Hello Steemit Fretz!
Welcome to my Travel Trivia & Facts Series. Come and travel with me around the world to find fun, informative, and out of this world information about traveling and exploring different places around the world.
You can find a cave inside a glacier in Mendenhall Valley
Where can you find the Mendenhall Ice Caves?
Inside the Mendenhall Glacier is a stunning ice formation that is around 13 miles long. This Glacier used to have two names: Aak’wtaaks!it, which means “Glacier Behind the Lake” and Sitaantaagu, which means “Glacier behind the Town.”
As per Wiki, a glacier is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight; it forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation (melting and sublimation) over many years, often centuries.
You can find the stunning ice caves inside the glacier. It has astounded and mesmerized tourists and locals alike. The blue color inside the caves is due to the air being compressed from the frozen ice and snow. Then the ice absorbs all colors except the blue one. The melting water beneath the glacier makes and forms new caves.
How to Get to the Ice Caves
source
There are a lot of outside forces when going in this trip, which make it death-defying and exciting. During the summer, you’ll have to go through dripping water, falling rocks, fast-moving streams and unstable traction.
The trek has unmarked trails so it is highly recommended that you have a guide to go with you. Those who don’t usually have guides ended up getting lost and ended up getting injured and accidents. There have been quite a number of them who had to be rescued every year. Having an experienced guide helps because they are more familiar with the weather conditions of the valley, they knows what gears to bring, knows the trails and also the condition of the ice caves.
Things to Keep in Mind
1. Expect that going back and forth the caves could take up to eight hours or more depending on the weather.
2. Beginners are very much discouraged to go since you got to have enough stamina to climb and scramble on the slippery terrains and this can take hours. If you don’t have any experience make sure that you are mentally and physically ready for this trip.
3. Wear proper footwear. Most recommended are waterproof hiking boots.
4. You’ll also need crampons in climbing and walking in ice.
Crampons are devices that are attached underneath the footwear to help in mobility when walking on ice and snow.
5. Best that your clothes are polypro or any clothing that is quick-dry. Weather can easily change from warm to chilly.
6. Bring an extra set of clothing.
7. Bring enough food and water.
8. Signal is scarce. Make sure someone knows where you’re headed and your expected return.
Bye! Bye!
The glacier is now continuously moving quickly because of global warming and high temperatures. The Juneau Icefield Research Program has been monitoring and looking at the Mendenhall Glacier since 1942 and they’ve found out that the glacier has moved around two miles. Eventually the ice caves will melt and eventually recede so best that you check it out before it does.
I never knew about ice caves thanks for sharing!
I just knew about it today but what's more great is you can find them in glaciers too!
Amazing
Thanks!
You are welcome
Thank you @dawnsheree for sharing this amazing pictures and the story. I did glacier walking when I was younger. It still fascinates me. In Norway where I live, we are lucky to have some glaciers, f.ex. Briksdals Glacier which is one of the most accessible. The largest one is Josterdal Glacier followed by Svartisen, situated in North Norway. Climbing Norway's tallest mountain (2,469 m/8,100 ft) Galdhøgpiggen we had to cross Styggebreen glacier (guides are needed) - a very exciting experience! Good luck with your future expeditions.
All the best from @kristihh
@kristihh you are so lucky to have been on these places. I only see and read them. Is the aurora borealis must be a natural view in your place? I'll check those places out.
I don't even have a target date yet on when I'm going but these tips that I've written might be pretty useful for me in the future! Thanks for dropping by!
Thank you! About the Northern Light, check my post The Northern Light - A Precious Childhood memory
Wow super lucky. Been dreaming of that since I knew of it. It's such a lovely village. Thank you.
A cave inside a glacier!!! That's the coolest thing I've ever seen!!
I'm super stoked too! Love it!
Very cool Ice photos :) I must go there too a soon :)
Me too but you have to be physically and mentally fit to go there. I think I'm not ready yet. I don't do super adventurous stuff.
Ok..ok... Soon we see it :)
Yep. Aja!
