The mud in places was gelatinous, and the park maintenance crew had placed walkways across slippery areas. As we ascended toward the pristine blue spires of ice, the silt diminished. Although what we walked on often looked like rocky ground, it was indeed hard-packed ice covered in glacier silt.
Many places we had to cross slippery streams to continue our climb. We made sure to take care around crevasses, however. Rushing water plummeted into unknown depths below the ice, and we didn't want to end up stuck in an icy water slide.
Our exuberant climbers found a way up the icy sides using ice picks.
Park maintenance had also carried a few picnic tables deep into the glacier, setting up a resting spot near a lovely, icebound meltwater pond.
Alas, our souvenirs wouldn't survive the drive home. But that's what photos are for, isn't it?
Photos are copyright of Tam Linsey, 2013. All rights reserved.
3 comments:
Wonderful post, Tam - and great pictures! So awesome to see such magnificence in our great state.
Thanks! :o)
Beautiful pics, Tami. One of the few things I haven't tried in Southcentral Alaska--maybe next summer! :-)
I've only climbed on one glacier-quite honestly, it scared the bejeebers out of me-those magnificent, rushing water, blue holes are tooo scary. But, your pictures are great, it looks like a great time.
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