The first plants to appear in recently glaciated areas are lichens and mosses, with a few hardy plants such as dwarf fireweed and yellow dryas. Harding Icefield: Seward to Homer Katmai NP Traverse Haines to Juneau Traverse Chugach Traverse Aniak to Dillingham Fairweather, Yakutat to Haines IRS Volcanoes Traverse Kuskulana Glacier, Mt. [32], The park can be reached from Seward, 130 mi (210 km) south of Anchorage at the southern terminus of the Seward Highway. The park is named for the numerous fjords carved by glaciers moving down the mountains from the ice field. The remainder of the park is accessible by boat,[3] airplane,[4] and hiking. [35], Kenai Fjords is extensively glaciated, with 51% of the park covered by ice. KEFJ -the Harding Icefield and the Grewingk-Yalik Glacier Complex, and three primary areas of glaciation in KATM - the Mt. Image of kenai, cold, serene - 161391253 The wildlife is equally as impressive here, featuring beautiful falcons and black bears. [57], Birds that nest in this park include bald eagle,[58] the Peale's subspecies of peregrine falcon,[59] black-billed magpie,[60] and Steller's jay. [11], Early studies of possible new Park Service units in Alaska took place in the 1930s and 1940s. Aerial photographs show that the nunataks in the Harding Icefield have increased in area by an average of 30 percent since 1950. Martin area. Only problem is I’ll be tempted to leave it patched [rather than do a permanent repair.]”. We weren’t able to cover much ground with the kits, but were able drop the packs and play. [28] Seward is a destination for cruise ships. Eyal. The terrain remained interesting throughout the route. It was late and we really wanted to get this segment of the route finished, but there was no obvious way to reach the summer trail. [21] The first park improvements focused on improving access to Exit Glacier. Although the proposal had support in Congress and from the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, it was overcome by difficulties with native land claims. Thanks for the update. This altered the original intent of the park to include subsistence claims, previously unrecognized. In 1964 George B. Hartzog Jr., director of the National Park Service, initiated a new study entitled Operation Great Land, advocating the development and promotion of the existing Alaska parks. We were blessed — such days are not common in this area. Willows and alders are followed by black cottonwoods, then Sitka spruce. During the Pleistocene Epoch, 23,000 years ago,the Harding Icefield was a small piece of the vast ice sheet that covered much of south-central Alaska.The Harding Icefield is a remnant of the last ice age. Even so, I have friends that stayed roped up the entire time. Higher alpine regions support a dwarf shrub community less than 1 foot (30 cm) high, at a very slow rate of growth. The park is bordered on the west by Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and on the south by Kachemak Bay State Park. This is a raw, ragged land that has not yet recovered from the great Pleistocene ice sheets that flowed over … The Outlet Glacier ­ Alaska ​­  ​Exit Glacier is a glacier derived from the Harding Icefield in the Kenai Mountains of Alaska and one of Kenai Fjords National Park's major attractions. The info here was both motivating for the trip, and the GPS track was very useful, especially in the whiteouts Just completed the traverse (group of 4). Watching them troubleshoot, I concluded that their tranquility must partly be due to their experience managing equipment on fishing boats. This is an important part of the process that A third site showed occupancy from 1850 to 1890. But Sarah and I looked more like Josh in his clothes, and Mike just looked like Mike. [23] The park was initially administered by a small cadre of permanent and seasonal rangers and technicians who put considerable emphasis on community liaison. Caroline and Pat flew to town so that Caroline could prepare for a book promotion event that evening. A unique aspect of this route is that you do most of the climbing in the first four hours, and then mostly cruise on flats. Josh ended up threading a bolt into the drilled hole, with a plastic casing on the bolt that worked as a temporary gasket. It shouldn’t be, the volcano has been slumbering for as long as anyone can remember. Icefield coverage has declined, with a 3% reduction in coverage over a 16-year study period. ( Log Out /  Kenai Fjords National Park is an American national park established in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. Harding Icefield is the star of this natural attraction, which features a number of tidewater glaciers (such as the half-mile-wide Exit Glacier), calming fjords, and small icebergs. The floors of the fjords can be from 600 to 1,000 feet (180 to 300 m) below the present sea level. Sarah and I spent