castner glacier ice cave
Search stock photos by tags. Between late January and February, 2020, I visited the caves three times to explore, take photos, and ice skate. It may take a day or two for your picture to be reviewed. The air inside the cave was noticeably warmer and wetter–so much so that I could comfortably take my gloves off. The cave shown was photographed just 4 months ago! For more about me and winterbear.com, click here. I grew up in Alaska and currently live in Anchorage. It’s about a mile to the toe of the glacier. The entire hike doesn’t gain much in elevation either making this an easy and casual hiking adventure. The ice on the floor of the squeeze was rotten in places, and shattered into chunks like broken safety glass. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Strange Light Shines On The Floor Of A Cave Beneath The Ice Of Castner Glacier In The Alaska Range; Alaska, United States Of America [ + ] [ - ] ID: 659084; Steven Miley / Design Pics Lizenzbedingungen Lizenz; Aufkauf; $349 5700 x 3800 Pixel, 300 dpi $249 1200 x 800 Pixel, 72 dpi. Matanuska Glacier Ice Cave Tours Departures: All day (Call 907-745-2534 to schedule.) If it’s a nice day on the weekend, there’s a good chance you’ll see other people and a packed trail to the cave. A 1/2 mile hike leads you to the Castner Glacier. It soon became clear we were on a layer of ice suspended over the rocky bank of a subterrainean streambed. Summer Walks. This cave is an example of a Röthlisberger channel or R-channel. Check Availability. 99% Upvoted. For a while, at least. Castner Glacier Ice Cave Exploring Distance: 5 miles Elevation gain: 500 feet Trail type: Hiking Considerations: Includes travel over hills and uneven rocky terrain. Trek Challenge: Prove that you have been to the Castner Glacier Caves! Copyright © 2020 The Trek Planner. 7 reviews. This cave is an example of a Röthlisberger channel or R-channel. Backcountry ice skating inside of Castner Glacier. Stopped by the ice cave off of Castner Glacier south of Delta Jct. Past the squeeze there we found another room, with a floor of wavy ice and open water from the creek. People seemed to especailly enjoy the thought of ice skating inside a glacier. written about the dangers of Alaska glaciers elsewhere, “Massive Ice Formations Crystalize in Incredible Photographs by Paxson Woelber”, “L’artista che fotografa massicce formazioni di ghiaccio cristallizzato”. Even though the outside temperature was near the 50 degrees, at the back of the cave it was closer to 30 degrees. Entering the Castner Glacier ice caves. Castner Glacier is also one of the more easily accessible glaciers in the area so it makes sense why many people would be visiting this one more. I often come back from the outdoors with so many photos of other people it almost looks like I don’t go on my own trips. Castner Glacier Caves – Richardson Highway, Alaska, Questions or comments? I brought some yaktrax and they worked fine as there was already a pretty worn trail in the snow. Participants can stop after the first ice cave for a shorter, easy hike. Castner glacier is rapidly receding and as it melts has created many stunning and several exceptional ice caves. In winter, there's a bit more meandering. It was a short run, but at speed it was even more surreal. Castner Glacier Ice Cave 08/24/14. [email protected]. Castner glacier is rapidly receding and as it melts has created many stunning and several exceptional ice caves. The glacier is located on Bureau of Land Management land. Posts in Colossal and Wired Italy. Before the bridge over Castner Creek, look for a small, unimproved road on the left. Our own world needed a lot of attention. 2 adults. But I felt fairly comfortable here now. Many people from all around the world come to Alaska to see this natural phenom enon. I'd love to hear from you! Castner Glacier Adventure High today: 63 Low today: 35 My goal of this day was to get Aviva and Jud to a glacier, special request by Jud. The glacier was named by Edwin Forbes Glenn in 1898 after Joseph Compton Castner. We were staying in Fairbanks so we weren't near the many Glacier options that there are in southern Alaska. Jeff, do you know if snowshoes or skis are a must this time of year? Since this is a pet friendly hike, many people brought their dogs and the dogs seemed to be having as much fun as the humans were. Difficulty is basically the length, duration and stress of the Trek. Part of Castner Glacier in the Eastern Alaska Range, the expansive chamber is replete with