Do not touch

Cruise Travel, July-August, 2004 by Karen Farmer

In reference to the "Rivers Of Ice" article (Cruise Travel, June 2004), there are some points that need clarification. The best "spot" for viewing glaciers from a cruise ship is at the front open decks, not most side-viewing balconies. It is well worth heading out there at least some point during the glacier-day sailing. It is important for cruisers to be well attired for their viewing comfort, meaning layers, lined jacket, knit hat, and gloves. Binoculars are highly recommended.

You state, "The best part of a drive-up glacier is the ability for visitors to touch it. At the Mendenhall, walking paths lead from the forest-service visitors center directly to this 3,000-year-old river of ice." This is not true, and I question if the writer has even been there. There is no contact with the glacier available from any of the trails described on the forest-service web site: www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/trails.html. Sometimes rangers will place a chunk of ice on the fence outside the visitors center, however. On the other side of the lake, there is a trail that leads to the ice, West Glacier Trail, but few cruise passengers would be able to consider that as it requires all day with proper equipment. At Exit Glacier, rangers are posted to keep people away from the glacier at the shorter trail leading up to the upper view of the glacier it is dangerous and people have been killed. There is a more extensive and all-day trail to the Harding Icefield. For details log on to www.nps.gov/kefj/trip_planning/Exit Glacier.htm.

Karen Farmer, Syracuse, NY

The author, who has been to Alaska 11 times and made five forays to the Mendenhall Glacier, responds:

As our story says, "Those lucky enough to have a private balcony will find it perfect for glacier viewing." This is because the captain will turn the ship to parallel the glacier--first one side faces the ice then the other The article's opening photo shows the Regal Princess positioned in this way.

Touching a drive-up glacier is, admittedly, something the park and forest services advise against due to the instability at the face. However, as the picture on page 23 shows, hikers at Exit Glacier can safely and easily get close to the ice. I, myself have twice taken the short loop trail that skirts the lateral edge of the glacier The Mendenhall Glacier, on the other hand, is farther from the trail; however, recently calved icebergs are often grounded on the beach of Mendenhall Lake, just beyond the visitors center