It's finally here!

In a past post, I believe I mentioned how, when you work seasonally, your life begins to feel as if there are only two seasons: summer and winter.  While it has been threatening for awhile, winter hadn't really shown up here in Juneau, despite making itself felt all over the Lower 48.  Until the last day of November that is! 

Over night and throughout the 30th, Juneau got between 6 and 14 inches of snow.  It was a nice, and much needed, storm.  Here's to hoping we will get much more!  I'm soooooo beyond ready to go snowshoeing and cross-country skiing!  Maybe in January...

Intersection right next to work, looking up towards Mt Juneau

So much snow!  I love it!!!

It's About Time

Any time you Google "things to do in Juneau AK", the Mendenhall ice caves will easily be in the top of the search results.  I have been hearing about the caves since I first moved to Juneau in April.  Throughout the summer, I had intended to go search for them with friends but something always came up.  Finally, a few weeks ago, my Starbucks friend Kate and I hit the trifecta; a mutual day off, a desire to go exploring, and, the most important part, cloudless skies! 

View of Mt McGinnis from beginning of trail

The trail begins on the west side of Mendenhall Lake, just past Skater's Cabin.  The trail is easy to follow for the first few miles and offers some amazing views across the lake and up towards Mount McGinnis. 

Mendenhall Lake towards the valley

After about 3 miles, the trail splits off to head upwards to the summit of Mount McGinnis.  To get to the ice caves, one must follow vague idea of a trail that is mostly just a wishful guessing that you are going in the right direction.  After pushing through young trees that are just starting to make their mark on glacially scoured ground, the trail takes you over lichen covered boulders towards bare ground that has been exposed from the ice for less than 25 years.  Being able to essentially travel back in geologic time like that is fascinating!  Eventually, the trail reaches a point where you are required to scramble down to the glacier.  Our scramble down (and back up) wasn't so bad because the scree was all frozen together since it was a maybe a whopping 25 degrees outside!

Kate blazes a good trail!

Being in the ice caves was absolutely stunning!  Now, before anyone freaks out about how dangerous it was to have been inside a glacier and everything, we picked a cold day so that the ice was more stable and didn't stay inside for very long.  There, happy now? :)

And now for the photos!

Mendenhall Glacier, looking towards the Juneau Ice Field

Roof of the ice cave

Amazing to consider how old this ice is!!!

I hope to get back up to the ice caves this next summer when it won't be a race to get there and back before the sun sets!  All in all, it was a great hike with wonderful company.  A well spent day off!