Booking the spencer glacier snowmobile tour has become the coolest thing I've done in Alaska lately, and We don't say that lightly. If you've ever spent amount of time in the 49th state throughout the winter, you understand there's no lack of snowy routines, but there is usually something fundamentally various about throttled-up energy on an icy lake. It's among those experiences where the particular photos—no matter just how high the resolution—just don't do the particular scale of the surroundings justice.
When you very first go out toward the Spencer Glacier area, which is tucked away in the Chugach National Forest, you realize quickly that you're leaving the "normal" world behind. Most people only see this particular place in the summer from the home window of an Ak Railroad car, but winter turns this into a totally different playground. It's quiet, it's vast, and once you get that engine revving, it's an absolute blast.
Getting Ready for that Trip
Before you actually hit the snowfall, there's the whole procedure of getting prepared. If you've in no way been on a snowmobile—or a "sled" because the locals call them—you might feel a bit like the marshmallow once you have all your layers upon. Most outfits running a spencer glacier snowmobile tour will give you the heavy-duty things. I'm talking about the bibs, the particular massive boots, plus the helmets that make you feel as an astronaut.
Don't skip the extra layers, although. Set up sun is definitely out, the wind chill when you're moving at 30 or 40 kilometers per hour across a frozen valley is no joke. I usually go with a solid bottom layer of made of woll, a fleece, after which the pro-grade gear on top. You'll be glad you did when you're standing out on the ice getting photos of a 100-foot-tall blue ice wall structure.
The briefing is usually quite quick but super important. They'll show you how to make use of the throttle, how to brake, and many importantly, how to lean. Snowmobiles aren't like cars; a person have to occurs body weight in order to help them turn. It feels a little weird at initial, like a clunky dance, but after regarding fifteen minutes on the trail, it starts to feel as if second nature.
The Journey Through Placer Valley
The ride to be able to the glacier isn't just a right shot; it's the journey through the particular Placer Valley. This area is spectacular. You're riding by means of wide-open river apartments, winding through stands of snow-covered trees, and crossing bridges that seem like they will belong on a Christmas card.
One of the things I love about the spencer glacier snowmobile tour is the variety of the surfaces. You aren't simply stuck on a toned road. You get to feel the machine work as you dip via small gullies plus navigate around icy bushes. The instructions are usually excellent about pacing. These people won't leave a person in the dirt if you're a beginner, but they will also won't poke along if everyone within the group is definitely comfortable opening upward the throttle the little bit.
Keep an eye out for wildlife, too. It's not really uncommon to see moose tracks everywhere, and sometimes you'll spot one going out close to the willows. They aren't particularly bothered by the devices in case you keep your distance, but seeing a thousand-pound animal in its organic winter habitat is always a "pinch-me" second.
Arriving from Spencer Lake
As soon as you split out onto Spencer Lake is whenever the real "wow" factor hits. During the summer, this lake is full of silty glacial water and suspended bergs. In the winter, it's the solid, frozen highway leading straight in order to the face area of the particular glacier.
There's something surreal about riding your own snowmobile up in order to a massive iceberg that's frozen mid-drift in the lake. This stuff are huge—some as big as a house—and they have got this intense, electric powered blue color that will doesn't look actual. It looks such as someone dropped giant blue crystals directly into a field associated with white.
On a spencer glacier snowmobile tour , you usually obtain some time to store the sleds here and just walk around. Walking on the frozen lake following to a glacier is a silent experience. You can hear the ice "singing" sometimes—little pings and pops because the temperature modifications or the glacier shifts. It's a little eerie, but extremely cool.
Getting out of bed Close to the particular Blue Ice
The highlight, certainly, is getting as close to the particular glacier face because safety allows. Spencer Glacier is massive. It's a literal river of snow flowing down through the mountains, and when you're standing at the base of it, you feel incredibly little.
The particular blue color We mentioned earlier? It's brought on by the way the ice will be compressed. Over centuries, the weight associated with the snow pushes all the atmosphere bubbles out associated with the ice. Whenever light hits this, the ice absorbs every colour of the spectrum except blue, which is what reflects back in order to our eyes. Viewing it in individual, especially on a day time when the lighting is just right, is something a person won't forget.
Most trips will give you plenty associated with time to get photos. Pro tip: keep the phone or camera battery near to your body. The particular Alaskan cold feeds on battery life for breakfast. I usually maintain mine in a good inside pocket of my jacket along with a hand warmer. You don't want to get to the glacier face only in order to find out your own phone died five minutes ago.
Is It Difficult for Beginners?
I get requested this a great deal by friends which are visiting. "Can I really handle a spencer glacier snowmobile tour if I've never ridden one? " The solution is a big, fat yes. These tours are created for people of most skill levels. The current machines are actually pretty easy to handle. They have heated grips (which are usually a godsend) and stable tracks which make it hard to tip unless you're carrying out something really outrageous.
The instructions are there to help you out there. In case you get stuck within a soft spot of snow—which occurs to the very best associated with us—they'll perhaps you have back again on the "road" in no time. They know the surfaces like the back again of their hands, in order long since you remain in their tracks, you're golden. It's more about having a sense of adventure than getting technical riding skills.
What to Carry
Aside from the equipment the tour provides, there are a few things you should throw within a small backpack.
- Sunglasses/Goggles: Even if it's cloudy, the brilliance from the snow can be intense. Many helmets have visors, but having your personal sunglasses for whenever you stop is an excellent move.
- A Neck Gaiter: It is a game-changer. It keeps the wind through whistling down your own jacket and maintains your face cozy.
- Snack foods: Using a snowmobile in fact burns a reasonable amount of calories from fat because you're making use of your muscles to stabilize. A granola bar or some chocolate goes a long way.
- A Sense of Wonder: Sounds cheesy, I know, but you're in one associated with the most remote, beautiful places on earth. Take the second to convert off the motor and just pay attention to the quiet.
Why This Tour Stands Out
There are plenty of places to go snowmobiling in Alaska, but the spencer glacier snowmobile tour is exclusive because of the particular access. You can't just drive a car to Spencer Glacier. In the particular winter, snowmobiles are the primary way to see this specific ice. It feels exclusive, like you've been let in on a secret that most visitors never get in order to see.
The particular combination of the particular Placer Valley paths, the frozen lake, as well as the sheer height of the glacier creates a variety of scenery that you don't get on a standard mountain trail trip. It's a little bit of everything: acceleration, technical riding, taking in the sights, and a bit of a history lesson if a person have a talkative guide.
Wrapping Up the Day
By the time you return toward the trailhead, you'll probably end up being a little tired, a little cold, plus 100% exhilarated. There's a specific type of "tired" that comes from per day in the Alaskan backcountry—it's the best type. You'll likely discover yourself looking back over your make at the mountains, already wondering when you are able come back plus do it again.
If you're planning a trip to the Anchorage or Girdwood region during the winter time, don't just remain in the ski holiday resort or stick in order to the paved roads. Get out there. The spencer glacier snowmobile tour any of those rare adventures that in fact lives up to the hype. It's rugged, it's beautiful, and it's a whole lot of fun. Simply remember to dress warm, maintain your eye open, and don't be afraid to squeeze that accelerator a little bit. The blue snow is waiting.