Hiking the Glaciers / Portage, Alaska

Prezwoodz

Went on a hike to do some Crevasse practice where I ended up shivering in mild hypothermia because I was left in the hole for to long because they couldn't get me out! Otherwise and incredible trip 12 hours total.

Dane hiking into portage valley, we were roped up in a four man team.



This is the face of Portage Glacier, we took the path up on the right.


Taking our first break for lunch after the hike in. Seeing what we are going to take a stab at!


Dane making his lunchly masterpiece



Here we are heading up the glacier. I am still learning with my camera and it was a way scary area for me so I didn't really spend time to adjust it. I think it came out alright.


Dane stands under a large ice tower on the glacier.


On the walk back over the lake i was tired and wanted a break so everyone agreed on a dinner break at about 10pm in the middle of a giant frozen lake!

ian408

Damn. You did well with the shots. Even for bright snow.

Does the Portage cleave big chunks often? The kind that leave you
wondering?

Prezwoodz

Thanks!


Yes enormous chunks that calve often during the summer. And we could hear and feel them cracking under our feet. You hear a loud WHOOMP noise and feel the glacier shift. Scary!

ian408

Prezwoodz wrote:

Thanks!


Yes enormous chunks that calve often during the summer. And we could hear and feel them cracking under our feet. You hear a loud WHOOMP noise and feel the glacier shift. Scary!

Never been anyplace other than in front when the calving happens. That's
pretty foogin' scary to be walking on it.

bigpix

A great experience that you have captured well........

Lex

An impressive trek for sure and a young man's very long day I'd say... Nice photos, back those up well.

Doug
www.fotogafer.com

bigpix wrote:

A great experience that you have captured well........

Marc Muench

Prez

I think it is so cool you are posting here! What a great day out in the mountains. I have been to that exact location in the summer, on a boat! I believe I will rethink the time of year I go next, as these images look wonderful. Photographically I like the "ice tower" shot the best.

PetersCreek

Nice shooting, Prez. I kick around Portage Valley every once in a while but I don't think my aging body could handle getting the shots you did. Sad but true. About all I do these days is the easy hike to bottom of Middle Glacier.

Prezwoodz

Thanks for the comments!


Mark, It is definatly a beautiful place to be. Inside the creavasse I was bummed I didn't bring my camera! We found out later that the route we chose was the most dangerous section of glacier and we chose the worst route possible. It was a good learning process!

Peters, Ah you still got some kick in ya. I think everyone has atleast one more Matanuska Peak Challenge left in their body.

dogwood

Cool shots-- it's always tough to shoot and climb and camp at the same time, and you did a good job balancing it all. I just hope these type of photos aren't the only way we remember glaciers in say another 50 years!

Elaine

Love these shots! My favorites are 3&4. You did an excellent job capturing these scenes while concentrating on your climbing skills as well!

I saw you mentioned Matanuska...I attended first grade at Glacier View School, which is set with an incredible view of the Matanuska Glacier. Ahh...the memories!

Elaine

Prezwoodz

Wow thats really cool Elaine. I drove by that school late last year and it was awesome! What a great place.

Thanks for the comments!

Elaine

In case you were curious...

Attending school there meant that we lived near there, of course...my dad was teaching at a boarding high school for Native Alaskans located down a little road at mile 95 on the Glenn Highway. Victory Bible Camp is still at that same location as well, nestled between two small lakes, and I've always thought that entire area along the Glenn to be God's country for sure...just awe inspiringly beautiful! I went back and worked at the camp for the summer when I was 16. Even though the boarding school is no longer in operation, there are buildings on the property that are still in use that my parents helped to build (a student center and a gym), so I love to go back and visit when we're up north. Thankfully, my brother and his wife live in Palmer and all of my husband's immediate family is in Anchorage, so we have good reason to go to Alaska, and free places to stay while we're there!

Anyway, I love to see pictures of Alaska, so keep posting!

Elaine

Prezwoodz

It looked like A wonderful place to live Elaine! Did you ever get out onto the Mat?

Heres a pic from my friend Dane of me in the icefall.

Elaine

I've been on the Matanuska Glacier just once...nothing as skilled and technical as what you're involved in...just a brief, cautious walk across a very small part of it. But even that was impressive, I thought!

The latest pic has great color and shapes!

Ann McRae

Hey Prez
Greeat shots!!

You (and coldclimb and....) should check out the contest mentioned here:
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=56987

One of the categories is climbing.
Your shots rock, so to speak!

ann

Prezwoodz

Thanks Ann for the heads up. I am printing it now so that I can enter some!

ian408

That last shot of your buddy Dane really gives the feeling of what it's
like in the ice fall. Very nice.