Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
(and Professional Travelers)

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Matanuska Glacier in Glacier View, Alaska

The two RV Gypsies hiked on this glacier June 16, 2009 -
& again on July 23, 2009 (this page - the results are very different) The two RV Gypsies didn't even recognize the glacier the second time around because glaciers are always moving and changing.
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 our feet. Once you get to the ice part of the glacier, there is 900 feet of ice below your feet.
 
Matanuska Glacier
Below - the two RV Gypsies drove to the parking lot closest to the Matanuska Glacier and hiked over the gravel, sand and large boulders that has been deposited by the glacier as it advanced. They were totally amazed at how much the glacier had changed, because this time, there was mud, more rocks, and the ice was crunchy in places, and often had a thin layer of water on the ice. Unlike the first hike, there was a lot of deep crevices with running water and even one about 50 feet deep with a "waterfall" in it. They were unable to get to the lake like they did the first time, which was very disappointing, but glad to experience first-hand how much a glacier changes. Only tours with crampons could get there. (Crampons are outdoor footwear that include pointed metal parts and are worn on boots to provide traction on snow and ice.)
Matanuska Glacier Matanuska Glacier
water that wasn't there on the first hike
new water new water
new water
new water
 
below - a big mound that wasn't there before
rocky part of the Matanuska Glacier a big mound
Lee Duquette on the Matanuska Glacier Lee Duquette on the Matanuska Glacier
Lee on the grid to cross the muddy area - also not there on the last hike on this glacier.
crossing the muddy area
crossing the muddy area
a balancing rock - new too
a new, extremely deep crevice
a balancing rock a new, deep crevice
Lee approaching another new crevice - and a close-up of the crevice.
a new, deep crevice
a new, deep crevice
a new, deep crevice a new, deep crevice
This crevice. appeared to be about 50 deep feet with a "waterfall"
a new, deep crevice with waterfall a new, deep crevice with waterfall
a new, deep crevice with waterfall a new, deep crevice with waterfall
The stream of water leading to the above waterfall
stream feeding the waterfall
The pointy looking ice you see is the area the two RV Gypsies are trying to get to but cannot. It is a very steep drop from here to there. They tried several other routes and just did not succeed. But it was still fun and they did get to the lake the first time around.
glacier ice glacier ice
next arrow the Knik Glacier
& the 2nd ATV tour
OR
If you missed the first hike on Matanuska Glacier, where the two RV Gypsies got to the lake,
click here to go back to it. You will see how very different this glaciers looks the second time around.