When you think Alaska, you think glaciers, mountains, wildlife. When I was doing research into what to do when Justin was at work, I saw about a dozen tours to the Matanuska Glacier. I wanted to do it, but I couldn’t do it without Justin. My first glacier was supposed to be with him. Once we got to Anchorage, and after my first solo day when I just walked around aimlessly downtown, that evening I told Justin I had to book something fun to occupy my time as there wasn’t enough to do downtown. I told him about this tour and my hesitation – but the kind guy he is said it sounded incredible and I should book it. With his blessing, I booked the Matanuska Glacier Hike with White Raven Tours. It was a bucket list experience that surpassed all expectations, solidifying itself as a true highlight of my Alaskan journey.
My group for the bus ride there was cozy, just five of us, creating a relaxed and personal atmosphere. Upon arrival, we met up with another small group and our dedicated glacier guides. In total, there were about 10 of us, plus two guides, ready to conquer the ice. Our first practical step was crossing a walkway suspended over glacial water, a necessary bridge before we could strap on our microspikes – those essential traction devices that would keep us upright on the slippery ice.
Before signing up for this activity, I’ll confess to a fair bit of wardrobe anxiety. Different tour sites had conflicting advice: some insisted on ankle-high boots, others on snow pants, and many emphasized gloves. Given that I was visiting on the cusp of summer, I hadn’t packed any of that heavy-duty winter gear. I worried I’d be underdressed and freezing. But, oh, how wrong I was! White Raven Tours stated they provided pants and all necessary safety equipment, which eased some worry, but as it turned out, all that fretting was for nothing. I was actually a bit warm out there! My outfit of base layers, jeans, a long-sleeve thick shirt, a vest, and a rain/wind coat was perfectly adequate for late May. They did provide a hard hat for safety, which, to my eternal amusement (and photographic detriment), kept sliding back, making me look utterly ridiculous in most of my photos.
Having never worn microspikes (or crampons, as some call them) before, my initial steps on the glacier were slow and cautious. The crunch of the spikes biting into the ice was a unique sensation. But after navigating the first gentle incline, a surge of confidence washed over me. I knew this was going to be incredible.
Our first proper stop was looking at the base of the glacier. Our guide began to explain its immense size (27-mile long, 4-mile wide) and ancient age (22,000 years from its optimal size), and seeing this colossal river of ice up close was incredibly exciting. It’s a truly humbling experience to stand before something so vast and timeless. At that moment, I felt a pang of regret that Justin wasn’t there to share this breathtaking sight with me.
One of our very first unique stops was at a crevasse. While instability meant we couldn’t go too deep into its icy depths, peering into the deep blue fissure was utterly captivating. The light filtered down, revealing layers of compressed ice, and it was certainly a neat glimpse into the glacier’s intricate structure. (I look photoshopped in!)
We continued our careful ascent, making our way further up the glacier. We paused at a small trickle of water, crystal clear and seemingly pristine. Our guide invited us to fill our water bottles, assuring us it was pure glacier melt. I had intentionally left my water bottle and bag behind, but I couldn’t resist. Cupping my hands, I scooped up a small amount. It was astonishingly cold and tasted incredibly fresh – a pure, untainted sip of ancient ice.
Just above this area, we saw a breathtaking sapphire-blue pool, a natural basin of melted ice, framed by the surrounding glacier. It was a truly stunning sight. We then continued a bit higher, arriving at a vantage point at about 300 feet that offered an expansive view of the glacier stretching out before us, and the vast valley beyond. It was here, taking in the immense scale, that I had to ask for clarification: was the entire thing we were standing on solid ice? Or was it ice on top of ground? The answer was astounding: it was all ice. Our guide explained that some areas of the Matanuska Glacier are an incredible 1,000 feet thick! The “dirt-like” surface we were walking on was merely a very thin layer of sediment, left behind as the ice moved.
Our descent was less steep, and we had the opportunity to go through another crevasse like area with ice walls. It was a great way to finish the main part of the glacier tour.
Our small group was fairly quiet. I think we were all taking in the serene environment, trying to be present and look all around and appreciate what we were doing. I know I was paying special attention to the way the ice seemed to glisten, smelling the air, and listening to the noise the crampons made each step I took.
The 2-ish hours we spent navigating the small part of the glacier passed by incredibly fast. This was my very first experience with a glacier, and it left me with a deep sense of awe and a renewed appreciation for our planet’s incredible forces.
After our glacier walk, the tour company brought us to this little shop nearby to taste local honey and wines. The owner’s daughter gave us tasters of I think 5 honey samples. Aside from the garlic one (would be better to cook with), I loved them all. Then they offered us 2 kinds of vinegar. I tried one, it wasn’t my thing and politely declined the second. Then we moved onto sampling the wines. Some were very enjoyable, some fruity, and one or two that was not quite for me. Had I had room in my suitcase, I may have gotten a small honey.
Overall it was a great day, worth the 2 hour each way trip from Anchorage, and worth it’s price tag. With so many tour companies with similar prices and experiences, I don’t think you can go wrong — it probably didn’t really matter which to choose – no doubt I took too long looking around. I believe they said most tours get filtered to the Glacier guides, except MICA and Salmon Berry who have their own guides.