The trip starts out overcast but eventually we get some sunny intervals. The road winds upwards in elevation following the Matanuska River, which of course, originates as meltwater from the glacier. Alongside the road are some magnificent wildflowers - fireweed in full bloom.
Matanuska Glacier is one of the more pro
minent glaciers visible from a highway - actually the Glenn Highway leading northeast from Anchorage & Palmer. It is about 60 miles from Palmer. At the State overlook the glacier is about 4 miles away and the higher peaks behind are obscured by clouds. As a river of ice, it is almost 4 miles wide at its mouth, and extends 27 miles back to its icefield source in the high Chugach Mountains.
We drive down a potholed r
oad, across the rushing glacial melt river and to a parking area about 1/2 mile from the glacier - for a fee of course. Then we walk about 1 mile on overburden, rock fragments carried down by the glacier which, with melting over the years, have settled over some of the toe of the glacier. Small metal bridges span the melt streams. We get out onto the ice and stop there, a sign says to proceed further should have proper equipment - crampons and ice axe.
The face of the glacier is very rugged and towers several hundred feet above us
Another great adventure in Alaska!
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