glimmering crystals that jut down from the ceiling in some areas and coat the walls in others. If there is lots of bouldering or if there is bushwhacking involved then the rating will be higher. The caves often reach far back and are sculpted in inconceivable ways. Castner Glacier is about 140 miles from Fairbanks, around a 2 1/2 hour drive. abundance alaska castner glacier east asia group of objects hanging ice ice cave in a row koxinga koxinga ancestral shrine ornate outdoors red tainan taiwan taiwanese culture temple wood material show all hide all. Discover (and save!) Castner Glacier Ice Cave 08/24/14. If verified, you will receive a badge on your user page and you will rank up. But if you want, bring some of those metal yaktrax things to add a little more traction to your shoes. Back at home, I went through all of my photos and posted them on Facebook. ADVERTISEMENT. The left side looks like a sand bar but it is actually ice that is sprinkled with sediment that has fallen from the walls and ceiling as it has melted over time. The caves were so cool! The ice cave actually sits in what appears to be one of the terminal moraines of the glacier. Most often ice caves are formed by water running through or under the glacier, creating new caves every year. After posting a few videos from my first trip to Instagram, Kerry Tasker reached out to ask about the cave. The mountains along the Richardson Highway south of Delta are awe inspiring, and a bit daunting when it comes to outdoor recreation. Jeremy’s video captures the experience better than I could with words: Before leaving, I pulled out my phone and skated a few quick laps in and out of the caves. Castner Glacier ice cave in the Alaska Range; Alaska, United States of America. The biggest risk in here during the winter would probably be an earthquake. Occasionally a loud crack or boom would echo through the cave, an audible reminder that even if it was moving in slow motion, this was a dynamic place. Whether you dream of visiting an Alaskan glacier one day or live here and haven’t been to this one, I’ll tell you all about it! The cave in Castner Glacier is melting. It felt like I was piloting a spaceship through the inside of an asteroid. Going inside any cave has inherent risks involved that parents need to take into account, Trailhead: 63°24’8.88″N, 145°44’3.65″W A woman in Juneau, Alaska, captured the epitome of winter beauty as she ventured through an ice cave at Mendenhall Glacier on Tuesday, February 2. My several trips to Castner Glacier over the last 15 months provide interesting evidence into this impossible to answer question. Hike Castner Glacier, Paxson. Bring the kids, dogs, neighbors and visit this amazing place! You will see the massive glacier in the distance and it just looks like piles of dirt and rocks. The entire hike doesn’t gain much in elevation either making this an easy and casual hiking adventure. It's located at milepost 217.3 on the Richardson Highway, Castner Glacier caves, Castner Creek, Alaska Pipeline, Yes and no. Bring a flashlight if you want to venture in towards the back. Brits put Dry January on ice as alcohol sales boom in first week of latest lockdown . Plus, you’ll want them if you go inside the cave. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of it earlier, but it meant one thing: round three. All the ice is of course, below this and the cave is hidden from view. save. Thanks for watching! We're the Harlow's. Here, in the interior, we just ended the fourth longest cold snap in history where we had 35 days straight of temperature below … Verify my picture” on the left hand side bar. About. Into the Glacier Ice Cave Tour from Reykjavik. Route Description: Castner Glacier is the simplest glacier to reach coming from Fairbanks, and for the past several years it’s been the easiest place to find an ice cave as well. The car started fine despite the cold, and we continued up the Richardson Highway toward Chena Hot Springs. The photo above displays some of the enormous ice crystals and hoarfrost observed on the ceiling of a glacier cave in the Castner Glacier in March of 2020. Date . Thanks for watching! I also shared the the skating videos. hide. The cave was awesome! Mountains along the trail to Castner Glacier. It’s best to stay off the ice unless you know what you’re doing. **Castner Glacier ice cave update/warning** Please share with anyone you know planning a trip to Castner Glacier. Archived. It is a popular destination for hikers, and is known for its large ice caves. None