Glacier exploration by foot , by boat and by train
COMPASS WEST U . S .
Glacier exploration by foot , by boat and by train
One of the most accessible places in Alaska where travelers can go to see the state ’ s abundant glaciers is the Portage- Whittier Valley . “ The Portage area is such an amazing place ,” says Jara Haas , tourism sales manager for Visit Anchorage ( anchorage . net ). “ It is a short ride from Anchorage but a world away from the everyday .”
Portage Glacier
CC FLICKR / ANDREW LIN : bit . ly / 2h7Sno4
Portage Lake ’ s Begich Boggs Visitors Center is the starting point for exploration . From May to September , travelers can join a narrated boat tour that goes around the lake and stops at the area ’ s crown jewel , Portage Glacier . Guided hikes and glacier walks also are available , with the Byron Glacier Trail leading walkers to the toe of its namesake glacier in less than a mile .
East of the lake is the city of Whittier , which sits at the mouth of the Prince William Sound . Two NTA suppliers , Major Marine Tours ( majormarine . com ) and Phillips Cruises & Tours ( phillipscruises . com ), provide half-day cruises that showcase tidewater glaciers and waterfalls , as well as seals , otters , seabirds and other wildlife .
For those who want to add a rail component to their tour , the Glacier Discovery Train is available through another longtime NTA member , Alaska Railroad ( alaskarailroad . com ). The company ’ s 12-hour round-trip ride , which will run from May 27 – Sept . 18 , heads south from Anchorage through Girdwood , Portage , Whittier and the Spencer Glacier before reaching its turnaround point of Grandview .
“ When people leave as the train pulls away from Spencer Glacier , you have a whole Alaska glacier to yourself for hiking , camping , kayaking , rafting , canoeing , or ice climbing , either on your own or with a guide ,” adds Haas .
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66 January 2017