Looks so awesome! thanks for sharing! i will start following your exciting posts! Checkout my posts as well
Thank you for checking out my posts.
The photos are stunning! I never been on a glacier nor seen one up close. I was tempted to take one of the cruises to Antarctica last summer but I did not.
Me too! I wish I could do this in the future. I had fun writing this.
Aw it's sad that they'll melt soon. Wish it was easier to get to though. This was gorgeous Dawn. Lovely job
cheers
Anj xx
Thank you Anj! ♥
Me too! trekking might be my weakest spot but this view will definitely be worth it. I just have to maybe train if I'm truly going. ^^
hahah yes, lots of hiking training needed. Good luck. Don't forget to take pics :D
I will definitely if given a chance to go. :)
Interesting how this kind of looks like my post on my glacier hike but of course these are from Alaska not Colorado. @anjkara ...
too bad you have not been here @dawnsheree .. would you go ice hiking?
@eaglespirit if I can survive the cold. Huhu I might not even last five minutes out and about. I tried going to a cold place here in the Philippines but I was like super jumping up and about. lol I better get used to the cold. Would you go @anjkara?
I prefer to go to warm places (with less exercise) but ice caves are gorgeous. Maybe I'd go if I could drive there :S
It's more about hiking and trekking. I can't survive this but I'll change my mind if you both go just give me some time to get used to the cold. hahahaha but I think eight hours won't be enough for me. I'd take tons of rest or boom!
Hahah all us hiking to a glacier. Only one survives. Who'd get to blog about it aaarrrrgggghhhh winner takes all :P
yeah, I've done it you two ... now that is a Boom! Snap! and Double Circle! Buahahaha
Dawn commented on my post so she knows I did it .. anyhoo ...
Peace.
haha ... that would be nice to just drive to a glacier ... but unlikely boo boo
yeah its pretty darn cold Dawn ...
Oh I missed your post on the glacier hike. Love glacier pics. They're so eerie and beautiful. Damn my feed is crowded. Got a link?
No worries, here is my post
https://steemit.com/geology/@eaglespirit/fourth-of-july-trail
:p
That's a great write-up Eagle. Stunning scenery. My calf muscles started aching just reading it. I'd have been knackered. xxx
Calf muscles ahahha
Knackerd ahahha
You always tickle my funny bone.
Thank you for reading! :)
As much as I hate cold I love this post.
For some warmer places visit my page
https://steemit.com/travel/@schwepps800/come-to-me-swimming-with-dolphins-in-mauritius
Thanks will check it out. Im not too fond of called either but would love to try it.
Sounds cold and scary. Did you do this trek?
Lol. I don't think I'd survive that one. Lol But maybe in the far future. ^^
You started running out of places you actually visited? :P
I still do. Lol But that involves maybe a little dtube which I don't have time yet. ^^
LOL! Right, Max. I noticed that too.
hahha peace. I just got a little bored with writing stuff I know so I'm venturing and checking out on other countries that I might want to do and explore. But I have to go back on my I ♥ travels though one of these days. ^^
Good idea!
Wow! What an amazing, chilly adventure! The colour of the ice inside the caves is so cool, though the fact that we're losing some of our glaciers is not. Thanks for taking me on a journey I wouldn't have seen otherwise!
@katrina-ariel! It does look like a nice adventure indeed! I'd probably fall in love with the place the colors are lovely and rich!
@slowwalker thank you for your nice upvote! Am truly grateful ^^
Amazing spot ! Thanks for sharing !
You're welcome! Glad you liked it!
Wow it's my first time seeing this, looks so beautiful!! 😵
It was my first time as well. :) Thankies
That's sad that it is melting. Ice formations is one of earth's most beautiful showings.
It is quite sad! But it's how the world is built. it can change any time. :)Just like falling in love, love changes over time. lol (off topic)
Hidden beauty.
It is truly!
Talking about risk/reward! Hike 8 hours in the cold but see the most awesome site ever. Great post and keep them coming.
Thank you @pinesresumehelp I'm amazed how beautiful the world is. :)