I’ve heard it said that the destination isn’t important, it’s the Journey that counts. Maybe I’m just lucky, but I often find that one can be just as exciting as the other.
When I visited Juneau, the state capital of Alaska, I planned to spend the afternoon exploring as much of this charming frontier town (city just feels like too big a word) and its surroundings as I could. But before that, I had a more adrenalin-filled activity in mind: hiking on the Hole-in-the-Wall Glacier, part of the Juneau Icefield. And getting there and back would prove just as exhilarating as the trek itself!
Sue looking nervous at the offset
– despite her worries, she didn’t fall out of the door!
Our excursion was arranged through NorthStar Trekking. As we climbed into the A Star helicopter I felt the familiar thrill I get whenever I go flying. Yet this flight would provide a double buzz. For not only was the scenery like nothing I’d ever experienced before, at the end of it I was going to land on a glacier for the first time!
Our destination: the Juneau Icefield
Initially there was a lot of green on the way to the Icefield
Then we crossed into the ice zone
Guardian Mountain
Norris Glacier
Norris Glacier – the dark stripes are the result of rock debris within the ice
The snout of the Taku Glacier – the blue ice indicates recent calving activity
Taku Glacier – close up of the calving area
Looking west across the crevasse-riddled snout of the Taku Glacier – the deepest and thickest glacier in the World
East edge of the Taku Glacier – where ice meets forest
Coming in to land on the Hole-In-The-Wall Glacier
The first A Star is already down
I want one of those!
The flight back wasn’t too shabby either…
One of our group’s helicopters coming in to land
A landscape of contrasts
Dum-dum-dum-dum-dummm-dummm
Come back next week to read about the actual ice trek!
The Gastineau Channel, with Juneau on the left
This post was inspired by this week’s Cee’s Which Way Challenge.
Whether you’re longing to experience a helicopter flight up onto an Alaskan glacier, or if you’ve already done so, why not sign up and follow my continuing Journeys here at Jaspa’s Journal (on WordPress or Bloglovin’), or through my website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr?
And if that’s not enough for you, there are now three Jaspa’s Journey novels to enjoy as ebooks! Perfect for Kids 8 – 80!
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Awesome trip and photography. 🙂
Thanks, Cee! I’m a very lucky Ses!
What a wonderful landscape! The glaciers are fascinating and the closer shots of the detail really bring out the rough texture of the ice. We thought the Norris Glacier with its dark bands looked like a giant vehicle had driven through … we decided it must have been driven by the giant bear who left his footprints on Guardian Mountain (image number 8) 😀 We really enjoyed this post – what a marvelous trip 🙂
Your imagination is running away with you, Peggy… I approve! Rich will have to get some ideas off you for future Jaspa books 🙂
HAHAHA 😀
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The colour of the lake in the third photo is amazing. So deep and dark with a crystal reflection.
And all Rich had to do was point and shoot, Christopher!
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