Hiking up to Exit Glacier

June 14th, 2016

The Kenai Fjords National Park encompasses the majority ( 670,000 acres ) of the Kenai Peninsula. There is an abundance of wildlife there both in the forest and icy waters.  There is a sliver that you can access by a short road, ending at Exit Glacier, the park's biggest attraction. 

We go out into the wilds to commune with nature; avoiding busloads of people from cruise ships and tour buses is important. After learning that the cruise ships would not be in Seward today ,we decided it would be the perfect day to kick the hiking up a notch,( and subsequent body-punishment ) and tackle the portion of The Harding Icefield Trail that stops at Marmot Meadows to get the fabulous view of Exit Glacier. The trail above it was still closed due dangerous snow conditions.

Park ranger/speedy trail guide briefing us on hike. 

Our trail was rated “strenuous” due to its steep elevation gain of 1000 feet per mile.  Because this is prime bear territory we thought it might be best to go with the park Ranger on the morning walk.

Promptly at 9am this Ranger, an older woman, set out at a rapid pace with 15 or so of us following.  The trail got really steep and the four of us became the “slackers”, there is usually at least one in every crowd, but we were not used to us being the ones.  We would catch up when she stopped to talk, as she quickly raced off again.  We all agreed that we wanted to actually look at the scenery not just scramble up a steep rocky trail, so when we caught up again we told her to go on without us. We had bear spray, and there were four of us, so we’d be fine. It was worth the risk, because up to that point it was not fun- and what’s the point of that? 

There was a lot of moaning from Norm as his knees took him up 1400 feet of elevation and especially taking him back down!

We all started to enjoy the hike after that, even with the punishing 1400 feet of elevation gain.  We went up the hillside at a slow and steady pace, resting when we needed to.

Not that many decades ago, this glacier was up to where I am standing

I'm getting pretty good with this selfie-stick I am totally ashamed to say!It's all in the length of the stick!  The further away, the better we look!

 When I told the main group we were doing pretty well for a bunch of 70 year olds, there was a gasp from the crowd, then a lot of accolades.  One girl said we were awesome, and we inspired her - so how could I possibly tell her I was only kidding?  We inspired her!

This trail is one of the most beautiful in Alaska, and though I have yet to see much of this great state, I believe it!  We might have done a lot of groaning (especially coming down) but at one point I was moved to tears at such utter beauty.  Wow! America the Beautiful played in my head.

After walking  4.5 miles, with my Fitbit clocking in with 16,428 miles and 140 flights of stairs,( Norm calculated it was 140 flights UP and another DOWN, so the Fitbit may be wrong ) I was pretty proud.

What? If he starts to EAT you? They have to tell you to FIGHT BACK?

A portrayal of Exit Glacier's retreat over the years.  It is now where the red marker is. Global warming? 

We all literally staggered back to our car then mustered up the strength to stop at the supermarket ( we were a pathetic sight getting out of the car ) for a quick dinner of frozen pizza. No one was willing to cook, and we sure were not up to going out. ( at least Norm and I weren’t )

Note: today we have 19 hours and 17 minutes of sunlight. It is so crazy going to bed in broad daylight, but bedtime tonight won’t come early enough, if I can only make it up those stairs… Norm & I had chosen the king sized bed on the 2nd floor.