While visiting my sister in Alaska in August/2013, we drove down to
Seward
for some fishing
and other misc. fun. The highlight of the trip was a hike
up to the Harding Ice Field. This starts just outside of town
at the Exit Glacier nature center. This is a very popular destination, but
most people just do the easy walk to the foot of the glacier (which is pretty cool by itself)
rather than climb the 3,000 vertical feet/4 miles to the Harding Ice Field that feeds dozens of glaciers from above. But the hike is well worth the effort and even with marginal weather, it is truly awesome to look out on America's largest ice field!
Panoramic of the Harding Icefield - click here to see in full-res ... plus iPhone panoramic
An early view of the ice as we start up the trail
This is actually the Exit glacier coming down from the Harding icefield
Some people were rappelling into the crevasses
Kyle, Dirk, Wendy, Stephanie (and Hannah & Sophia in the back) at about the halfway point
I jump into the picture - click to see in full-res
A fairly steep section through the brush (watch out for bears) goes uphill from there
Less vegetation as we get higher
The top of the Exit Glacier
A marmot hanging out - mouseover image to see him in action
We also saw Ptarmigan's nearby - this is the one of a couple of chicks
Here's the nearby Mom - mouseover image to see how well camouflaged they are!
Near the top of the trail is this cabin with ice on the surrounding peaks
Earlier, a hiker said they had seen a bear - mouseover image to see it walking in the snow
Here's 3X actual pixels from a Canon 7D and 200mm lens - this bear was over a mile away!
Stephanie, Hannah, Dirk, Sophia, Kyle, & Wendy at the top overlooking the Harding Ice Field
Funny picture from a few days earlier of the airport pickup as we all crammed into the Subaru
Once Kyle was in his "spot", we packed bags all around him - it was pretty cozy! ;-)
Same panoramic as seen at the top of the webpage - what a treat!
Photography Notes: Pictures taken with a
Canon 7D and 18-200 lens - needed
the "big dog" 500/F4 lens for that bear!
