Exit Glacier

This past weekend we journeyed to Seward, AK to camp and visit Kenai Fjords National Park. Initially we had hoped to take the 8 hour hike up to see The Harding Ice Field, which feeds into over 40 different glaciers and is one of only 4 ice fields left in the US. After arriving in Seward and setting up at camp we realized that we only had time for the Exit Glacier Hike. This was no surprise considering my relative concept of time vs. Nicki's more reality based sense of time.

It's easy to lose track of time when it only gets dark for a few hours a day.

Our campsite was in the Seward City Campground, which was conveniently right on the beach. After pitching our tent we made the brief drive to Kenai Fjords National Park.

Here I am, wearing the 'dad pants.'

Near the beginning of the trail we saw this newly constructed building, created with the aide of money from the stimulus package.

As we began making our way up the Exit Glacier Trail we saw a few familiar sights, including some beautiful flowers. We purchased a flower guide in hopes of identifying them on our hike. Unfortunately the guide we purchased was only for flowers seen on the Seward Highway, as mentioned in very small print under the large print boasting "Alaska Flower Guide"

We saw lots of moose poop on our trail.

Before heading directly to the glacier we took the trail to the outwash plain. We were pleased to find a stream of glacial water and our first view of Exit Glacier.

We encountered a few friendly French people collecting glacial ice for their nightly Scotch and water. Conveniently we had a little bit of whiskey back at our camp and decided to follow in suit, stowing them in our thermos.

I found one piece with a dip large enough to function as a cup

We were a little thirsty, so we had a quick sip of glacial water.

As we continued on, we passed signs marking when and where Exit had been in the past. The further we went the more apparent it was that this glacier is melting terribly fast, especially within the last 100 years.


We soon arrived at the end of the trail, which drops you off at the closest you can safely get to the glacier. In years past people were allowed to walk up and touch the glacier.

Hopefully you can appreciate just how enormous it is judging by the relative size of the rope and placard.

EXTREME CLOSEUP!!!

Glaciers give off this beautiful blue color because all other colors of the visible light spectrum are absorbed by the ice. As it ages it becomes more pure, melting and reforming, which eliminates air bubbles that would otherwise reflect white light.

After being in awe of the glaciers enormity and majesty, we decided to hike up the first portion on the Harding Ice Field trial. We hiked for about an hour and took an enjoyable rest at this stream crossing.

We made it back down to our camp around 9pm and made dinner of fresh Halibut, asperagus, and potatoes in a dutch oven.


As the sun went down around 1am we enjoyed a nightcap of Jim Beam and glacial ice.