Glaciers, Man, & Flying Machines

Approaching McCarthy from the South after a Day of Exploration

While I was going through the images from the Wrangell-St. Elias Mountains, I later discovered I had omitted some images? Some very important and deserving images, I might add. That happens occasionally when manipulating and organizing large numbers of images. But what was I to do?

Well, I’m a recovering perfectionist. :) And my wife couldn’t believe I wouldn’t dive in and do the whole video and collection over, after living with me for forty-two years. It’s evidence that I’m changing, and slowing down in my approach to life because I’m not doing that! :)

McCarthy Airport at the Foot of Two Combined Glaciers

Instead, I’m choosing to pause and consider those photos slowly and reflect on what we experienced there. Something that we experienced up close and personal, that’s not ordinary or common to human experience. Glaciers!

Here’s some interesting facts about glaciers that I have learned, after the fact. :)

[1] Presently, 10 percent of land area on Earth is covered with glacial ice.
[2] Glacierized areas cover over 5.8 million square miles.
[3] Glaciers store about 75 percent of the world's fresh water.
[4] If all land ice melted, sea level would rise approximately 230 feet worldwide.
[5] In the United States, glaciers cover over 30,000 square miles, with most of the glaciers located in Alaska.

Kennicott Glacier Left - Root Glacier Right

It was one (actually two) of these glaciers that surprised and astounded us greatly when we rounded a mountain near McCarthy, Alaska, July 29th, 2017. Our friendship flight of two Maule MX7s was drawn like a magnet to fly right up to the glaciers and then over them instead of landing immediately as we had planned.

The sight was awe inspiring and the sense of immensity and other worldliness has not waned. It couldn’t be processed at the time, or really since. But I felt OK with that. Just to be in close proximity to such a sight and phenomenon seemed so special and mystical that there wasn’t a feeling, with me at least, that it could be or should be understood, just experienced and appreciated… a new reality previously outside our experience. Majesty. Mystery. Marvel.

Flying North Up the Kennicott Glacier

That was our discovery flight so to speak, and our introduction to glaciers. We would spend two days and two nights at a lodge adjacent to the glacier, so close one could heave a rock onto the ice, seemingly to land amid all the other rocks?

On first glance it appeared the very large foot of the glacier was all stones of undetermined size, type, and origin - with very little ice. As it turns out exactly the opposite is true. The stone covering is provided by land slides on the mountains as the glacier slowly passes through, and stone that is scooped up from the valley floor as it passes with enormous force and embedded within. But that stone covering varies in depth from only a few inches to about 15 feet. The main component is below what you see and, in the case of the Root Glacier, is ice 1300’-4000’ thick! That’s right, what appears as rocks is actually a thin covering of the densest ice imaginable which is 1/4-3/4 miles deep.

Flying South Down the Root Glacier

And on further reflection it makes sense to the senses, as one can see pyramids with white ice sides jutting up among the rocks and cravasses each about 30’ or three stories tall.

That's enough minor descriptions and sparse facts of what is observable but not that well known nor understood. You can study these associated photos for yourself. And wonder and ponder as we did then, and since. :)

Flying Over the SaddleBack Between Two Glaciers

On our day of exploration in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, after seeing ice fields and glaciers to stagger the mind, we purposed to fly once again up the Kennicott Glacier, over a saddleback mountain onto the Root Glacier, then back down it past our home for the evening, Kennicott Glacier Lodge, for our landing in McCarthy.

The Root Glacier Looking North

These photos are only of that portion of the flight. I was very much impressed with the image quality of my Sony Alpha 55, but it must be noted the human eye is an amazing sensor that deals much better with the wild variations of light present in such an environment. Still I’m grateful to have the images for memory and reflection and study. I hope you find them interesting and joyful too. :)

Kennicott Mining Ghost Town

View of Glaciers North Over McCarthy

South Foot of the Root Glacier

 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,” (Job 38:22)



“From whose womb has come the ice? And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth? “Water becomes hard like stone, And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.” (Job 38:29–30)


[Click here for photos.]

