The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
walked on Matanuska Glacier in Glacier View, Alaska

June 10, 2009
(the first of 3 visits here - each one very different)

Below: Matanuska Glacier as seen from the main road
Matanuska Glacier as seen from the main road
Matanuska Glacier as seen from the main road
Matanuska Glacier is the largest glacier accessible by car in Alaska. The Matanuska Glacier is a large ice flow, 24 miles long and 4 miles wide at the terminus, averaging approximately 2 miles in width. This glacier is a valley glacier; it exists on a valley floor. The rocky dirt part at the beginning of the glacier has 600 feet of ice below the surface. Upon arriving at the ice part of the glacier, there is 900 feet of ice below the surface.
 
The two RV Gypsies drove to the parking lot closest to the Matanuska Glacier and hiked over the gravel, sand and large boulders that have been deposited by the glacier as it advances. Then they stopped at the office to pay the fee required to walk on the glacier. (Note: It is well worth the fee)
gravel, sand and large boulders that has been deposited by the glacier,
gravel, sand and large boulders that has been deposited by the glacier,
gravel, sand and large boulders that has been deposited by the glacier,
gravel, sand and large boulders that has been deposited by the glacier,
Below: Lee Duquette walked the trail beside beautiful wildflowers growing on the glacier.
Lee walking the trail through the beautiful wildflowers
Lee walking the trail through the beautiful wildflowers
beautiful wildflowers
beautiful wildflowers
Matanuska Glacier
Karen Duquette on  Matanuska Glacier
Karen Duquette on  Matanuska Glacier

Below: The very happy two RV Gypsies, Lee and Karen Duquette on Matanuska Glacier.

Lee and Karen Duquette on  Matanuska Glacier
Lee and Karen Duquette on  Matanuska Glacier
The majority of glaciers in Alaska today are smaller alpine glaciers which hang off mountain slopes. The Matanuska is an active glacier which advances at one foot per day. It takes approximately 250 years for the ice to form up glacier and advance to the terminus. The ice of an active glacier always moves forward due to gravity; like water in a river, the ice will flow down valley. When ice melts at a higher rate than snow accumulates the glacier margin 'recedes'. (The term 'receding' does not refer to the ice actually traveling back up the valley.)
Lee Duquette hiking on Matanuska Glacier
Lee Duquette hiking on Matanuska Glacier
Be extra careful Lee --- Don't fall in ...... No rescue available
Lee Duquette hiking on Matanuska Glacier
the water dripping has caused this big hole
Matanuska Glacier
Lee Duquette hiking on Matanuska Glacier
Matanuska Glacier
Karen Duquette on  Matanuska Glacier
Lee Duquette hiking on Matanuska Glacier
The two RV Gypsies approached the ice part of the glacier and encountered two signs. They proceeded past this point even though they did NOT have a guide, because they had permission from the office where they paid a fee to enter the glacier area. (However, the two RV Gypsies DO recommend visitors have the proper guide with them).
sign - no trail beyond this point
sign - proceed at your own risk
Below: Frozen "blue" ice that looks like water
frozen "blue" ice that looks like water
frozen "blue" ice that looks like water
importantA frequently asked question is "Why does the ice appear to be blue?"
The Answer:
The density of glacier ice allows the entire spectrum of light to be absorbed with the exception of the blue light which is reflected, and therefore blue is the color your eyes see.
water melting and traveling down the glacier
water melting and traveling down the glacie
Below: The two RV Gypsies met up with a fellow hiker on the glacier. They were the only 3 people on the glacier at this time. They crossed several small streams of water and went all the way to the lake in the middle of the glacier. They spent about two hours exploring this wonderful glacier.
Karen Duquette on  Matanuska Glacier
Matanuska Glacier
Below: Lee Duquette liked this big boulder that was in the middle of the glacier. He pointed to the top of the boulder, which had a triangle filled with water, as shown in the photo below on the right.
Lee and a big boulder
the top of the boulder filled with water
Below: A very cool looking Karen Duquette
Karen Duquette on  Matanuska Glacier
Karen Duquette on  Matanuska Glacier
Karen Duquette on  Matanuska Glacier
Karen Duquette on  Matanuska Glacier
Karen Duquette on  Matanuska Glacier
Karen Duquette on  Matanuska Glacier
Matanuska Glacier
Karen Duquette on  Matanuska Glacier
Lee and Karen Duquette on  Matanuska Glacier
Karen Duquette
Lee
Lee
Below: One of several streams of crystal clear water flowing across Matanuska Glacier. It was much deeper than it appears in the photos below. The two RV Gypsies recommend extreme caution on glaciers.
clear water flowing
Lee Duquette
clear water flowing
Matanuska Glacier
Below: Lee Duquette thought the ice mound shown below looked like "butt cheeks" - LOL - Karen Duquette said they were too pointy.
butt cheeks
butt cheeks
butt cheeks
Lee Duquette on Matanuska Glacier
Matanuska Glacier
Matanuska Glacier
Matanuska Glacier
Matanuska Glacier
 Matanuska Glacier
Lee Duquette on Matanuska Glacier
Lee Duquette at the lake in the middle of Matanuska Glacier

Below: Lee Duquette reached the edge of the lake that was located in the middle of the glacier and took a photo of Karen Duquette. (Note - It may NOT be the smartest thing in the world to get too close to the edge.) There is no help available here.

Lee Duquette at the lake in the middle of Matanuska Glacier
Lee Duquette at the lake in the middle of Matanuska Glacier
Lee Duquette at the lake in the middle of Matanuska Glacier
the lake in the middle of Matanuska Glacier
the lake in the middle of Matanuska Glacier
the lake in the middle of Matanuska Glacier
the lake in the middle of Matanuska Glacier
Matanuska Glacier
Karen Duquette on  Matanuska Glacier
Matanuska Glacier
Matanuska Glacier
Matanuska Glacier

The photos on this page were taken on June 10, 2009, but The two RV Gypsies hiked on this glacier again on July 23, 2009 - only to find it looked entirely different - and they were unable to reach to the lake. Only tours with crampons could get there. If you go there, you will find a link at the bottom of the July 23, 2009 page back here plus one that will let you continue on to the 2016 section mentioned below.

(Crampons are outdoor footwear that include pointed metal parts and are worn on boots to provide traction on snow and ice.) So on July 18, 2016, the two RV Gypsies took a guided crampon tour on this glacier and it was totally different. This time, Karen Duquette's sister Ilse Blahak was with them. This 2016 section contains two pages. There will be a link at the bottom of the second page back to any of these pages.

NOTE: Choosing any of the above underlined sections can take you to any of the above 3 pages, OR let you continue on in that year. It is recommended to visit this glacier in the progressive order to get the full experience.

This and other glaciers that the two RV Gypsies have visited can also be reached from the TOC button at the bottom of any completed section, and choosing the letter G, then scrolling down to "glaciers".

You really should see all three Matanuska Glacier sections BEFORE continuing on with the below links.
go to the next adventure of the two RV Gypsies in Alaska Palmer, Alaska in 2009

to see a traveling mailbox, and road conditions in Alaska, a moose in the campground, ATV adventure and more

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