Lee and Karen Duquette
and family at WORTHINGTON GLACIER
August 10, 2009

Page 1 of 2

The goal was to reach the ice cave (the black hole to the left of the glacier in the photos below on the left). The sign states that the glacier is unstable. The lady who works in the visitor center also said that the ice cave was very unstable and visitors must NOT enter the ice cave. However, she did not say that people should not be on the glacier. But Lee and Karen Duquette soon discovered that the entire glacier was unstable, and are NOT recommending that anyone walk on glaciers without an experienced, professional guide.
WORTHINGTON GLACIER
sign: Unstable Glacial area
Below: Starting up the glacier. Even the dirt/rocky part is part of the actual glacier, with lots of ice below them.
starting up WORTHINGTON GLACIER
starting up WORTHINGTON GLACIER
the family of the two RV Gypsies on Worthington Glacier
the family of the two RV Gypsies on Worthington Glacier
the family of the two RV Gypsies on Worthington Glacier
the grandson of the two RV Gypsies on Worthington Glacier
Below: This was a much steeper climb than it looked, so a rest stop was in order.
the family of the two RV Gypsies on Worthington Glacier
taking a break
taking a break
big smiles on Worthington Glacier
Below: Looking off to the side of the glacier at the beautiful scenery
beautiful scenery as seen from Worthington Glacier
beautiful scenery as seen from Worthington Glacier
beautiful scenery as seen from Worthington Glacier
beautiful scenery as seen from Worthington Glacier

Below The little red spot (in front of the lake in the photos below) is a person. That shows how high up Kristen has climbed on Worthington Glacier, and then Kristen climbed even higher.
Kristen
see the red spot - that's a person
Lee Duquette on Worthington Glacier
Worthington Glacier
Worthington Glacier
Worthington Glacier
Worthington Glacier
Finally - the ice cave! There were loud sounds coming from inside the cave, from the ice melting and caving, or maybe really stupid people are inside the cave, despite the warning.
the ice cave
the ice cave
the ice cave
the family of the two RV Gypsies
the ice cave
the ice cave
the ice cave
the ice cave
Below: Looking down at the lake - the green spot is the roof of the visitor center
looking down at the lake
the green spot is the roof of the visitor center
Below: Lots of deep crevices in the glacier. Everyone had to watch where they stepped.
deep crevices in the glacier
deep crevices in the glacier
on Worthington Glacier in Alaska
on Worthington Glacier in Alaska
on Worthington Glacier in Alaska
on Worthington Glacier in Alaska
Below: Time to go down - it was decided to try a different way down that they hoped would be easier than the way up, but it was not easier in any way shape or form.
on Worthington Glacier in Alaska
on Worthington Glacier in Alaska
on Worthington Glacier in Alaska
on Worthington Glacier in Alaska
on Worthington Glacier in Alaska
on Worthington Glacier in Alaska
At first the new trail seemed to go up, not down, but eventually the trail came out by the visitor center. Karen Duquette thought the down trail was easier, but everyone else thought the up trail was the easier of the two trails. (If you want to call climbing over big boulders a trail)
 
Below: Now that they are down off the glacier and in a different spot from the trail they started up on, they saw a sign that the trail was closed and that it was steep, primitive and difficult. (The lady at the visitor center did NOT tell them that.) They had started the climb up from down by the lake, not from this point and that is why they did not see the sign earlier.
sign: trail closed ahead
Below: A sign and shovel outside the visitor's center
sign: free snow shoveling experience
a snow shovel

go to the next pageplease continue on to day 2 - climbing the other side of Worthington Glacier