Roadside Glaciers

July 17th 2008 Palmer to Matanuska Glacier

There arent many places I have been to with glaciers and these are definitely one of the unique things about Alaska. I didnt really know what to expect but somewhere down there off the roadside was the Matanuska Glacier, which the guidebook says is one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska, a mere mile from the main highway.

Once again, I ditched my stuff at the campsite and proceeded to investigate. I had a long bumpy ride down a gravel road with tons of potholes. There I found "Glacier Park" which has a gate and a fee $15 and I had to sign a waiver. I dont know how these people scored to put a gate in front of a glacier, but it was sweet deal if you ask me. I continued riding down the half mile road singing Joni Mitchell "take paradise and put up a parking lot-doo doo doo." I guess the indigenous people had it right- how can we own the land, the sky and sea? But dont get me wrong, I would love to buy a little homesteader plot of land out here and put up my own fence...

There it was- a giant glacier- a frozen sea of ice raging through the mountains. I walked out following the orange cones, and the black turned to blue- glacial blue- which has a nice sound to it. It cracked and popped like ice cubes you leave on the counter. There was the sound of running water and a coolness to the air. I walked out to the "warning" sign and had no desire to pass it and disappear in to a crevasse like a frozen mammoth.