You’ve heard of drive-in restaurants and drive-in theaters, but have you heard of drive-in glaciers? Mendenhall Glacier is sometimes called the “drive-in glacier” as it sits just a short, paved journey away from Juneau, Alaska and is one of the most accessible glaciers in the world. 13 miles long, 36.78 square miles, and part of a network of 38 major glaciers, Mendenhall impresses from any angle. You can opt for a stunning view of the glacier by visiting the Glacier Visitor Center and exploring trails that lead to waterfalls or lakes, but there are also options to get even more up close and personal with this wonder of nature.
One option for experiencing the glacier is taking a helicopter excursion to the surface. Because we journeyed to Alaska on Princess Cruises, we booked a helicopter excursion through the cruise line to view the glacier from above and trek across the ice. When we arrived at the tour’s headquarters, all of us participants were given matching red Marmot jackets, waterproof pants, and clunky boots and crampons to keep us warm (and upright) on our journey. After a quick safety briefing, we climbed into the helicopter and began our epic adventure.
It is stunning to see the true extent of this 13-mile ribbon of ice while in the air. Although I was somewhat disappointed to learn how dirty the surface of the glacier is, the ice still sparkled brightly with its turquoise hues. And despite the dirt on the surface, the ice appears in a stunning display of rushing power with a sense of movement and turmoil even though it is frozen in place—calling to mind images of a frozen land like Narnia. I half expected to see Mr. and Mrs. Beaver scuttling across the surface.
Interestingly, this glacier stands in the middle of the Tongass National Forest. Tongass is the USA’s largest national forest, standing at over 17 million acres and covering most of Southeast Alaska! Most of this land is part of the temperate rain forest region, which seems like an odd place to find a glacier. Yet only approximately 10 million acres of Tongass are actually forested, while the remaining 7 million acres are covered in ice, rock, water, and wetlands. While in some areas of the reserve you can trek through canopies of spruce and cedar trees, blueberry and huckleberry shrubs, and moss and ferns, Mendenhall Glacier allows for a decidedly colder experience that will leave you wondering how the ice can coexist so closely with the world’s largest remaining temperate rainforest region.
With wheels (or rather, helicopter skids) on the ground, it was time to test out our boots and crampons. They worked well to keep us from slipping, but the heavy-duty nature of the gear made it feel like someone strapped weights to our feet. Nevertheless, we were grateful to the helicopter tour for providing us with this gear. We found that most of the ice was solid, but our guide warned us to watch for puddles on the surface where the ice has melted and created icy sinkholes.
The terrain across the glacier is varied, with some areas flat and easy to walk on while other areas flaunt inclines or deep crevices. As on our first sighting of the glacier from above, walking on the surface reminds that the glacier truly is a dynamic formation. This dynamic nature is even more striking when standing on the surface and seeing the chasms you could fall into if you are not careful enough.
In fact, it soon becomes apparent that the glacier is far more active than it seems from afar. During our trek across the glacier, we discovered tunnel-like sections of ice as well as tiny waterfalls that demonstrate the ice is not as stable as it appears when viewing from above. Yes, the glacier seems frozen abruptly in place…but from up close it becomes clear that the landscape continually changes and each day brings something new for the glacier.
If you choose to visit Mendenhall Glacier, the best time to do so is May through October. Although there are many options to view the glacier since it is quite accessible to see, if you choose to take a helicopter ride to walk on the surface you will find it is an experience like no other…especially since Mendenhall is so close to a temperate rainforest region! With its vast, cold, and teal-tinted face, Mendenhall will surprise you with its dynamic nature and interesting, ever-changing features.
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