I'm planning a trip to Alaska early July and wanted to do glacier hiking and a bit of river fishing (snag fishing). Any suggestions on what city to visit?
Seward has Exit Glacier and Harding Icefield. Does the Kenai area have any Glaciers that can be hiked on? I think both cities have plenty of fishing options so I'm not too worried there. Also, is Homer worth the drive? It's a shame that Seward, Homer and Kenai are all in opposite directions!
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
SanDiego1K
Jun 3, 09, 1:07 pm
Also, is Homer worth the drive?
I just returned from Homer/Seward last weekend. Homer is beautiful, at the foot of the Kenai peninsula. We drove to the Homer Spit about 3pm in the afternoon, the perfect time for the sun to be highlighting the mountains beyond the spit. Breathtaking. We aren't fishermen and didn't find a lot to see and do other than enjoy the magnificent natural beauty.
It's a shame that Seward, Homer and Kenai are all in opposite directions!
I don't know what you mean. You drive past Kenai on to Homer. And it's quite easy to combine Seward and Homer on the same trip. You take the same road from Anchorage irrespective of which town is your destination. There is a split about an hour from Seward where you either head out there, or head onwards to Homer/Kenai.
I'll look to others for fishing advice, but we were told that combat fishing starts on the Kenai in mid June. It is going to be crazy there!
fti
Jun 3, 09, 2:32 pm
SanDiego1K, we just missed each other in Homer by a week. I was there May 21-24.
I have done the Harding Icefield hike (well most of it until a time constraint with a Kenai Fjords tour made me turn back a bit short of the end). But you are not on the glacier for this, though you have excellent vantage points of the glacier and the icefield from this hike.
Exit Glacier Guides has highly rated glacier hikes on Exit Glacier. Even the park rangers there regard them highly.
How are you getting to Seward and Homer? If driving, you can also take the Byron Glacier trail hike near Portage Glacier (30-45 minute south of Anchorage). And you can hike on that glacier for free though of course be careful as with any glacier - they can be dangerous.
If you go to Seward, you can also take the Kenai Fjords National Park boat tour which is excellent. If you do this, be sure to get one that is at least 6 hours long. I am taking the 9 hour tour in a couple of weeks. Anything less than 6 hours and you don't get out of the bay. This tour is great for wildlife sightings and for seeing a glacier calve. But you don't get off the boat. If there are two of you, it would be worth it to purchase a Toursaver or Northern Lights discount coupon book for 2-for-1 coupon for this tour.
Matanuska Glacier north of Anchorage is another glacier that has guided hikes. Mica Guides is a company that operates hikes on this glacier.
From Homer, to get on a glacier you need to take a water taxi to the Kachemak Bay State Park and do a fair amount of hiking to get even close to a glacier. Seward is much more accessible for glaciers.
I have been to both Homer and Seward more than once. If I were going for my first (or only) time, I would recommend Seward. So much to do there. I didn't even scratch the surface with the above comments (dogsledding on a glacier is possible from here, the Sealife Center, kayaking and more). Homer is nice for a visit, but it is definitely not a day trip. One night minimum, two is better. The wildlife cruises are a highlight, the state park is great for hiking, and Seldovia is a neat area for hiking and for a look into a very small town (shuttle across the bay).
Sorry, I don't fish so I can't answer that question either.
John
araknis
Jul 7, 09, 8:39 pm
Just wanted to provide an update. I ended up doing the Exit Glacier hike in Seward. I went with the Exit Glacier Guide tour and it was awesome! They provided a camelback with water, cramp ons, and a small bag of trail mix. The cost is fairly expensive at $125, but there aren't too many other options if you want to actually hike the glacier.
For fishing, I decided on Kenai and chartered a boat on the river. My entire party of 4 all ended up catching something which made this fishing trip a very memorable one. I got the largest catch in my group - a 46lb King!
opus2002
Apr 4, 11, 1:48 pm
fti,
We still have to decide who is going, and exactly where. But, I know I want to hike on a glacier - not just see it. If we do only one glacier hike, which one would you recommended? Also, in Seward/Girdwood area, would you do Exit Glacier or the Alyeska Glacier hike?
Last year, my wife and I did the hike at Exit Glacier (Kenai Fjords National Park) withOUT going on the glacier, just for free on the side (with views of the glacier, of course).
We had a GREAT time and it's probably one of my favourite hikes I've ever been on - a truly great time. The scenery and climate zones we passed were amazing - we went on 27 or 28 June last year and a few miles up we passed through easily a few feet of snow and couldn't see anything at the top, but at the bottom it was probably 50some degrees outside and foggy.
Definitely go, and next time I go, I'll probably go with a group and get crampons to go on the glacier itself - we saw people doing this from above and it looked absolutely ridiculous (and dangerous)!!!
Have fun - enjoy Alaska!
-jeremy
fti
Apr 5, 11, 9:28 pm
fti,
We still have to decide who is going, and exactly where. But, I know I want to hike on a glacier - not just see it. If we do only one glacier hike, which one would you recommended? Also, in Seward/Girdwood area, would you do Exit Glacier or the Alyeska Glacier hike?
I assume Jeremy was on the Harding Icefield Trail when he hiked, though he didn't say that.
I have heard great things about Nova and am not real familiar with Ascending Path, though they have been recommended on Trip Advisor. I would probably go with the one that best fits your schedule. I did notice that the Nova hike is 3 hours on the glacier, 4 hours total. Ascending Path is 3 hours total. My preference would be for more time on the ice. I took a glacier trek on Root Glacier (Wrangell/St. Elias NP). Our half day hike was about 4-5 hours and I wish we had signed up for the full day. Even 4-5 hours on the ice went VERY fast!
opus2002
Jul 19, 11, 8:39 am
If anyone knows of a discount code or coupon for Nova or Mica glacier hiking, please let me know. I got the Northern Lights discount book, but it wasn't there.
kmfdm91
Jul 20, 11, 11:04 am
I assume Jeremy was on the Harding Icefield Trail when he hiked, though he didn't say that.
I have heard great things about Nova and am not real familiar with Ascending Path, though they have been recommended on Trip Advisor. I would probably go with the one that best fits your schedule. I did notice that the Nova hike is 3 hours on the glacier, 4 hours total. Ascending Path is 3 hours total. My preference would be for more time on the ice. I took a glacier trek on Root Glacier (Wrangell/St. Elias NP). Our half day hike was about 4-5 hours and I wish we had signed up for the full day. Even 4-5 hours on the ice went VERY fast!
Sorry for the delay - yes, I was on the Harding Icefield Trail last year and again this year... a great hike, all for free, of course.
I'd love to hike the actual glacier, the blue hues are amazing and to be on top would be a great experience - next time, I suppose!
Enjoy your trip there, it'll be a blast :)
-jeremy
fti
Jul 21, 11, 7:51 am
I'd love to hike the actual glacier, the blue hues are amazing and to be on top would be a great experience - next time, I suppose!
One glacier hike that is on my To Do List is hiking on the Mendenhall Glacier with Above and Beyond. They try to also get you into ice caves, which would be really neat.
Getting on Exit Glacier with Exit Glacier Guides gets good reviews too.
At this point, neither one will happen this year. But I did win the Denali Road Lottery for September, so that is on my radar this year.