Although I travelled to Alaska to fulfill my goal to run a full marathon, when planning the trip it was ice climbing I found myself all excited about. Woke early and hit the road – destination: Matanuska Glacier near Chickaloon, AK.
Matanuska Glacier is a valley glacier in the US state of Alaska. At 27 miles (43 km) long by 4 miles (6.4 km) wide, it is the largest glacier accessible by car in the United States. Its terminus is the source of the Matanuska River. It lies near the Glenn Highway about 100 miles (160 km) north-east of Anchorage. Matanuska Glacier flows about 1 foot (30 cm) per day.
Thought I was super smart bringing my GPS (Garmin) to navigate across Alaska. Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas – but no Alaska. Who knew? Plan B – used the rental car map which took me as far as Eagle River (approx 20 minutes east of Anchorage). From there I watched for road signs. And in Palmer, I used my iPhone maps app to re-position on Old Glenn Highway heading northeast – not Glen Highway heading northwest to Wasilla (home of Sarah Palin – and no, I could not see Russia :)).
No traffic, no humans, hit or miss cell reception, one moose.
Arrived almost an hour early (thank you midnight sun for the early wake-up call), and geared up. Shared the day with Mason, Tonya & Gage from Seattle, Mark from Alaska, and Chris (our guide).
The landscape mirrored walking the moon’s surface until we reached Matanuska Glacier. Gray silt permafrost merged vivid turquoise blue – quite the contrast. Amazing, beautiful, breathtaking!
Listened for a voiced ‘belay on’ – then one after another we climbed.
Belaying refers to a variety of techniques climbers use to exert friction on a climbing rope so that a falling climber does not fall very far. Climbers should wait for a verbal confirmation from the belayer that he is ready to begin. In the US, usually the climber asks, “On belay?” or “Belay?” and wait for the belayer to reply “Belay on.”
Will 1000% do this again – LOVE LOVE this sport!
Boots, gloves, ropes, crampons – my kinda gear used in my kinda weather. River ice (what we have in Colorado) is not as stable as glacial ice but still gonna climb this winter. I’m hooked – LOVED it!
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- Alaska road trip
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- Alaska road trip: Anchorage-Eagle River-Palmer-Chickaloon
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- MOOSE crossing!
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- Mason, Tonya, Gage & Mark (& mini-me standing downhill)
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- permafrost hike to Matanuska Glacier
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- glacial blue
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- quick snack break before climb
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- guide Chris secures ropes
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- struggled to lift my leg over the ice lip
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- ROCKSTAR day!
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- short hike to 2nd climbing site
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- Matanuska Glacier terminus
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- girls rule – this gal climbed like a champ!
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- sharing laughs at the end of a super fun day
Having run races for 3 consecutive weekends, was very much looking forward to hiking again.
Signed up for a Saturday meetup hike in RMNP – hiking not just one mountain, but 2! Per protrails.com, this hike rated strenuous because of its almost 3,000 ft elevation gain. YES!
Running on little sleep (late night at the Rockies game), quickly pulled together hiking gear & supplies (poles, crampons, water, light snacks) for today’s day hike. Barreled north to Estes for a 7am group meetup. Took the opportunity to buy my RMNP annual pass at the Fall River entrance – unfortunately, I should have entered at Beaver Meadows. The extra 20 minutes needed to reach Bear Lake Trailhead from Fall River meant I missed my group. Argh.
No worries, I’m strong. All geared up, I’ll catch them on the trail. Hit snow early on. Post-holing in lower elevation slowed my pace so decided to hike straight UP & intercept them on the trail to Flattop Mountain – the first of two peaks attempted this day. Crampons on, poles steadying my climb – snow & boulders ahead. Slow hard work but eventually made my way UP. Looked high-and-low for signs of human life, having been isolated for an hour & not wanting to find myself food for bear.
