matanuska glacier adventures

We had thought about bringing our boots; however, after weighing them we realized they would take up too much weight to take on the plane and use only once. We had to borrow (as most other people do) the boots from the tour company. I wore an extra pair of socks so I could peel off the out layer after removing the borrowed boots and put them in the laundry right away. We also wore wicking long underwear, Merlino wool socks, nylon pants, long sleeve wicking type material shirt, wicking heavy hooded fleece and waterproof gloves.Matanuska Glacier Hike is located about 15 minutes south of Sheep Mountain Inn. When we arrived, we immediately recognized a few of the staff – they were the same people we met going to the hot tub last night at Sheep Mountain Inn. We were told that the staff at Sheep Mountain Inn and Matanuska Glacier Hike have a good relationship with one another. Our guide Alex seemed knowledgeable about glaciers but not about the area or Alaskan life. Alexis, the driver of the van to Glacier Park knew more about the area and we were grateful she was there to share some of her knowledge on the ride to the glacier. In fact, Alex sounded like he was learning too. Alex gave us glacier-walking instructions; however, I observed him tripping several times and wondered exactly how much experience he actually had. Someone in our group asked him if he ever had to rescue someone on the glacier – he told the group that unless the person was part of his group or another Matanuska Glacier Hike group, he would walk right passed them. He indicated that since he was an EMT he would be sued for trying to help them. Alex was asked about the Good Samaritan act and, according to Alex, this does not cover him since he is an EMT. When asked if he would radio for help he indicated he might or might not. That did not give anyone in our group a good feeling about Alex. The entire walk took about three hours – two hours on the glacier. Time was spent signing releases, receiving instructions, dressing in boots, crampons, helmets, and driving to Glacier Park. There were people who drove themselves to Glacier Park, paid the same $20 per person to get into the park and just walked the glacier on their own - no equipment or guide. This save them $70 per person for the guide. As a guide, Alex was ok but we spend a great deal of time standing on one of the mountains. It seemed all six in our group were ready to move on long before Alex was ready. Alex seemed more interested in watching the ice climbers and taking pictures with our camera than moving on with our adventure. We did receive an introduction into the unique world of blue and white ice. We learned about the natural history of the glacier while enjoying an up-close encounter with crevasses, moulons and saracs in the Matanuska’s spectacular ice-fall. Overall, glacier trekking is an awesome experience. We were very tired at the end but invigorated. Around 12 noon, many people came swarming the glacier in shorts and sneaker – definitely not prepared with proper glacier hiking equipment. They were slipping and sliding all over the place. If Matanuska Glacier Hike does not sound like the tour company to use, there are others out there. NOVA (who Alex mocked) is another such adventure company.

We were the first ones there on a Monday morning in August, arriving at 9:30, after driving the 1-mile pot-holed road from the Glenn Highway to the gate at the Matanuska Glacier gift shop. No reservations are necessary here for a tour. We went in to pay for our private guided tour, $75/per person (which also included the access fee). After driving 2 more miles on a muddy, pot-holed road we arrived at the blue hut to meet our guide and get fitted with our helmets, and crampons for our hiking shoes. We are used to hiking, although not with crampons. We started our tour around 10 a.m. Our tour guide kept walking at a good pace and we felt that by taking a guided tour we covered a lot more ground/ice than if we had gone alone or with a group tour where the slowest person has to be accommodated. Our guide was willing to stop when we wanted to take pictures and also took pictures of us. The actual walking time was a good 2 1/2 hours or so. It was FANTASTIC because we had the glacier all to ourselves! We saw no one else until we were on our way back. This is a must-do if you have never done this before. The glacier actually shows its colors better under cloudy skies, so we were glad that it was a partly cloudy day. After the tour, we were told that if we visited the gift shop, we would each be given a free Matanuska Glacier ceramic coffee mug, a $10 value. Sure enough, we each got a mug. So very glad we decided to go with Matanuska Glacier Adventures!

