That just makes me so sad. As noted above, Yule Kilcher, Dave Johnston, Vin Hoeman, and Grace Hoeman were veterans of previous attempts; of the ten, only fourBill Babcock, Dave Johnston, Yule Kilcher, and Vin Hoemanhiked all the way across the icefield. Place Marmot Meadows Kenai Fjords National Park A view of Exit Glacier from Marmot Meadows in 2013 NPS Photo/ M Stokstad Quick Facts Amenities 1 listed About 1/3 of the way up the Harding Icefield Trail, the surrounding forest opens up to Marmot Meadows. Bear-proof garbage and recycling bins are also available. Visit Exit Glacier | The Lower Trail & Harding Icefield Trail It took us less than 3 hours for round trip and we spent quite a lot time at View point. You can wear a short-sleeved shirt on the hike but you will need lots of layers to stay warm once you are on the Exit Glacier. Good for family and great view of glacier. Was that visitor too close to the cow moose and her calf? Weather was warm, and the mosquitoes and flies are abundant. Mosquitoes were intense. Here are photos of the four of us ice climbing. These are short, easy hikes that start at the Exit Glacier Nature Center, at the end of Herman Leirer Road, and take about an hour or two of your time. It is a place where you can witness up close how glaciers re-shape a landscape and learn how plant life reclaims the barren rocky land exposed by a glacier's retreat. Glad I joined him as it gave me the confidence to proceed to the top.Im in my early sixties and in reasonable shape. Please do not continue past ice fall hazard signs and see photo for more details. A Perfect 2 Days in Kenai Fjords National Park The e-commerce behemoth purchased a 30-acre office campus from Irvine-based developer Greenlaw Partners and New York-based Cerberus Capital Management for $165 million, according to the Orange . This was a fantastic hike, moderate and not too challenging. But mostly rock "steps." BEST OF DENALI NATIONAL PARK: For a list of top experiences, read our article Best things to do in Denali National Park. Marmot Meadows / Exit Glacier - YouTube Soon, you will be hiking on that glacier! The Exit Glacier Area is open year-round. My Fitbit recorded about 30,000 steps for this trip. It took about an hour to get fit with crampons, boots, and harnesses, and get our things ready for the day. Details Duration 6-8 Hours As an out and back trail, hike as far as you would like. While at Marmot Meadows, we observed a black bear crossing the glacier. After 1.4 miles youll reach the first viewpoint of the glacier, Marmot Meadows, at an elevation of 1558ft. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig. BTW, Ken is coming over this afternoon for his birthday dinner. Give wildlife plenty of space and view wildlife from a distance. Exit Glacier Guides provides a backpack, crampons, hiking poles, helmet, climbing boots, harness, and lunch. Bottom of the Cliffs is at mile 1.8, and Top of the . I enjoyed this hike due to the distance, about ten miles round trip, and the climb up of about 4,000 feet. Beautiful sunny morning. NATIONAL PARKS: In our Guide to the US National Parks, get the full list of national parks with important travel planning information, such as things to do in the parks and sample itineraries. Humans are so arrogant and the animals always end up paying the price! Glaciers are dangerous, with hidden crevasses and shifting ice, and it can even be dangerous to just hike on the terminal moraine. Then it was time to hike up higher onto the glacier, where our guides scouted out our first real ice climbing crevasse. In addition, a wounded moose can draw in black bears and brown bears, it added. Great trail. Sandy is preparing a turkey with all the fixens. Rangers recommend using tarps that cover the wheel wells from early Spring to mid-July. The path had a lot of mosquitoes but the glacier view is wonderful and the path is well maintained and planned. The nature center includes exhibits about the Exit Glacier area, an Alaska Geographic bookstore, and rangers to help answer questions about the area. Exit Glacier: Short, Fairly Easy Hike - See 904 traveler reviews, 869 candid photos, and great deals for Kenai Fjords National Park, AK, at Tripadvisor. Is it worth hiking the trail and doing the Ice Climbing, or do you feel the hike you get as part of the Ice Climbing is sufficient, and not worth going back to do the entirety of the trail? Worth the trip on a clear day, but it took over 7 hours. You dont have to ice climb and you wont be missing out on much by skipping this. Is Ice Climbing on the Exit Glacier Worth It? This will help the animal not perceive you as a threat. They walked the entire time and did great. The cost includes transportation to and from the Exit Glacier, two guides, the technical climbing gear, and lunch. A network of short trails leads to different views of Exit Glacier, beginning at the Exit Glacier Nature Center and the parking lot. Cool view of glacier. Of course, we didnt drive all