Spotted 2 hikers, trekked across a snow field & glacier & asked if they were part of my meetup team. Nope – but Ft Collins hikers, Cammy & Erik said I could tag along. Wildlife biologist & a geologist – dream jobs, right? Snapped a few shots and snow scrambled the remainder up Flattop. 12,000+ ft, beautiful panorama. Exactly what I needed to re-energize & refocus. That said, my most unimpressive summit to date – completely flat for the length of a football field. Kinda odd so high up.
Cammy pointed to Hallett Peak & once again led the way. Supposedly only another 400ft but all straight UP. Was it worth it? Heck, yeah. Located smack on the Continental Divide – now this is the kinda peak I’m used to climbing. AND as luck would have it, my meetup group had also summited & were snapping group pics. Introduced myself & down we all travelled together…along with Cammy & Erik. Pelted with ice shards on the hike return (ouch), then watched marmots sunbathing on the rocks below.
Shower, sleep — ‘long run’ day tomorrow. I’m a beast!
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- two 12ers – first Flattop, then Hallett Peak
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- mmm…the smell of pines
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- (almost) above treeline – What a view!
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- climbed UP hoping to catch my hiking group
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- wind, rock & snow
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- Ft Collins hikers Cammy & Erik
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- USA!
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- breathtaking snow shelf
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- Flattop Mountain (12,362ft)
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- Cammy & Erik lead trek to Hallett Peak
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- almost there – only 200 feet further
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- ice clouds moving in fast
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- Hallett Peak (12,713ft)
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- descended with ‘Hardkore Hiking’ (caught them at Hallett summit)
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- sunbathing marmot
Wouldn’t be a Colorado vacation without lotta hiking & guilt-free dining.
Kicked off the long weekend at my favourite Louisville restaurant, Zucca’s. Italian food, outdoor seating – what’s not to love? I’m a fish lover so enjoyed fresh trout but rest assured our table devoured their share of pasta. Super excited to have Ash, Tom & Stephen here thru Monday. Good reason to drop off my fairly restrictive marathoner diet!
Up & out early on Friday – whitewater rafting day plus a quick mile-half trek up to St. Mary’s Glacier in Alice/Idaho Springs. Thought it’d help acclimate my East Coast visitors to our higher elevation. Tough 1st day hike at 10,300 ft & snow but still captured lotta Flatlander smiles in my pics. Morning highlights: drinking glacial water & running downhill thru knee-deep snow ‘Killian Jornet style’. Awesome start to any Colorado day!
Kicked back & finished Friday with Mexican food on the outdoor patio at Louisville’s Casa Alegre.
Saturday was official ‘hike day’. Had targeted Lake Isabelle but was Mother Nature-limited to Long Lake. Just past Brainard, we hit knee-to-waist high snow. Generally the snow pack supported our weight but found ourselves post-holing more than a few times (which made portions of today’s hike akin to an elliptical workout). Hiking in snow & t-shirts – true Colorado experience!
Enjoyed BBQ in Nederland (remembered this tasty place from Frozen Dead Guy Days in March).
Awoke Sunday to ‘man-catching’ beignets at Lucile’s (Ashton’s fave), then walked 2 miles at nearby Wonderland Lake in North Boulder (no food guilt here – bring it :)). I chose this nearby trek to show off the newborn prairie dogs (a local landscaping nuisance but cool zoo-like experience for visiting Jerseyites). Strolled Pearl Street (a tourist must-do) & took in lunch at Boulder’s West End with Tom’s aunt/cousin Robin. ROCKSTAR life – outdoor seating 4 nights in a row!
Food, fun & hiking – super sad to see my guests go home!
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- Day 1 hike – St. Mary’s Glacier
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- come on – glacier straight UP!
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- pic from glacier base
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- Welcome to Colorado Ash & Tom!
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- Day 2 hike – Brainard & Long Lake
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- Mountain lions…are we still in Jersey?
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- snow & t-shirt weather – hiking in Colorado!
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- hike love – BEAUTIFUL Colorado!
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- website cover shot – one year later
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- sun block mishap (not a bird bombing)
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- Colorado ninjas
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- Day 3 hike – Wonderland Lake, Boulder
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- prairie dogging
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- springtime in Colorado
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- Scout
