Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers

The two RV Gypsies hiked on
Matanuska Glacier in Glacier View, Alaska
June 10, 2009
(the first of 3 visits here - each one very different)

Below: Matanuska Glacier as seen from the main road

Matanuska Glacier is the largest glacier accessible by car in Alaska. The Matanuska Glacier is a large ice flow, 24 miles long and 4 miles wide at the terminus, averaging approximately 2 miles in width. This glacier is a valley glacier; it exists on a valley floor. The rocky dirt part at the beginning of the glacier has 600 feet of ice below the surface. Upon arriving at the ice part of the glacier, there is 900 feet of ice below the surface.

The two RV Gypsies drove to the parking lot closest to the Matanuska Glacier and hiked over the gravel, sand and large boulders that have been deposited by the glacier as it advances. Then they stopped at the office to pay the fee required to walk on the glacier. (Note: It is well worth the fee)


Below: Lee Duquette walked the trail beside beautiful wildflowers growing on the glacier.




Below: The very happy two RV Gypsies, Lee and Karen Duquette on Matanuska Glacier.

The majority of glaciers in Alaska today are smaller alpine glaciers which hang off mountain slopes. The Matanuska is an active glacier which advances at one foot per day. It takes approximately 250 years for the ice to form up glacier and advance to the terminus. The ice of an active glacier always moves forward due to gravity; like water in a river, the ice will flow down valley. When ice melts at a higher rate than snow accumulates the glacier margin 'recedes'. (The term 'receding' does not refer to the ice actually traveling back up the valley.)

Be extra careful Lee --- Don't fall in ...... No rescue available




The two RV Gypsies approached the ice part of the glacier and encountered two signs. They proceeded past this point even though they did not have a guide, because they had permission from the office where they paid a fee to enter the glacier area. (However, the two RV Gypsies DO recommend visitors have the proper guide with them).

Below: Frozen "blue" ice that looks like water

A frequently asked question is "Why does the ice appear to be blue?" The Answer: The density of glacier ice allows the entire spectrum of light to be absorbed with the exception of the blue light which is reflected, and therefore blue is the color your eyes see.

Below: The two RV Gypsies met up with a fellow hiker on the glacier. They were the only 3 people on the glacier at this time. They crossed several small streams of water and went all the way to the lake in the middle of the glacier. They spent about two hours exploring this wonderful glacier.

Below: Lee Duquette liked this big boulder that was in the middle of the glacier. He pointed to the top of the boulder, which had a triangle filled with water, as shown in the photo below on the right.

Below: A very cool looking Karen Duquette






Below: One of several streams of crystal clear water flowing across Matanuska Glacier. It was much deeper than it appears in the photos below. The two RV Gypsies recommend extreme caution on glaciers.


Below: Lee Duquette thought the ice mound shown below looked like "butt cheeks" - LOL - Karen Duquette said they were too pointy.






Below: Lee Duquette reached the edge of the lake that was located in the middle of the glacier and took a photo of Karen Duquette. (Note - It may NOT be the smartest thing in the world to get too close to the edge.)







The photos on this page were taken on June 10, 2009, but The two RV Gypsies hiked on this glacier again on July 23, 2009 - only to find it looked entirely different - and they were unable to reach to the lake. Only tours with crampons could get there. If you go there, you will find a link at the bottom of the July 23, 2009 page back here. (Crampons are outdoor footwear that include pointed metal parts and are worn on boots to provide traction on snow and ice.) So on July 18, 2016, the two RV Gypsies took a guided crampon tour on this glacier and it was totally different. This time, Karen Duquette's sister Ilse Blahak was with them. This 2016 section contains two pages. There will be a link at the bottom of the second page back here. NOTE: Choosing any of the above underlined sections can take you back to any of the above 3 pages, OR let you continue on in that year. It is recommended to visit this glacier in the progressive order to get the full experience. This and other glaciers that the two RV Gypsies have visited can also be reached from the TOC button at the top of any page, and choosing the letter G, then scrolling down to "glaciers".