Juneau and the Mendenhall Glacier

 

The Mendenhall Glacier is possibly Alaska’s most familiar glacier. It is close to the Capital of Juneau and easy to reach by car or in our case by bus. It struck me that easy access being the explanation for the popularity of this glacier is ironic as Juneau cannot be reached by car. The joke so many tour guides tell is that there three ways to reach Juneau - plane, boat, and birth canal. The same joke is used at a couple of other cruise ship destinations. 

The Mendenhall is another striking example of climate change with the rate accelerating in recent years. Tourists are not allowed to set foot on the glacier for fear of causing damage, but views from a distance still allow great photos. There is an exception. If you are willing to pay the steep price for a helicopter excursion, you do land on the ice and are allowed to disembark.