I’m going to lead into the Mendenhall Glacier Trek with a hefty warning, as the sign at the trail head reads: “Use at your own risk.”

This is relatively the case for any location, but out on the ice, near a calving glacier, it is especially true. I proceeded at my own risk, determining that for me the risk outweighed the reward; the reward being an incredible venture out to an incredible natural wonder. I will also say that for my next attempt, I will go with a guide from Above and Beyond Alaska so I have the proper equipment and knowledge to proceed more safely.

Mendenhall Lake with a powdery white Winter blanket by Julia at XplorMor

This trek to Mendenhall Glacier actually happened in Winter 2012. I’m letting you know as Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall Glacier will not be the same when you choose to hazard out.  With the changing seasons, the ice has melted and reformed and melted again… leaving a different landscape. Who knows… it may be even more spectacular the next season.

Mendenhall Lake freezes during the winter months, providing a seemingly more direct access to the glacier than the trails circumventing the lake and mountains. It is not as quick as it looks though; I expected a short jaunt out, but it took about two hours trudging through the snow, sometimes sinking in the powdery surface. Keep in mind this distance will only increase as the glacier recedes.  Snow shoes and water/snack probably would have been a good call, but we were ill prepared as it was not our intention to trek the lake. We had only driven to the Mendenhall Visitor Center area to take in the view, but the brilliant blue sky and sparkling white ground begged otherwise. As we looked out across the lake, people could be seen in the distance walking in either direction, not many but enough for us to feel we could do it too.

Ice sheet thins in the warm weather bu Julia at XplorMor

I had never been so close to a glacier.  The size was infinitely more than I even imagined. I kept referring to the icebergs as “Mother Nature’s Sculptures to Behold”. It was incredible to see them frozen in place in the snowy crust of Mendenhall Lake. We had watched them break off the glacier and float in the lake only months earlier. Now we were able to walk up and gaze into their spectrum of blues. The colors and hues did not seem real; they were as though a giant painter had come and spread her canvas out before us.

Glacier Blue Giants (see the people?) by Julia at XplorMor

Then I reached the ice caves. I had seen glacier caves on the NatGeo TV channel and in the magazine, but never dreamed I would enter one in person. The ice formations are other-worldly and all shades of blue from palest light to deepest dark. Spectacular color! There was something in this experience of “getting out there” that altered me… I was exhilarated, enthralled and excited. In this sensory overload I realized my explorations of the planet would need to continue in order to feed a new addiction. Thanks Mendenhall!

Blue Ice Cave Wonder by Julia at XplorMor

For more on accessing Mendenhall Glacier and being aware of the safety issues read “Allure of Mendenhall Glacier Masks the Dangers of its Face”, written by Klas Stolpe for  the Juneau Empire.

Click to read more information and view further photos from the XplorMor Expedition to Mendenhall Glacier.