It's February in Alaska, and we've learned that can mean some pretty unpredictable weather conditions. Here, in the interior, we just ended the fourth longest cold snap in history where we had 35 days straight of temperature below 5 degrees Fahrenheit. It's been cold, ya'll!!
So you can imagine our joy this past week as we watched temperatures climb into the positives, even into double digits! That, combined with the sun getting higher into the sky each day (two weeks ago sunrise was around 10:15. This week sunrise is around 9:00 so we're getting there!), it was such a good week! In fact, Saturday temperatures got as high as the 20s and we decided it was time to have some fun outdoors. That morning, we loaded up the car and met up with some friends in North Pole. We all drove the 3 hours to mile marker 217 on the Richardson Highway. We were the first ones there for the day, which was a little exciting! We strapped on our snowshoes, loaded up the sled, and started our trek!
We were really glad to have gone with some friends who had been there before. Actually, this was their third visit to Castner Glacier and each time they had been, they had a different experience. This particular visit, there was a few good inches of fresh show so the trail was actually pretty hard to find. Essentially, we had to forge our own, which would have definitely been difficult for someone who had never been before.
Not far down the trail, we made a new friend! Actually, it was a little spooky to get so close to the biggest moose we've ever seen....
Since we were the first ones on the trail, it was her first interaction with people and we were both a bit nervous for a minute. We all stopped walking and made noise so she was aware of our presence. We did try to scare her away, and she did turn to start walking off but after a few moments, she changed her mind, circled back around, and went back to chowin' down on the trees. She wasn't going to bother us but we kept on eye on her as we passed by.
Arriving at the glacier is an experience in and of itself. The mouth of the cave is hidden by a small hill if you're looking at it head on. You have to walk around the left side, but once you see it, it's like it pops up out of nowhere! And it was spectacular...
The cave itself doesn't go very far back. We walked (and crawled in some places) as far back as we could go until we ran in open water. It really could take less than 10 minutes to get to the back. But we took our time because the ice formations changed shape about every 20-30 feet and it was so cool to study the changes!
It was really incredible to discover each new shape. Once we got to the geometric looking ice formations, they would break off in literal, thin ice chips with unique grooves.
Our friends brought a water filter, and once we got to the back of the cave, they pumped out some glacier water for us to all have a taste. So cool!!
We hung around the glacier for a little over an hour, and we were pretty much the only ones there! Though once we started to head out, a lot more people were heading in. We passed quite a few people on our way back, and that's when we realized that we really did blaze the trail for visitors that day! Our moose friend was still on her little hill, so it was fun to get in our goodbyes ;) Hiking 3 miles round trip, an easy walk with snowshoes, in 28 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees with windchill), we had an absolute blast! And made memories that will last forever. We couldn't have picked a better day to take this day trip.
Can't end an Alaskan adventure without someone getting stuck in the snow! This is time it was us (insert face palm emoji) but the good people of Alaska didn't let us down. A few shovels, a few pushes, a few tugs with a tow strap got us out and on our way back on the 3 hour drive back to North Pole.
If you go in the winter, make sure you arrive early enough to make the most of the daylight. Sometimes during the year, daylight only last a few hours so be aware of that and make sure you have the right gear if running out of daylight should become an issue. It’s a good idea to bring a headlamp no matter what, so you can see deep in the cave. It takes about 3 hours to drive from Fairbanks, so take that into consideration so you can fully enjoy your trip. You’ll definitely want snow shoes or cross country skis! You would much rather have them and not need them than the other way around...trust me!
Another thing to note is that even though the creek is frozen in the winter, there is water flowing underneath. So avoid traveling in the creek and especially avoid low spots. No matter when you go, please keep an eye on weather conditions and prepare accordingly! We went with someone who had been before and our hike in was pretty easy, but had we not been prepared, it could’ve been disastrous! Many people have gone just this season and not made it due to being unprepared or even getting lost. As you approach the cave, it is actually hidden from view, tucked around a corner on the left side of the creek. It is not visible until you are standing right in front of the entrance. Some people have reached this point and gone the wrong way or given up and turned back. In heavy snow or blizzard conditions it is difficult to navigate the route, and would’ve been impossible for us had we not gone with someone who had been before.. Check the weather before you go. If it's going to snow right before or during your planned hike, don't count on there being a trail to follow. Keep in mind, there are no signs directing visitors on where to go. There is no cell service and it’s not super close in proximity to any services. If you’re not used to extreme cold or even off trail hiking, go with someone who has been there before! A few tips: You definitely want to plan your trip when it's warm enough to make it enjoyable, but cold enough that everything is still frozen! It can get a little tricky getting into the cave when there's running water. Later in the Spring, the sun begins melting the ice causing rocks to fall from the ceiling which can obviously be dangerous. Lastly, stay dry. Stay warm. Be aware of wildlife. And have fun!! Questions, comments, previous experiences at Castner Glacier? We want to hear them in the comments!! If you're interested in a one-on-one chat to help to plan a trip to Alaska, you should check out our options! Make sure to pin so you can come back to this post! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram for some of our day-to-day adventures and until next time, get out and explore where you live!
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AuthorWe're just a military family enjoying where we live, one PCS at a time. Follow us as we explore our current home, South Carolina, and beyond. The world is our backyard. Archives
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