Hello!

Our first glacier was Mendenhall.  This glacier is 13.6 miles long and is located in Mendenhall Valley, about 12 miles from downtown Juneau.  The glacier and the surrounding area are protected and are within the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area--part of the Tongass National Forest.  Check out more information at:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendenhall_Glacier.

Nothing really prepared us for seeing our first glacier.  It was long anticipated and spectacular.  We were told by Mark, the naturalist, that it would only get better and better as we moved on later to view more glaciers in Glacier Bay and College Fjords.

Here is our first view from the Visitor's Center.  There is a boat at the base of the Glacier and you can't see it from this vantage point.  You can try--it is a tiny sliver of yellow to the left of the Glacier and to the right of the ice flow

We decided to take a hike on the Nugget Falls Trail so we could get closer to the Glacier and experience the falls.

Our first view of the falls from the trail.  Notice the color of the water?  It's a sage-like green...this is due to the glacial silt.  Check out:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacier

I really was having a good time!

Here is an ice flow!

When we got back from the trail I climbed to the top of the Visitor's Center and snapped this pic!  A glorious sight!

More glaciers to come!  Hold on!

Love,

Ellie and Gary

Check out:

BLOG 8--ALASKA: HELICOPTER RIDE TO MEADE GLACIER next!