Touching Meares Glacier with Lea and David

 

There are so many beautiful glaciers here in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Many are high in the mountain valleys, hard to reach without some serious rock climbing ability. Others spill out of the mountains all the way down to the ocean. These are called tidewater glaciers, and are best explored by boat or kayak. There are a few, however, that allow a different kind of adventure. Meares Glacier is one of these. It is a tidewater glacier, but it is currently advancing through the rainforest on its sides, presenting a unique way to experience this glacier with a hike. There are certain parts of the glacier that you can actually walk up touch. It is a dynamic environment, always changing, so this adventure won't always be an option. But right now, it is an adventure not to be missed.

We landed on a gently sloping rocky beach, perfect for a skiff beach landing. We crossed a small stream and entered the rainforest on a well-used bear path. We stopped for a few photo opportunities of the glacier, whenever the forest opened up and gave us a view. As we walked, thunderous roars could be heard from up in front of us. It was the glacier, dropping huge pieces of ice into the ocean water below. This is a very rare experience to be hiking through the dense rainforest, hearing a glacier calving very close by. Eventually the trail ends abruptly in an apocalyptic scene of a glacier bulldozing its way through the forest.

We climbed over the rocky hill being pushed in front of the glacier to go up and touch the face of the glacier. We didn't dawdle for too long, and I had something else for everyone to experience. Climbing down and around, we made it to a rocky beach in front of the glacier that was filled with icebergs, stranded by the extreme low tide. I call these places 'ice berg gardens.' We witnessed a few calvings from the glacier as we strolled through the ice garden. I think everyone could have stayed there all day...but we had the polar plunge waiting for us back onboard!

Looking deep into the ice.

Lichen mustache. Classic Alaska joke.

Side view of Meares Glacier.

Touching the glacier.

Beautiful view of ice, mountains, and rainforest, all in one scene.

Me and Lea hanging out in front of a glacier.

Walking up on the leading edge of Meares Glacier.

Our brave leader. This is me in the ice garden in front of Meares Glacier.

Here is a scene you don't see too much. Adventurous explorers walking in front of a glacier.

I always try to slow down so people can soak it all in. No rush here.

I've got to document everything. We put together a slideshow of the adventure on the last night for the guests. This one is a keeper.

Another wild scene from an incredible adventure. I love being able to offer these kinds of unique experiences to our guests.

This was forest not too long ago.

Side view of Meares Glacier.

This is what happens when you bring fun Australians to the party.

There is nothing quite like the blue ice of a glacier.

Lea, hamming it up.

Lea in front of the glacier.

Stopping to smell the roses, or in this case, watch the glacier.

Glacier peek-a-boo.

Not to be outdone by their Aussie husbands.

Scramble down to the beach.

Capping off the morning with a frigid polar plunge. Notice the ice floating by in the background.