Alaska Day 8

During our stay at Kennicott Glacier Lodge, we met a beautiful young couple from Anchorage with backcountry aviation experience. In fact Hans & Bee were on their yearly visit to the Wrangell Mountains in their Husky themselves. :)

They in turn opened their hearts to us and we became friends. After breakfast Hans said, "Breakout your map and we'll make some suggestions for today's flying!" :) That was music to our ears and no coincidence we were certain! :) They proceeded to map out a few routes that were their favorites. Bee especially liked the Bagley Ice Field. :) And we'd soon see why!

But all their suggestions were excellent and had the added value to us of being offered by a knowledgeable pilot with lots of Alaskan  aviation experience.

 So off we went on a near perfect weather day in one of the most beautiful parts of the planet, to explore and admire the earth's remote, vast  beauty. :)



Click here for a YouTube video of the day.

Click here for more photos and videos of the day.

   “ They will mount up with wings like eagles ...” (Isaiah 40:31)

Alaska Day 7

At the Alaska Border We Were Greeted by a Rainbow :)

Alaska! At last! Today, day seven, we entered the "Last Frontier" of the USA, and the goal of our adventure. :) Not to take anything away from the beauty, wonder, and camaraderie of our dream trip to this point! To our great surprise the beauty and majesty level was about to take a notch up!

Tok Alaska for Fuel & Lunch

White Horse Yukon to McCarthy Alaska. We arrived in Alaska after a two-hour flight along the ALCAN through the Yukon past Haynes Junction, Destruction Bay, and Beaver Creek to arrive again in the USA and clear customs at Northway AK. From here we proceeded to Tok for lunch and fuel. Then to Gulkana for another fuel top-off before continuing SE to the amazing Wrangell-St Elias National Park!  What a day of enjoyable flying and beautiful scenery it was!

Ken Walks Across the ALCAN at MM 1313

Before beginning our adventure while gearing up, I had asked a young man at our local outdoor store who travels extensively where he'd been lately. He mentioned Patagonia, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks. I then asked where was the most beautiful place he'd ever been. Without hesitation he spouted out Wrangell Mountains-St Elias National Park in SE Alaska. He went on to say, "The many towering mountains, 14,000' plus, many rising from near sea level, glaciers, ice fields, lakes, streams, and forests are amazing." Since that report, I knew I wanted to give it a look if weather and circumstances allowed when we were in striking distance. Little did I know this would be the day!

Flying Down the Copper River SSE

Day one in Alaska, no less! We had flown down the beautiful Copper River Valley from Gulkana a good ways before rounding the corner and flying up the Chitina River towards McCarthy, the only town of any size in the area. We spotted the runway and were heading that way when we looked NE and were overcome with the other-worldly beauty in front of us and near. We instinctively forgot about landing and headed on toward the amazing sight. Almost immediately we were over the large, large foot of two glaciers which looked like a moon scape, but with ragged, deep crevasses that could swallow large buildings or trains. Then we were over the ice and snow fields of the same glaciers just a thousand feet or so above them, giant mountains and beautiful clouds surrounding the entire scene.

Leaving Copper River for McCarthy (River Right Mt Base)

We found out a few minutes later, after landing, that these were the Kennicott & Root Glaciers, and that our lodge for the night was at a famous old mine we had just flown over perched on the side of a mountain at the edge of the glacier, only a few yards west and below. :)

Peacefully we settled into our rooms, walked about the mine and grounds, had dinner, and basked in the indescribable beauty and pleasant temperature. What an arrival! What a first day ... north in Alaska!

McCarthy Airstrip & Town (Center)

Click here for a YouTube video of the days flying and exploration.

Click here for more photos and videos of the day.

Alaska Day 6

Day 6 of our Alaska flying adventure was spent resting in White Horse, Yukon. The weather was marginal in the morning, but improved throughout the day. But we needed a day of rest anyway, and we decided to take one here. Ken really needed it and all of us enjoyed it. The Yukon is a special, beautiful, wilderness, and White Horse is a delightful town with a pleasant atmosphere and a colorful history.

