On The Matanuska Glacier

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….

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…

Alaska’s Glaciers One aspect that Alaska is known for is its abundance of glaciers, and for the variety of glaciers. This region has thousands of micro-ecosystems that amount to some amazing macro effects. Due to the last glacial period, about 20,000 years ago, we can observe areas like the Great Lakes as after-effects. We can…

Elemental Climbing The interest in rock climbing and ice climbing has been on the rise since it started gaining popularity in the 70’s and 80’s. Now, decades later, many travel to glacier ice to experience climbing on pristine ice walls. And anyone who has climbed, whether it be their first time or they are an…

MICA Guides working on their rescue skills after work Any activity in the outdoor industry can have lots of potential dangers, which is why MICA Guides takes their role as first responders so seriously, often taking extra time at the end of the day to work on these crucial skills. Accidents are unpredictable, sudden, and…

MICA Guides is partnering and supporting the Matanuska Outdoor Institute to offer adventures for teens this summer. Students can learn skills in backcountry navigation, backpacking, outdoors survival and ice climbing in addition to basic camping and outdoors life.  In addition to the hard skills, our goal is to help these kids and young adults develop…

Moss balls found on the Matanuska From the surface, glaciers can look like a lifeless, frozen land, but if you look at the glacier closely, you’ll be able to see that is far from the truth. The glacier itself is constantly moving and changing not unlike a river of ice filling in the valley, a…

Win a Night on Matanuska Glacier We are giving away one night luxury camping on Matanuska Glacier, which includes a helicopter flight to and from the glacier camp, with dinner and breakfast on the glacier.  Below are the complete rules. Giveaway administered by Exposure Alaska (doing business as MICA Guides) and affiliates. Giveaway is void…

Here at MICA Guides there is no shortage on choices when it comes to what trek to take. Sometimes it can be hard to know what trip is best for you and your group. One of my favorite trips on the glacier is the Advanced Trek. This day trip is a great way to dive…

Glacier View may be a small town along the Glenn Highway, but you’ll be surprised to see just how much this town has to offer. Check out the Top 10 activities and places to visit during your next trip. Be sure to read through because we have saved the best for last!!! 10: Howdy Hall…

This is a ride so fast that you’ll hardly have time to enjoy the thrilling views! Don’t worry – that’s why MICA Guides offers plenty of other trips onto the Glacier itself for a close up view! Glacier View Adventure’s G2 zipline is Alaska’s fastest zipline. The fastest recorded zip was 63mph! Many zipline tours…

Ever wondered how Ice Screws work? If you have been on a Helicopter trip, Ice Climbing trek or Advanced Trek with MICA Guides you might have noticed that the guides carry around giant screws with a bolt on the end. These are ice screws and are used to create a V-thread in the ice which…