A Beginners Hike on Alaska's, Matanuska Glacier

This glacial adventure can be anything you want it to be. The Matanuska hangs in a massive valley just north east of Anchorage on the Glen highway. If your goal is to get up close and personal with a massive 20-something mile long glacier - check that box. If you are on a limited budget and can't pay a guiding company to take you on a glacier - check that box too. This is a great time for anyone who has reasonably good footing, a rental car (or a friend with one), and some extra spending money in their pockets (but not too much of it). You can keep things mellow by just exploring the toe of the glacier (another word for the terminus), which is loads of fun. 

This is the cheapest glacial walk in Alaska for anyone who isn't competent in glacial travel. There are other glaciers in AK that are free to visit, but none that have such a gradual ramp at the terminus - meaning, things start REAL mellow and have lots of potential to get spicy if you know what you're doing. Best advice: know your limits, and keep things mellow. 

Step 1: The Essentials. Rent some microspikes or crampons from a local outfitter in Anchorage. If you plan on getting on some ice, don't skip this step. Trekking poles come in handy as well. 

Step 2: What to bring. Pack what you'd typically bring on a hike: layers, water, food, camera, and a sense of adventure. 

Step 3: How to get there. Bring some hot coffee for the car ride and hike. It's more than 100 miles from Anchorage and at mile marker 102 turn down a private road that takes you down a dirt road to what seems to be an abandoned building. It's not, this is where you pay the $25-30 fee per person to access the private glacier and you'll also sign a waiver.  Continue through the gate until you find the dirt parking lots overlooking the toe of the glacier.

Step 4: Hike it to the toe. This may be your stopping point, the toe of the glacier. Eventually you hit ice and this is where it's up to you to decided whether or not you feel comfortable enough continuing. 

Step 5: Ice or not? This level of comfort is increased when you have crampons or microspikes under your feet, if so continue on young explorers. If not, the sights are still insanely beautiful! 

Best advice: 

1. Don't go without traction devices for your feet

2. Keep parking lot visible if you're not comfortable navigating the ice on your own. 

3. Don't go up anything that you wouldn't be comfortable walking down. Going down is much more difficult. 

4

4. Go with a friend, or two. For fun, and for safety.