We changed hotels mid morning to a more comfortable place since we were going to be there for several hours, and one with a faster internet connection for Doug's work and Dwayne's blogging. :) We all took walks around town and along the Yukon River during the day and separately as desired. The peace, rest, and fresh mountain air was just what the Dr. ordered! :)

A little flight planning was accomplished for the next day, as well as, the necessary paper (on-line) work for US customs, and another border crossing. But rest was the order of the day, so rest, recuperate, and relax we did!

Click here to view a YouTube Video of Day 6

Click here to view more photos of Day 6

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Alaska Day 5

 Day 5 of our Alaska Adventure had us flying from Fort Nelson, BC, to Watson Lake, Yukon, for fuel, then on to White Horse, Yukon, to fuel and spend the night. The terrain on these two stretches of the ALCAN was varied and magnificent - extraordinary beauty in every quadrant. For the most part the weather was excellent with occasional high clouds. And these played off the water and mountains and forest to enhance the visual experience from time to time.

The vastness of this beautiful and rugged wilderness has started to settle in as we've flown for several hundred miles and three days over British Columbia and the Yukon. And from here we have about 250 miles to go before reaching the US border and the wilderness of Alaska. :)

We were told by many when we sat out not to be surprised if this stretch of our journey wasn't as beautiful as anything we'd see in Alaska. Of the three or four routes commonly flown by aircraft to Alaska we were also told this was the safest, having the highway near for emergency landings should the need arise, and the most beautiful. At the end of this day we couldn't be more pleased. And we couldn't agree more. :)

But we still have another place in our sights... north to Alaska! :)

Click here for a YouTube video of the day's flying.

Click here for more photos and videos.

Alaska Day 4

On July 26th, day four of our adventure, we flew fifty miles to Dawson Creek, the beginning point of the Alaskan Highway. After a brief look about, we continued on up the highway over Fort St. John to Fort Nelson where we spent the night.

The hotel sent a shuttle to fetch us from the airport which was four miles away? We enjoyed the shorter day, allowing Ken a little more rest, and smelling the roses as we trekked up the ALCAN. We had an excellent meal followed by what soon would become a staple of the trip, A & W Root Beer! :)

Besides enjoying the beauty of British Columbia and the Yukon, most of us were learning the history of the ALCAN as we traveled it. Fascinating!

Here's an introduction from Wikipedia and I'll add a few additional facts as we share our travel up the highway the next two or three days.

The Alaska Highway (also known as the Alaskan Highway, Alaska-Canadian Highway, or ALCAN Highway) was constructed during World War II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous United States to Alaska across Canada. It begins at the junction with several Canadian highways in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon. Completed in 1942 at a length of approximately 1,700 miles (2,700 km), as of 2012 it is 1,387 mi (2,232 km) long. The difference in distance is due to constant reconstruction of the highway, which has rerouted and straightened out numerous sections. The highway was opened to the public in 1948.[1] Legendary over many decades for being a rough, challenging drive, the highway is now paved over its entire length.[2]

More to follow... North to Alaska.


Click here for more photos of Day 4
Click here for YouTube video of Day 4

Alaska Day 3

 After a delicious breakfast at a mom & pop restaurant in downtown Lewistown MT, we were airborne early for smooth air and cooler temps and headed for the Canadian border near Lethbridge AB. We were rewarded with very smooth air and delightful scenery. We then made our way north to Rocky Mountain House, AB, for fuel and then Grand Prairie, AB, for the night. :)

Memorable were the views of passing overhead Calgary and landing with a flight of nine RVs just finishing airshow practice at Rocky Mountain House, AB. :)

Crossing the Canadian Border

The stretch of flying from here to Grand Prairie, AB, where we spent the night was long and sparsely populated. But well populated with spruce trees, lakes, oil wells, gas wells, and it's own beautiful array of colors - sky, clouds, forest, lakes, streams, and an occasional farm, ranch or town.

The joy of flying formation again, not experienced since flying fighters together, added it's own special joy and dimension to this leg of the journey... north to Alaska.

 Click here for a YouTube video of the images.
Click here for more photos of the day.