Our signature tour. This five-hour excursion is the perfect experience for outdoor enthusiasts who really want to dig in and explore what Alaska has to offer.
We at Exit Glacier Guides believe that the more effort you put into a hike, the more you get out of it. Consequently, our hike takes people up an hour-long incline, through an alpine valley, down a 45º rock scree, and onto the surface of Exit Glacier itself. While you don't have to be a track star or a sherpa to complete the trip, it does take a little effort and a willingness to get tired and a smidge dirty in order to reach the glacier. What's the payoff for all of this work? Just look at the pictures to the right.
Exit Glacier Guides offers visitors to Seward, Ak a chance to see an unique natural wonder close-up - and since it takes a little work to get there - our groups see it without a crowd. We are the only tour operator in the area doing a comparable trip, and we humbly assert that this is a darn good one. Also, due to the constantly changing nature of the glacier, no two trips of ours are ever the same.
We start on a well-maintained national park trail and proceed 1.6 miles up into the mountains. This portion of the trip takes about an hour to an hour and a half. During the hike, our knowledgeable guides identify many of the native plants and flowers and also use the landscape's unique features to explain basic glaciology. Quite frequently we see black bears, moose, and marmots along the way.
When we reach the ice, we don crampons, ice axes, and helmets. This gear lets us safely navigate the icy, undulating terrain of Exit Glacier. It also lets us confidently approach the crevasses, waterfalls, moulins, and ice-caves that we encounter while exploring.
We're proud of this trip. If you love the outdoors and want to have a truly memorable experience in Alaska, come on the glacier with us. We're confident that you'll be proud of our trip too.
COST: $125 per person. Maximum tour size is 12 people. Call us to arrange larger groups.
TRIP TIME: 9:30 or 11:30 departure every day, June- mid September. Reservations are recommended. Call for time and details.
WHAT WE PROVIDE: Ice-axe, crampons, helmet, a camelback hiking pack for water and accessories, and lots of interesting facts and details - maybe a little humor too... probably bad humor.
WHAT YOU NEED: Sunscreen, sunglasses, gloves, sturdy shoes (hiking boots are encouraged, but not required), a light jacket (the glacier can get very drafty, even in June) and a strong desire for adventure.