the night in Homer, eating well and visiting friends. The AMS glacier travel courses are a good way to learn as well. It is located in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in the southwest of the Harding Icefield between the Chernof and Truuli glaciers.. Josh Mumm started later in the day and caught up as we were setting up camp. In 1971 the Seward National Recreation Area was proposed for the area between the head of Resurrection Bay and Turnagain Arm, extending east to Whittier and west to Exit Glacier. Goode, Marcus Baker Tsina Glacier, Valdez We planned to exit on the Grewingk Glacier, which would provide an easy summer trail to access Kachemak Bay and a boat ride to Homer. The pilot thought the peas were a strange request, and bought organic because, “you seemed like that kind of people” (probably not meant as a compliment). They are often found in the colder climates and higher altitudes of the world where there is sufficient precipitation for them to form. We arrived at the toe of the glacier to find several hundred meters of bedrock slabs between us and the trail. There are two primary glacierized areas in KEFJ (the Harding Icefield and the Grewingk-Yalik Glacier Complex) and three primary glacierized areas in KATM (the Mt. Most glaciers in these parks terminate on land, though a few terminate in lakes. Sounds like this has happened several times at Seward trail heads. [35] The motion of the North Pacific Plate has accreted a variety of terranes against the shoreline, so that the coastal region is a mixture of rocks that originated elsewhere, together with local igneous rock. The crack-free route was obvious, and bordered by cool cracks and a medial moraine. Bonus: Most boat tours include a stop at a calving glacier. [67] Clean-up was difficult, as the oil became a tarry emulsion that could not be skimmed, and had to be dredged. [64], The plant communities at Kenai Fjords are shaped by glacial retreat. (I’ve presented some explanation of this reward vs. challenge space, audio file here). [33][34], The park's landscape has been shaped by plate tectonics, with the Pacific Plate subducting beneath the North American Plate. Josh and Mike went to a gas station to fill jugs, and when Josh poured gas in the tank it ran right through to the ground. I felt kind of like I felt after switching from telemark to AT bindings, like, why the hell didn’t I do this years ago. Length: 8-mile loop. Sanford, Twice Portage Triple Crown Iliamna Volcano Knik: Mt. The Harding Icefield has never been high on my wish list, mostly because I think it gets a lot of traffic and I’d rather explore more remote areas. Josh reported from home the next day, “Dry as a bone. In time, about 20 miles (32 km) of coastline was oiled, amounting to about 4% of the total coastline. Josh’s truck started up, then died. Photo about View of Exit Glacier, Harding Icefiel Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska, United States. The Harding Ice Field, occupying nearly 700 square miles and as much as a mile thick, crowns the mountains of the Kenai Fjords in south-central Alaska. The tree line at Kenai Fjords is between 750 and 1,000 feet (230 and 300 m) above sea level. UW Mailbox 359570. Most glaciers in these parks terminate on land, though a few terminate in lakes. ( Log Out /  In this case, focussing on the kite, I trusted my skis to do the right thing on their own. Some of these are on native corporation lands, with a portion of the use fee going to the native community. The park covers an area of 669,984 acres on the Kenai Peninsula in south-central Alaska, near the town of Seward. - hiking: maintained trails are in the Exit Glacier area and the Harding Icefield Trail - ranger programs: Exit Glacier-1.5 hours of walking around the glacier, Pavilion talks-talks about Exit Glacier usually 20 minutes long, Harding Icefield Trail-7 to 8 hour hike, hikes to Marmot Meadows-hike in … Douglas area. 11 Underrated and Unique Vacation Ideas in the U.S. 4 Holistic Healing Therapies That Will Heal Your Soul What Is an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Is It Right for Me? Blackburn Haines Loop Alsek Traverse: Haines - Gl. Here is calorieking‘s nutritional comparison of 2 pounts of peas (left) and cheese (right): We started our trip in Seward, walking and skiing 7 miles of gated road, a few miles on the summer trail, and then weaving through crevasses on the Exit Glacier. Exit Glacier is a popular destination at the end of the park's only road. Work resumed the next year and continued in 1991. Hike the Harding Icefield Trail, a spectacular route alongside Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park Discover the charms and shops of Homer, one of Alaska's most beautiful seaside towns Witness jaw-dropping views of Cook Inlet, the volcanoes of the Alaska Range, Grewingk Glacier and Homer Spit Seattle, WA 