of those seem to fit quite right. This must have been the source of the moisture in the air. Would love your thoughts, please comment. The glacier begins on the peak White Princess and continues to the head of Castner Creek, northwest of Paxson, Alaska. The ice cave at the front of the glacier may not be accessible in the first half of summer 2021 due to the high water level inside the cave and rockfall danger. When I first visited Castner Glacier in April 2014 a monstrous, multi-chambered ice cave shook me to my core. As you stand there in the chill of the cave and stare into the crystal-clear ice, it is impossible to grasp it all! The large chunks of ice which ‘calved’ from the glaciers front have melted, and the ice cave is very reduced. All photos (24) Select Date and Travelers. At Castner Creek we pulled off the highway into the small lot and bundled up. Posted by 8 months ago. If the Trek is really long then it will receive a higher rating. Granted, it was a Saturday, but this glacier is literally in the middle of nowhere! The cave shown was photographed just 4 months ago! Photos: Daniel Volland. The large ice chunks in front of the ice cave have completely melted in the 08/24 photo. When we woke up there was a dusting of snow on the tent and the air was crisp. The glacier is located on BLM land (Bureau of Land Management). (get it?…OK, that was dumb). You will be shuttled about 2 hours south from Eielson to Castner Creek where we will then hike the relatively easy 1 mile hike along Castner Creek. Watch for thin ice at Castner ice cave Apr 13, 2018 Updated Apr 13, 2018 Michael Warlick and his Elizabeth Warlick pose in crampons while sitting in … On February 4, Jeremy Martin, Dana Kerr and I piled into my still-messy car at 7am and we blasted back up the now-familiar highway. Let’s take a look! There is plenty of room for vehicles in several pullouts and the actual trailhead is on the east side of the highway marked by a highly visible path. Cold Morning. The active front edge of the glacier is another few miles upstream. The walls, ceiling and floor of the cave were all ice. The cave opening is fairly large and you will quickly notice the amazing blues and greens in the ice. Hi! There are some great day trips from Fairbanks, and the Sunday before last (April 7th) my family and I ventured out to one that’s been very popular over the past few weeks; Castner Glacier, an accessible ice cave that can be experienced without a guide. Beyond the big room the ceiling dipped abruptly. Book your Alaska Ice Cave tour with us today. This unimproved road is located at mile 217.3 on the north side of Castner Creek. Sort by. Download this stock image: Castner Glacier ice cave in the Alaska Range; Alaska, United States of America - HTBKEK from Alamy's library of millions of high … Visit Website. I hiked this in the winter so I couldn’t comment on summer hiking conditions but hiking on top of the hard ice from the creek made things so much easier! The active front edge of the glacier is another few miles upstream. Visiting Castner Glacier Ice Cave was a great experience for our family this winter. I’m not the best at judging distance underground but if I had to guess, I would say that the caves went in about 500+ feet. As you stand there in the chill of the cave and stare into the crystal-clear ice, it is impossible to grasp it all! As we pushed farther into the cave the ice formations became bigger and bigger, until we found ourselves walking through a upside-down forest of hanging crystals over a foot long. Photos inside Castner Glacier. https://winterbear.com/trip-reports/castner-glacier-ice-caves Photographed just 4 months before the photograph before. Any tips appreciated! An acquaintance informed me that this year may be the last time to see the cave before it is too late. There is a small turnout near the Castner Creek Bridge where you can park, and from there the … Hope you have a great time, Leah! Join me! From Delta, drive about 50 miles south along the Richardson. two years ago there were a couple of grizzly bears reported hanging around the cave in early winter. Even in the winter this hike was somewhat crowded. It’s better to order a tour with an experienced guide (usually offered from July till September). The ice crystals hanging down from the ceiling were pretty phenomenal. The Castner Glacier is losing ice mass rapidly, literally collapsing in on itself, and much of the central glacier has become a deep trench with water flowing between icy, muddy banks. All