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So far awesomeali has created 19 blog entries.

Glacial Dams

Glacial Ice Dams Glaciers move consistently. The rate and manner in which they change depend on the elements and surrounding environment. In the warmer summer months, glaciers melt more quickly and have a shorter time period for reforming. Many of the features we observe in the summer are effects of gravity, force, and elemental shifts. During the winter, glaciers move much slower and have more time to accumulate than melt. As we observe the melting and forming stages of glacier ice, we can simultaneously explore some of the unique features created during these transition periods. What are Glacial Dams? In simplicity, glacial dams can be characterized as ice blockages in meltwater. These floating ice formations flow along with the meltwater and gravity until reaching land features that cannot be easily moved through or around. This is where we see glacial dams start to have more nuanced features that accumulate into [...]

By |2025-12-01T01:06:07+00:00July 30, 2024|

Blue Pools

Glacier Feature: Blue Pools When you travel out on the glacial ice in Alaska, the experience is breathtaking, and the all-encompassing beauty is almost overwhelming. Beyond the majestic ice falls and kettle ponds, you start to enter crevasses of deep blues and beautiful ice features. From there, they open into one of the most popular and highly sought-after ice features, the pristine blue glacial pools. Often, this means going miles away from the crowds and into the more remote areas of the glacier. We highly recommend taking the chance to make the most of visiting the blue pools by traveling by helicopter. These glacial waters are some of the more rare features you can see. Pristine Glacier Pools Typically, you can find blue pools that are not too far from meltwater, winding through and over solid white glacier ice. Where thicker glacial ice sheets [...]

By |2025-12-30T18:55:22+00:00July 18, 2024|

Glacier Ice Formations

Alaska's Glaciers One aspect Alaska is known for is its abundance and variety of glaciers. This region has thousands of micro-ecosystems that amount to some amazing macro effects. During the last glacial period, about 20,000 years ago, we can observe areas like the Great Lakes as aftereffects. We can see in the more northern and arctic regions that glaciers still exist and that ecosystems help them persist. Types of Glaciers Ice Fields An ice field is a type of glacier that forms when snow accumulation (winter) exceeds melt (summer). Ice fields are large areas of ice. On the other hand, there are also ice caps, another large mass of ice, a bit smaller than what we would see in an ice field. Mountain (Alpine) Glacier Mountain glaciers, also called alpine glaciers, are masses of ice that form in mountain regions. In other [...]

By |2025-12-30T19:50:57+00:00July 9, 2024|

The Art of Mixed Climbing

Elemental Climbing Interest in rock and ice climbing has been on the rise since it gained popularity in the 70's and 80's. Now, decades later, many travel to glaciers to experience climbing pristine ice walls. And anyone who has climbed, whether it's their first time or they are an expert, must get acquainted with the elements they are working with. Climbing Ice and Rock If climbing on glacier ice is your first experience with ice climbing, congratulations, as this can be a rare and unique experience. And even on glacier ice, you will at times have to traverse rocks and sections of moraine on more advanced adventures. When rock and ice climbing are combined, it is sometimes called mixed climbing. Mixed climbing does require some different techniques, skills, and sometimes equipment than your average ice or rock climb. Some tools are versatile, while [...]

By |2025-12-31T18:56:13+00:00June 4, 2024|

Glacier Camping Journal Entries

The Glacier Diaries Flying over the Matanuska Glacier by helicopter to arrive at your private ice climbing base camp is quite the adventure. Now, add glamping and gourmet meals to the mix and you have yourself an overnight glacier camping experience. See what these guests had to say about their trip out to glacier camp. 07.02.21 "With gratitude, we are far more interesting now that we have ice climbed and slept on a glacier than we were yesterday. This is definitely "The Last Frontier", but we would not have been able to experience it correctly without Lindsay! I was a little apprehensive bringing two teenagers here, but because of the attention to detail that Lindsay continued to have throughout the trip, they had the best time ever! The hospitality, the food, the fire, all of it was greatly appreciated. But surprisingly the best thing about this trip was my girls [...]

