Not everyone embraces “springtime” in Alaska with a smile. I use quotations here because spring in Alaska is almost non-existent at times: many years, the ice and snow stick around well into May, and the flowers often don’t begin blooming until the start of summer. In the meantime, the mud and melting lakes and rivers—known as breakup—can make getting outdoors during this “shoulder season” a little difficult. Thankfully, South Central Alaska experienced a real winter this year, prolonging the ice and snow long enough to let us really enjoy those increased hours of daylight.
One of our coolest outings this spring was a cross country ski trip trip to Portage Glacier. According to a local ranger, the temperatures in the Anchorage area haven’t been cold enough in recent years to allow the lake to freeze to a sufficient depth to permit safe travel to the glacier, and I’m so grateful we got to experience it in case conditions make it difficult in years to come.
The trip out to the glacier was surprisingly quick and easy, especially in light of the epic views we were treated to. After parking at the Begich-Boggs Visitor Center, located only a little over an hour south of Anchorage, we threw on our skis and headed out across the lake. While a steady line of visitors made their way along the side of the lake, hugging the rocks jutting above its shoreline, we ventured into the middle of the vast lake so the dogs could run free and we could cut our own tracks in the fresh powder.
After only a mile or two, we turned a corner and saw a large group of people mulling around the base of the massive, teal-blue glacier.
thetraveledtrail 