Juneau Glacier Paddle and Hike Excursion S2200

Description

• Air-conditioned and licensed round-trip transportation from your Juneau cruise pier!
  
• English-speaking certified guides!
  
• Van transfer to Mendenhall Lake!
  
• Participation in an 8-person canoe!
  
• Two-hour guided at the Mendenhall Glacier!
  
• All equipment and gear required!
  
• Lake paddle near the face of Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls!
  
• Complimentary bottled water and healthy snacks!
  
• Escape the cruise ship shore excursion crowds and enjoy the unique sights of Juneau and the surrounding area!
  

Experience the magnificent Mendenhall Glacier and Lake from a series of unparalleled vantage points both on land and water during this small group exclusive multi-sport glacial adventure nbsp Please note that ... Read More

Experience the magnificent Mendenhall Glacier and Lake from a series of unparalleled vantage points, both on land and water, during this small group, exclusive multi-sport glacial adventure! Please note that the departure time is set according to when your ship arrives. The operator will assign a time that fits best.

A 30-minute transfer by van from your downtown Juneau cruise pier brings you to the Mendenhall Valley and the start of your memorable experience. On the shores of Mendenhall Lake, you will meet your guide to starting the first portion of your adventure - a guided lake canoe. Your guide will help you gear up, give you a safety briefing, and then introduce you to your 8-person (or 12-person) canoe. Each canoe will have 1 to 2 guides per canoe. After some paddling instruction and tips, you are ready for phase one of this multi-sport glacial experience.

Pushing off into the silt-rich lake, you will point your bow in the direction of the mighty Mendenhall Glacier. Your informative guide will give you more information on the awe-inspiring sea of ice that lies ahead of you.

You will paddle past glowing blue icebergs of all shapes and sizes that have broken off the glacier. The silt of the glacier can turn the lake into a mirror and you can often see the reflections of the grand peaks of the Coastal Mountain Range on the surface. Overhead, gulls and arctic terns fly in and out of their nests along the cliffs, and along the shorelines mountain goats, black bears, porcupines, river otters, or sometimes beavers may be spotted. While paddling along the face of the glacier at a safe distance, you will also see the Nugget waterfall cascading down through the forest into the lake.

Near the glacier's edge, you will reach your beach landing point. Once your guide helps you out of your canoe, your expert guide will explain the natural history of the area as told by the changing glacial landscape. You will explore the unique moon-like landscape of bedrock while hiking along the rocky moraine. You will get close-up views of the glacier and learn about how quickly this glacier is receding. Discover an ice age wilderness from the edge of the glacier, and look for stunning ice features along the way. Different features come and go throughout the summer as the glacier continues to change. No prior paddling or glacier experience is required, though everyone needs to be in fit condition and capable of paddling up to 5-6 miles and hiking about 45 minutes. 

Depending on the glacier's condition on the day of your excursion, your guide will choose the safest and most interesting areas to visit. They may include glacial runoff pools and streams and maybe even an ice cave (all dependent on weather conditions, the pace of the group, glacier conditions, etc). The total time including the hike to the glacier is approximately two hours.

After your day comes to an end you will return to your boats and paddle on the lake once more, taking time to experience this out-of-the-ordinary adventure. After paddling back to your put-in location on the shoreline, you will walk to your transportation, which will transfer you back to the Juneau cruise pier. There is a minimum of 4 needed.