Pink!Tricky.