Rights Reserved. But without adequate light, I was reluctant to push farther. It also has lost a lot of its beautiful blue, translucent sheen. The floor of the cave was a flat frozen creek, and the roof was a scalloped turquoise arch decorated with rococo chandeliers of frost crystals. Now it's just a giant arch. 2/10/2020 0 Comments It's February in Alaska, and we've learned that can mean some pretty unpredictable weather conditions. We had a beautiful hike in, then it started raining. The glacier is located on Bureau of Land Management land. These are channels formed at the base of the glacier by flowing subglacial water, melting a semi-circular tube through the ice. All you do is follow Castner Creek for about 1.1 miles until you come to the glacier caves at the front of Castner Glacier. The hike to Castner Glacier is easy and straightforward. The ice cave is a little over a mile from the road; in summer it's a fairly straight shot up the floodplain along a trail/old road. Castner Glacier Trail. Photographed just 4 months before the photograph before. For a lot of this visit, I held various types of lighting while Kerry photographed. your own Pins on Pinterest This trail is not maintained and not marked. Castner Glacier terminates on land, not water, and moves so slowly that there are bushes growing on its surface. checking out the ice cave on the Castner glacier! In the middle of an extreme cold snap across much of Alaska, Daniel Volland and I left Anchorage on January 25, 2020, for a roadtrip to Chena Hot Springs outside of Fairbanks. Then go out on the Trek, complete the Trek Challenge, take a selfie or photo of yourself, then come back to this post and upload your photo. I leave for Fairbanks on 2/24./2020 and hope to get out to see the caves. The large chunks of ice which ‘calved’ from the glaciers front have melted, and the ice cave is very reduced. Close. The caves are a blast! Road tripping. It also has lost a lot of its beautiful blue, translucent sheen. The entire valley is beautiful and full of sharp and crazy looking mountains. What a change in 4 months! We had never even heard of this glacier until this winter, after living here for over five years! Hiking on top of the glacier is not recommended by the BLM becuase you never know where weak ice is and you could easily fall into a crevasse. The Castner Glacier is an easily accessible glacier toe in the Delta Mountains of the Alaska Range. I set up my tripod and took a few shots before moving back toward the mouth of the cave. Technicality is how strenuous the Trek is. There is plenty of room for vehicles in several pullouts and the actual trailhead is on the east side of the highway marked by a highly visible path. There were no visible signs of activity or glacial movement. Protection from the wind allowed the delicate crystals to grow to enormous sizes. It’s more than a two hour drive from Fairbanks and the largest nearby city is Delta Junction with about a 1,000 residents. Shot with a Nikon D850 on a tripod and LED lights. Remnants of an ice cave on the Castner Glacier. Frost formations inside of Castner Glacier. I would love to come back and spend a few days hiking around and even hike farther up the glacier valley to the small Thayer Hut. Dana and I took a few photos and then headed back through the squeeze. Just as we were packing up, it struck me that the entire floor of the cave was smooth, bare ice. The Author About Lisa. Popularized by the guidebook Outside in the Interior and many recent social media posts of the ice caves, the route to the Castner Glacier has become a well-traveled trail in winter. Elevation gain: very little. Thanks for sharing! We put crampons on and explored an ice cave in an opening at the toe. Ice caves are a natural phenomenon that forms in glaciers during the winter months. It’s hard to know exactly. The floor is basically divided in half, on the right is the frozen creek and the left is still a large part of the glacier. I’ve added my parents for reference size Extreme melting and degradation of the ice cave have occurred! The ice is slippery but it wasn’t so slippery that I was falling over every five seconds. The trailhead is located right off the side of the Richardson Highway at about mile post 217. Technicality also includes if there are steep inclines or the need for ropes and other equipment. The glacier begins on the peak White Princess and continues to the head of Castner Creek, northwest of Paxson, Alaska.
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