We stayed in a nearby lodge and decided to go see the glacier. It was a good experience. We did a self tour which means you drive through the gate after paying your entrance fee ($20 for adults, $15 for seniors). You drive about 1 mile on a gravel road to a parking place and then traverse the glacier from dust to rocks on top of ice to ice. Lots of opportunity for photos. The trail is well marked and has plenty of planks, etc. to cross streams and difficult places. It takes about 45 minutes to go to a spot where it gets slippery and not safe to walk without ice climbing gear and back. There are plenty of opportunities to see glaciers in Alaska and this wasn't bad.

Thanks to Matanuska Glacier adventures, we had an amazing time on the glacier. The guide was well informed and gave lots of information about the glacier. It was a personal tour with just the two of us during the guided hike, so we could walk on our own pace, ask questions and explore where we wanted. At $75 including the entrance fees and equipments, it was a good deal and the crampons which they provided was good enough to hike the glacier comfortably. We were initially little worried after seeing this funky/bigger crampons given by MICA and other tours but at the end of the hike we were glad we did the hike with Matanuska glacier adevntures as we prefer taking private tours than a group tour. It was worth the time and money spent. We will not forget the amazing experience for years to come.

Going with Matanuska Glacier Adventures was a great choice for us. They are the same group you pay the access fee to, and were able to offer a private 3 hour trekking tour for a better price than any other group around. But the main reason we were glad to go with them was that it was a private tour and though our guide Sam was very informative he spent most of his time showing us some of the best features of the glacier itself (infinitely preferable to not walking as far and listening to more facts). I do believe we trekked further and higher into the glacier than any other group I saw that day, and I can easily say that those groups missed out on a lot! He was also very careful about checking how comfortable we were going to certain spots, kept a good pace for all of us and very faithfully fulfilled his second duty as our group photographer (thanks Sam!). A highly recommended company to go with!This is perhaps an obvious thing to everyone but me, but there's water everywhere (coming out of the glacier wall, running underneath the glacier and coming out in little pools, carving out little channels), so bring waterproof shoes or an extra pair of socks to change into after.

We turned up to the Matanuska Glacier unsure what we wanted to do with our time there. We went with a bit of a mixed group as far as fitness and ability is concerned but we wanted everyone to get the most out of the experience. There was an option to walk on your own or take a guided trek. We decided on a trek and were assigned our guide, Kathleen. We couldn't have made a better decision. I can't even begin to describe the feeling of being on top of this beauty so I wont even try. Instead, I'll focus on the tour itself. The tours provided by Matanuska Glacier Adventures are personalised, meaning there is no one else on your trek so you can take things as fast or slow as you need and everything is tailored to suit the degree of difficulty appropriate for the group. Kathleen was fantastic. She took us all the way to the peak and was so patient with the slower members of the group. She was full of interesting information and gave very clear directions as to where and how to step and approach each climb. Everywhere you look on this glacier is just magic. We were a little reluctant to book the trek, thinking that a self-guided walk out to the rim may suit the less experienced members of the group better. I'm so glad we made the decision to book the trek. You see so much more and get a great sense of achievement when it's all done. Equipment is all provided, including crampons, helmets, and if needed, walking sticks. The guide carves out little steps in the snow when necessary so you feel very safe every step of the way. We checked out a few other tour groups in the area but this one offered, by far, the best options (especially for beginners). Just turn up to the Glacier at Milepost 102, follow the road to the bottom and go into the gift shop/tourist information for information on how to book.We are 5 weeks into a 6 week holiday. We have done and seen some pretty awesome things - this have been the highlight so far. Highly recommended.

3 friends and I booked the glacier hike tour with Matanuska Glacier Adventures and it was one of the most fun parts of our trip. Jasmine was our guide and she is a splendid job. I was a klutz with crampons but she was a very good sport and did her best to help me learn (how to walk with crampons). The whole experience was a lot of fun and the glacier views were mesmerizing. If I go again, I would carry a bag to bring back some of the glacier soil which is supposed to be great for the skin.

We visited this Glacier last May and we enjoyed a lot. The only thing I did not know is that the glacier is very far from the parking lot; thus, prepare your self to walk, at least for 20 minutes. Remember this is not a regular walking on a sidewalk; this is walking over a mountain of ice with thousand of rocks. Finally, we enjoyed our time there. We took a lot of pictures and played with some ice rocks. Ohhh I almost forgot something: THERE IS NO RESTROOM IN THIS ACTIVITY!!!