{"id":5179,"date":"2019-05-02T01:48:54","date_gmt":"2019-05-02T01:48:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/cathedral-valley-road-trip-copy\/"},"modified":"2022-03-22T04:04:36","modified_gmt":"2022-03-22T04:04:36","slug":"juneau-icefield","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/juneau-icefield\/","title":{"rendered":"Juneau Icefield"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Our back roads exploration this time takes us to where there are no roads as we visit the massive icefield and many glaciers behind Alaska\u2019s capital city of Juneau.<\/strong>\u00a0 Join us as we take to the air via helicopter to not only see this magnificent sea of ice but to also walk on it.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Most people who visit Juneau step off a cruise ship and we were no different.\u00a0 We\u2019ve been to Juneau three times and all were via a cruise ship.\u00a0 There are many interesting ways to spend your day when the ship stops here.\u00a0 Juneau is the capital of Alaska and there are several museums where you can explore this state\u2019s colorful history.\u00a0 That\u2019s exactly what we did one time when we had typical Alaskan weather \u2013 grey and rainy.\u00a0 But the other two times, the weather was good enough for flying\u2026 so we did.<\/p>

Cruise ship companies offer plenty of shore excursions to fit the various interests of their passengers.\u00a0 One of them is a trip to nearby Mendenhall Glacier where you can see a small piece of it from the Visitor Center.\u00a0 But distances can be deceiving in Alaska and the glacier is actually quite a distance away.\u00a0 Hiking to it is not a very practical option simply because it would take too long and ships don\u2019t stay in port very long.\u00a0 And, even if you were to get to the tip of the glacier, you\u2019re only seeing a small fraction of one percent of the ice that lies beyond Juneau.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

If you really want to get up-close and personal and experience<\/em> a glacier, the best way is to get out onto one.\u00a0 Walk on it or just stand there and try to take it all in.\u00a0 There are a few ways to do this but some require more time than what a typical cruise ship stay will allow.\u00a0 The most direct way to get to a glacier is to take one of the many helicopter tours offered.\u00a0 Some tours fly over the glaciers which will give you some sense of their immense size and make a lasting impression.\u00a0 But other tours are longer and include one or two landings on the glaciers.\u00a0 This is the best tour to fully appreciate their majesty and grandeur.<\/p>

Taking a helicopter ride may seem like an expensive option but it really is the best way to get the most bang-for-your-buck and is an efficient use of your limited time here.\u00a0 After all, how many times will you have the chance to step onto a glacier?<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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