this way for a o.5-mile hike that only reveals the tip of the glacierthere is more for the adventurous soul:). Through our visit to this national treasure I gained an all new perspective on not only glaciers but on their importance to us. You will also be hiking with a backpack that contains your climbing gear, extra layers, water, and food for the day. We have lots of suggestions on what to wear in the What to Bring section of this guide. Harding Trail to Marmot Meadows - Tripadvisor My forearms and shoulders were sore for the next day or two, and I wasnt the only one in my family complaining of this. There's an old trail you can kind of follow, but be aware of falling rocks/landslides once you've continued beyond the lookout point. Also, remember that you are venturing into the high country so itll be substantially colder at the top than in the parking lot, so dress accordingly and be prepared to hike in the snoweven in the summer!! We didn't hike the entire way up to the end of the trail as we were told by others coming down that it was cloudy up there, and that the views from lower were still excellent. Kara looks pretty thrilled to be holding those ice axes, dont you think? Picnic tables are located next to the parking lot. A wounded moose poses unique safety issues, as the animal may be more protective or agitated. Once at Marmot Meadows, you leave the Harding Icefield Trail. At times, I was awestruck. If you have any questions about ice climbing on the Exit Glacier, or if you want to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below. On the glacier, you will hike up and down hills with crampons. The hike starts out in a forest of trees, then turns to bushes and flowers, then some tundra, and then rocks and snow. You can refill your water bottle on the glacier or have the guides top off your water. A spur road off the Seward Highway leads to the only road accessible portion of the Kenai Fjords National Park. Final sale styles end in .97 and are marked "FINAL SALE". Judging by the others in our group, the hardest parts were hiking the Harding Icefield Trail and the more advanced climbing walls. 73 reviews of Exit Glacier and Harding Icefield Trail "if you like chutes and ladders, you'll love this hike. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Although it is one of the Harding Icefield's smaller glaciers, it is one of the most visited because of its easy accessibility and abundant hiking trails around and above the glacier. The Harding Icefield Trail is awesome in that you get those great views of the ice and the national park. To hike all the trails, start by turning left at the nature center and following the accessible, Glacier View Loop Trail through the cottonwood forest to the Glacier View, a panoramic vista of Exit Glacier spilling down from the Harding Icefield. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. Calculations are made in kilometers and miles and information is available for all countries around the world. After 1.8 miles, youll reach the true start of the trail and the true Alaskan wilderness the bottom of the cliffs. Our hike also included a visit to view the nearby Exit Glacier. You will also be hiking up and over boulders and rocks on the trail. Snow is quickly melting; now is a good time to go. Lots of layers: both a short and long-sleeved shirt, a fleece or sweatshirt, and a jacket. Anchorage/Seward | List | AllTrails The Icefield is the largest in North America, and it remains as a 300 square mile vestige of the last ice age. Sense of accomplishment. We chose Exit Glacier Guides for their impeccable reviews. Follow this moderately strenuous trail to the Exit Glacier Overlook and view the glacier in its own glacially carved valley. Best things to do in Denali National Park. We were perfectly happy with a great view of Exit Glacier. Still, it is doable. Nice easy hike. Its a very strenuous hike, and you will need water and snacks. Once at the Exit Glacier, you will put on a harness and helmet, strap on some crampons, and head off onto the glacier. It is pretty steep and strenuous, and I was glad I had good hiking boots and trekking poles. Rappelling into the crevasse was the hardest part. It is one of the most accessible valley glaciers in Alaska and is a visible indicator of glacial recession due to climate change. Kenai Fjords National Park - Things to Do, Ask Barbara S about Harding Ice Field Trail, Ask DoverJungleboy about Harding Ice Field Trail, Ask Jkenders about Harding Ice Field Trail, Ask Susan R about Harding Ice Field Trail, Ask DragonDad about Harding Ice Field Trail, things to do in Kenai Fjords National Park. Great views. The blue ice is very dense, and takes some strength, and a good technique with the ice ax, to get it to hold in the ice. If you concern wildlife Bear attack, this ranger program will be perfect to ease your mind. I-10 Exits in California. There are some small climbing challenges, and the elevation changes steadily during the hike.