Today, I went on a Helicopter ride to the Mendenhall Glacier, where the helicopter landed, and l got out to look around the glacier.
About Juneau, Alaska.
The City and Borough of Juneau, more commonly known simply as Juneau, is the capital city of Alaska, located in the Gastineau Channel and the Alaskan panhandle. Downtown Juneau is nestled at Mount Juneau's base and across the channel from Douglas Island. Juneau experiences a daily influx of 6,000 people or more from visiting cruise ships between May and September. The city is named after a gold prospector from Quebec, Joe Juneau, although it was once called Rockwell and then Harrisburg, after Juneau's co-prospector, Richard Harris.
Juneau is unique among the 49 U.S. capitals on mainland North America in that no roads connect the city to the rest of the state or North America. Honolulu, Hawaii, is the only state capital that is not connected by road to the rest of North America. A road network is absent due to the city's extremely rugged terrain. In turn, Juneau is a de facto island city in terms of transportation; all goods coming in and out must be transported by plane or boat despite the city's location on the Alaskan mainland.
My helicopter flight to the Mendenhall glacier.
This was the highlight of my cruise onboard the NCL Spirit, and I am so glad that I paid the money to do it. It was not cheap, but it is something I will never forget. When I left the ship, I, along with other people, were picked up and driven to a small local airport. We gathered in a hangar and were given a safety briefing about the flight and our walk on the glacier.
After the briefing, we were kitted out in waterproof trousers and jackets. I put these on over my clothes, which already included thermal longjohns and a T-shirt. We were then given big hiking boots to wear. I wish I had known we would be provided with these before I paid for a pair to bring with me. I put these on along with a bag to hang around my waist, which contained water and a chocolate bar. We were then split into two groups of five and led to the helipads to board the helicopters.
The four other people in my helicopter were shown into the back of the aircraft before I was helped into the front seat. This was easier said than done. There was very little room to get in, and although I managed to get up and put my body into the seat, I couldn't get my foot through the door. The huge boots I had on kept jamming between the seat and the door, and I had to have help twisting my knee and feet to get my feet into the helicopter. Once I was in, I had plenty of room, but the door didn't open fully, and it was a tight squeeze to get in.
As soon as I was seated, I began videoing the flight. We were quickly in the air, and the journey to the Mendenhall Glacier was beautiful. I felt like I was in a movie. It just didn't seem real. The snowy mountains and the virgin untouched landscape below us were breathtaking. The pilot spoke to me and told me to look out at the dots below us as we banked to the left. He informed me that the dots were other people, and that was where we were landing.
After landing, we were all helped out of the helicopter. It was easier getting out than it was getting in. We walked a short distance before stopping when we were on the Mendenhall Glacier. We were given another safety briefing and some information about the glacier. We were then fitted with huge crampons that fitted over our already huge boots. Next, we were given a pointed walking stick to help us walk over the glacier and pack ice. We were met by a group of guides who would walk us around the glacier for our short visit.
I was already breathless. The altitude and thinner air were a bit too much for me. One of the guides saw me lagging behind quite quickly as we walked to our first stop. He told me to take my time and not to worry about catching up because he would stay with me all the time. He was brilliant and gave me lots of information that I'm sure the others in the group were being told by their guide. I was amazed that the ice was so blue. There was a layer of frozen snow on top of it, but the ice was a beautiful blue. I was told that it is the refraction of the light travelling through the ice that makes it appear to be blue.
We stopped at a rock formation and were told more information about the glacier movements and how the rocks travelled to get where they were. After a short break for photos, we headed towards a stream flowing through the snow-packed ice. My guide knelt on the ice and put his head in the stream. He told us all that it was invigorating, and as much as I wanted to try it, I knew I would never be able to get down on my knees wearing all the safety clothing I had on, and if I did, I wouldn't get back up. I had already drunk my water, and my guide took my empty can from me and filled it up in the stream. He told us that it is the cleanest water anywhere in the world. I believed him and took a gulp. It tasted fantastic, and I quickly drank the can full of water and handed it back to him to refill it for me.
I was by now having trouble breathing and walking, which was very difficult in the boots with huge spiked crampons. I can only imagine what it must be like for a spaceman to walk on the moon; it would not be easy with all the gear they have to wear. I had decided that I couldn't walk any further and was going to tell the guide who had attached himself to me, but the other guide started to speak first. He told us that we were all going to head back down the glacier to the place where the helicopter landed, and we would be picked up again. As much as I loved being on the glacier, I was glad we were going back down; this was a trip that was too much for me, and I knew it.
When we got back to the helicopter landing spot, we returned the sticks we had and the crampons were taken back off of us. I was so exhilarated, breathless, and on such an adrenalin high that I can't remember how I got back in the helicopter. I videoed the entire trip back to Juneau. It was not as long as the outward journey, but the views were still outstanding, and we could see the cruise ship below us as we banked, headed back to the airport, and landed safely. I was helped out of the helicopter and led back to the hangar, where we all changed into our clothes again. It felt terrific to get off the heavy gear I had been wearing, and as it was not cold, I took off my thermal clothing as well.
I found a shirt I wanted in the gift shop and was waiting to pay for it. The lady and man in front of me at the till, an English couple from the cruise ship, were having trouble with their credit card being accepted. I offered to pay for their shopping and get the money back from them onboard the ship or in the next port where they could get cash. I did this, and we all climbed back aboard our minibus and headed back into Juneau. The couple I had bought shopping for got off the minibus in Juneau to find a bank to withdraw some cash, and I was taken back to the ship. My legs were now in a lot of pain, and once I got back onboard, I returned to my cabin and put some lightweight clothes and a pair of slippers on before heading down to a bar for a beer and something to eat.
After I had had a couple of beers and some food, I went back to my cabin to sleep before I went to see a show in the evening. I took a painkiller and lay down on my bed. That was the last thing I remember before waking up early the following day as we approached Skagway.
Video of my helicopter to the Mendenhall Glacier.