By |2022-10-22T22:32:56+00:00October 22, 2022|

Winter Time on a Glacier

Life on a glacier is constantly changing, sometimes faster than others. During the summer you can see glacial changes happen in a matter of hours by means of meltwater and shifting. And in the winter the glacial world moves much slower and offers a different perspective of the ice. Summertime on a Glacier Meltwater carves and drains out of moulins that ice climbers explore in the summer In the summer, glaciers move and change quicker because they are in their 'melt season'. This is when ice melts faster than it can accumulate due to the consistently higher temperatures of the summer months. You might see large meltwater lakes near the toe of the glacier. The water level of these lakes can rise and fall as daily temperatures fluctuate. If there is more sun and warmer temperatures, there is more melt that happens. Not only does meltwater influence the [...]

By |2022-02-28T17:44:38+00:00February 28, 2022|

Into the Belly of a Glacier

When you fly over the Matanuska Glacier in a helicopter it can be a bit overwhelming. It may be your first time in the passenger seat. You might even be at the ready with your camera to capture the sights. And somehow, nothing can prepare you for the immensity of splendor that you can take in from the sky here. You get to soar into the rarely seen areas of the Matanuska Valley that a majority of people don't get to. Flying by Helicopter It's inevitable that you notice the skills your pilot has to navigate the everchanging air currents. Seamlessly steering the dragonfly-like transportation system into the nooks and crannies of mountains nearby. Some pockets showcase the entrances to giant canyons draped with overgrowth and gnarled cliffs. Others help you peer over the outpours of ice coming from the nearby mountains. And finally, you're hovering over the confluence of [...]

By |2021-11-20T19:02:50+00:00November 20, 2021|

See You Soon on Matanuska Glacier

See You Soon on Matanuska Glacier The Changing of Seasons There is something both empty and full about the end of an adventure, but we will see you soon on Matanuska Glacier. This morning Jay, a MICA guide, left base for the season. He spent his last night working late on the ice to get in one last training and earn his “Level 2” guide status. By the time he was back at base the entire MICA crew was gathered around a campfire. It was like we had an unspoken agreement to be together that night. We reminisced about the past, dreamed about the future and soaked in the last night of our full staff. Jay smiled as we congratulated him on testing as a Level 2 guide. This was accompanied with teasing him for the ridiculous amount of meat he consumes and we all caught him at a moment [...]

By |2021-10-15T12:00:35+00:00October 15, 2021|

The Helicopter Commute

When you think of commuting to work, thoughts of saddle bags on bikes and honking horns might come to mind. In Alaska though, the trip from home to work can be, well, a bit different. Especially for second year guide at MICA, Nell. Glacier Camp Nell's day starts with rolling out of a tent, getting ready for the day, and hitting the morning meeting with the rest of the crew. Oh, and then hopping into a helicopter to work on one of the most secluded areas of the Matanuska Glacier. Nell is one part of a sub-committee. This committee is dedicated to executing one of the most epic adventures on an Alaskan glacier; being camp host for a glacier overnight experience. Matanuska Glacier Overnight Camp This is Nell's second year with the locally owned and operated Alaskan guiding company. She first came to the team as an intern, [...]

By |2021-09-12T07:24:24+00:00September 12, 2021|

A MICA Guides Intern’s Experience

A MICA Guides Intern's Experience On June 7, we approached the end of our orientation week as MICA Guides interns. Simultaneously, we were informed that the next three days would be spent backpacking in the Alaskan backcountry. I had been on a few backpacking trips with my family previously. Also, I have spent my whole life hiking in the Northern Cascades near Seattle. I didn't really expect this trip to really be any different from the trips I had grown up taking. It turns out that this would be the trip where I got my first real introduction to Alaska. The Alaska Welcoming Committee We headed out the morning of June 8. We left base camp two hours earlier than we had planned, so we thought all would be well. As we pulled into the trailhead of Pinochle, where we were beginning our hike, it started to downpour. It did [...]

By |2021-07-15T09:00:20+00:00July 15, 2021|

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