Mendenhall Glacier Trek
Love Hiking? This one is for you!
Duration
Day Trip
8-Hours
Activity
Hiking, Glacier Trekking
Highlight
Glacier trekking, rainforest hiking, big views
Price
$239 per person + tax
Difficulty
Strenuous
Transportation
Meet at Main Office for tour transport
Experience The Trip
The Mendenhall Glacier Tour begins with a 4-mile hike through the Tongass National Forest – the largest temperate rainforest in the world, dominated by towering Sitka Spruce and Hemlock Trees. As you follow your guide through the dense vegetation, around beaver ponds, and up rock scrambles, the wilderness trail becomes less defined.
This hiking tour is strenuous and requires excellent balance and sure-footedness. While total elevation gain is only 800 feet, the terrain is steep, uneven, slippery, and rocky. We’ll cover 4 miles, each way, in approximately 2-2.5 hours – if you require a faster or slower place, please consider booking the Privately Guided Mendenhall Glacier Trek.
As you emerge from the forest and approach the final ridge, the jagged face of the glacier bursts into view, it’s river of ice coursing behind it. We’ll strap on micro-spikes at the toe of glacier and embark on a guided trek to explore an array of glacial features. These features may include moulins, crevasses, and ice caves, if available. Because the glacier is in a state of constant change, not all features may be present or accessible. Every day is different on the ice!
After an adventure on the glacier, we’ll hike back on the West Glacier Trail and provide transportation back to your pick-up location.
The Trip Itinerary
8 Hour Trip
Meet at Main Office
Van transportation to the West Glacier Trailhead
Gear Outfitting and Orientation
Get to know your guide and gear!
Questions about the gear sizing?
Hike approximately 4 miles to the Glacier
A fun jaunt through temperate rainforest via the West Glacier Trail
Glacier Trekking & Exploration
Strap on the micro-spikes, grab your trekking poles and traverse the glacier ice terrain!
Return Hike to the Trailhead
Don’t worry, it’s mostly downhill!
Return Van Transport to Main Office
Practical Info
Client Pickup Information
In accordance with our COVID-19 mitigation policy, all 2021 guided trips will meet at our main office location at their scheduled tour start time for outfitting and transportation to/from tour site. Please contact our office for meeting location details, parking and information.Â
Our centralized downtown meeting location is the “C” Sign, located directly between the base of the Mount Roberts Tramway and the green Taku Smokeries building near the cruise ship terminal. All clients cruising into downtown Juneau will be picked up here.
Clients arriving at AJ Dock:
Clients on cruise ships docking at the AJ Dock with 30 minutes or less between their ship’s arrival time and ABAK’s trip departure time will be picked up directly from the pier at AJ Dock.
Clients Staying Locally:
Clients staying at major hotels in the Mendenhall Valley, Downtown, or at an Airbnb or VRBO please contact us at 907-364-2333 for details on meeting location.
Price
$239.00 + 5% sales tax = $250.95 per person
Group Size: Minimum of 2, Maximum of 12
Minimum Age: 10
Clients must be able to hike for at least 6 hours/9 miles round-trip on steep, rocky, slippery, uneven terrain carrying a 10 lb backpack, and provide their own hiking boots with adequate ankle support.
Included In The Price
- Professional guides
- Roundtrip van transport from meeting location
- US Forest Service permits
- Rain gear (hooded jacket and pants)
- Hearty, healthy snack & bottled water.
- All glacier safety gear including helmet, micro-spikes, harness, and trekking poles if needed.
Not Included In Price
- Boots! Clients must provide their own hiking boots for this trip.
- Hot shower at the end of the day. But you can book your stay with us.
- Professional Photography
- Gratuity for your guide: If you feel that your guide went Above and Beyond to facilitate an exceptional experience, a gratuity is a welcomed way to show your appreciation.
Important Notes
- This trip operates in all weather conditions (barring unsafe conditions, to be determined by ABAK) – We can’t stress enough to dress appropriately.
- A specific amount of time on the ice cannot be guaranteed. The amount of time on the glacier is dependent on the group’s pace and weather conditions.
- Accessing ice caves, moulins, or any other glacier feature is not guaranteed: Due to the dynamic nature of the Mendenhall Glacier these features are constantly changing. Your guide will assess each available feature prior to accessing to determine if it is safe to explore.
- Clients must be able to hike for at least 6 hours/9 miles round trip on steep, rocky, slippery, and uneven terrain carrying a 10 lb backpack.
- Clients must provide their own sturdy hiking boots for this trip.
- Clients must disclose information regarding pertinent medical conditions/history, allergies and any type of restrictions or limitations that might introduce a higher degree of challenge on this trip.
- Every participant must sign a Release of Liability/Assumption of Risk Form at the start of the trip. Alterations and/or deletions to the form are not permitted.
- Due to various fitness abilities and weather variables, we prefer clients not schedule other excursions directly before or after our trip. Please let us know if your clients have another excursion booked on the same day.
- Due to inherent risk involved in this type of tour, pregnant guests are not permitted to participate.
Departure Times: Please click on the Book Your Trip tab to find updated departures times.
Dates of Operation: May 1st – September 30th, 2021
*Due to diminishing daylight hours in September, only morning departures will be offered after August 15th.
Group Size: Minimum of 2, Maximum of 12
Minimum Age: 10 years old. Families with children under 10 need to book a privately guided trip, for which the minimum age is 8. The smallest shoe size we can accommodate is size 2. We do not permit clients to carry their infants/toddlers due to safety concerns.
Activity Level: Challenging & Strenuous – Participants need to be in good physical shape and able to climb over rocks, slippery surfaces, and have no major mobility issues. No hiking experience necessary.
Documentation Needed
- Name of each client
- Cell phone contact number of client
- Desired trip date and departure time
- Name of cruise ship or hotel
- Clients’ ages, especially anyone under the age of 18
- Rain gear & shoe sizes (please specify male or female)
- Any pertinent medical issues, allergies or dietary restrictions
- Primary language spoken, if other than English
