I awoke at 6:15 AM as my mother had to be ready for a 7:15 AM whale watching tour. Following another buffet breakfast, I departed the Sun Princess in search of the $5 tour to the Mendenhall Glacier.
The Mendenhall Glacier Trip
As I walked into town, I spotted the Last Frontier tour booth who sold me a round trip to the glacier for $10. The tour would leave at 8:00 AM two parking lots to the north.
I sat on a bench watching the Mount Roberts Tramway do its pre-trip safety testing. A few minutes later a bus arrived with six of us boarding.
Our bus driver, Susan, pointed out of the sites of interest as we proceeded out of Juneau.
Up a side canyon I could see the Lemon Creek glacier to the right.
Near Juneau International Airport, we turned right and minutes later the Mendenhall Glacier came into view ahead of us.
Moments later, we pulled into the US Forest Service Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center, which was built in 1962 and was the first visitor center in the National Forest System. The original structure was primarily a large observatory where people could get out of the rain and look at the Mendenhall Glacier. It was designed to accommodate 23,000 people a year. Over the years a few exhibits were added. Thirty-five years after it first opened, the center was hosting over 400,000 people a year. Between 1997 and 1999 the building was renovated and enlarged to include an exhibit gallery and theater.
The only glacier in Southeast Alaska accessible by road, Mendenhall's grand edifice plunges from the immense Juneau Icefield, dropping 4,500 feet over 13 miles. Its active face regularly calves big icebergs and brash into its lake. The glacier has been retreating for 300 to 400 years, since the Little Ice Age, and has peeled back another 1.75 miles since 1929. Punctuated by waterfalls and lush forest, the glacier's rugged and crevassed reach anchors an extraordinary mountain vista.
I walked to the shore of Mendenhall Lake.
Along the Photo Point Trail.
To the south is the Nugget Creek waterfall.
The author and the Mendenhall Glacier and Lake.
I walked back to the visitors center for more views of the Mendenhall Glacier, which is one of 38 large glaciers that flow from the 5,000 square mile Juneau Icefield.
Following a visit to the gift shop, a couple more photographs before I returned to the parking lot to wait for the bus back to Juneau.
Dave, Susan's husband, took me back to Juneau for my next mini-adventure.
Goldbelt Mount Roberts TramwayThe experience begins with a five-minute ride from the cruise ship pier to the 1,800-foot level of Mount Roberts as the Chilkat Mountains, the Gastineau Channel, downtown Juneau, Douglas Island and the highest peaks on Admiralty Island spread out before you. At the top, explore the Sky Bridge and Mountain House complex created by Goldbelt Incorporated, the local Native Corporation that owns and operates this attraction. Visit the live bald eagle display, do some alpine hiking and walk the trails. The interpretive signs, wildlife-viewing platforms, birds, wildflowers and traditional Native tree carvings provide an enhanced mountain top experience.
The Goldbelt Tram uses a cable transportation system known as an aerial tramway, first used in the European Alps in the late 1800's and has two 60-passenger cabins, capable of a maximum uphill capacity of 1,050 people per hour. Maximum speed is 2,000 feet/minute or 23 mph. This type of tram is known as a double-reversible or "jig-back". Both cabins are coupled to a common haul rope and they move in unison, one up and one down.
The tramway was conceived by John Heiser in 1994. Heiser, together with Bruce Booher, Marc Bond, Kevin Branson and Ron Greisen, formed Mount Roberts Development Corporation (MRDC). MRDC designed the facility, acquired the necessary land and rights-of-way, and obtained permits. Following the preliminary stages, MRDC partnered with Goldbelt, Incorporated, the ANCSA corporation for Alaska Natives in and from Juneau, to finance, construct and operate the venture. MRDC managed the partnership and oversaw construction of the tramway. The tram opened for limited operation in September 1996 and the grand opening was held in May 1997. MRDC sold its partnership interest to Goldbelt the following year. Anne Hunter, the tram's operation manager, was contracted to stay on another year as part of the sale agreement. The tram ferried nearly 160,000 people to the alpine region above downtown Juneau the summer of 1997, its first full season.
Back at the Mount Roberts Tramway, I purchased a ticket for $21.95.
The trip takes less than five minutes and the climb is spectacular.
Full size cruise ships turn into looking like toy boats very quickly.
Once we reached the summit, I photographed looking south down the Gastineau Channel that we had sailed up this morning.
A great view looking down at Juneau.
Looking north towards the airport.
Looking west across the channel.
I returned to ground level and walked into town to mail a postcard that I had bought at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center earlier.
Since I was in the capital city of Alaska, I thought a look at the State Capitol was in order.
The Juneau City Museum and yet another totem pole, after which I returned to the boat in time to have lunch in the buffet then my mother returned from a very successful whale watching tour. I checked my e-mail in the Sun Princess business center and on the ship's television channel, watched BBC which showed highlights of the US Women winning the Olympic Gold Medal in soccer, beating Brazil 2-1. We watched "Big Fish" as the weather turned threatening before the sky let loose, followed by "Paper Lions". After that, I went up to the Promenade Deck to watch the heaving up of the anchor and the demooring of the cables. We floated away from the dock and were now on our way to Skagway. I changed for dinner, had my usual steak and watched ESPN Sports Center before calling it a night.
During the night, we returned south down Gastineau Channel before turning north up Stephens Passage then up Lynn Channel and Taiya Inlet to Skagway.