98195 . [25] Most of the lands claimed were on the coastline. We could not. From here, the view expands out to the horizon, broken only by a craggy peak sticking out above the snow and ice. (minimum 2 passengers) 30 minute tour: $175 per person 1 hour tour: $275 per person Eventually we ran out of snow and worked our way left to hike down the ice. On March the 24th 2018 took a little local flight. It is believed that coastal subsidence and rising water levels have inundated many sites, as the shoreline was the place richest in resources for early peoples. Beth cooked fresh gingerbread cookies. Sarah and I were joined by Caroline and Pat, who had set the week aside months in advance, thanks to Caroline’s mom watching their two kids. Harding Icefield Trail. Known for: An active, and yet slumbering volcano. The survey also found evidence that an earthquake dating to about 1170 AD lowered the shoreline by at least 1.8 metres (5.9 ft), potentially inundating earlier sites. Spring exits on the Grewingk are only going to get harder. If you visit in person in the future, you can trek from Exit Glacier to Harding Icefield and watch for some incredible wildlife like bald eagles and whales. Joe Stock has a nicely documented discussion of this at https://www.stockalpine.com/posts/crevasse-rescue-haul-system. Fax: (206) 543-3932. Thanks for this post! Katmai area and the Mt. The alpine regions support shrubby grown to alders, devil's club, elderberry, lady fern, cow parsnip and other plants. Harding Icefield Trail, Kenai Fjords National Park. It was a warm, sunny July day when my wife and I hiked the Harding Icefield trail. The park contains the Harding Icefield, one of the largest ice fields in the United States. I loved carving turns on the flat valley floor, using the kite to get air off of little bumps, and learning how to control the kite. A network of trails from the Nature Center provide access to the glacier, and the 7.4-mile (11.9 km) Harding Icefield Trail. Wildlife thrives in icy waters and lush forests around this vast expanse of ice. The park covers an area of 669,984 acres (1,046.9 sq mi; 2,711.3 km2)[1] on the Kenai Peninsula in south-central Alaska, near the town of Seward. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! ... Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a spectacular forty square mile, 100 to 700 foot deep ash flow deposited by Novarupta Volcano in 1912. [41], Kenai Fjords National Park is dominated by a glaciated landscape. The gas tank had been drilled from below while parked at the trailhead. The route was excellent, and it was a huge relief not to have to add a 20-mile day. [19] No visitor facilities or full-time local management structure resulted from the monument's proclamation. Photo about Halim park Jeju island South Korea Jejudo the main road view on the stairs from the volcano caves. They carried tools into the Yukon Territory and built a canoe to float out. The brain or body can kind of zone out, everything just happens subconsciously. Katmai area, and the Mt. The park's headquarters is in Seward. The first study, entitled Alaska - Its Resources and Development was centered on the development of tourism, despite a dissent from co-author Bob Marshall, who advocated strict preservation. Forested portions of the park are dominated by conifers, with deciduous forests confined to areas recently vacated by glaciers. [17], Legislation stalled in Congress during the Watergate scandal, and was not pursued again until the Carter administration. ( Log Out /  Various companies offer tours, many guided by National Park Rangers. The first oil arrived on April 10. [68], Archeological sites were also affected by the oil. Katmai and Lake Clark Looking to do this in April. At the edge of the Kenai Peninsula lies a land where the ice age lingers. The park protects the icefield, a narrow fringe of forested land between the mountains and the sea, and the deeply indented coastline. [8], At the time of the park's establishment, there were few permanent inhabitants. Mount Rainier, Washington’s own active volcano. . Wildlife in the park consists of various seabirds (including puffins), bald eagles, peregrine falcons, harbor seals, sea lions, sea otters, whales, porpoises, moose, black bears, brown bears, wolverines, coyotes, mountain goats, and more. My favorite Caroline and Pat story is from their trip to Mount Fairweather. The second time I had a bruised ankle but I made it all the way to the trail end. Another proposal placed the Aialik Peninsula under US Fish and Wildlife Service jurisdiction. There are 32 breathtaking glaciers that emerge from the Harding Ice Field. [16] The same day the National Park Service formed an Alaska Task Force to study proposed park lands. The fjords are glacial valleys that have been submerged below sea level by a combination of rising sea levels and land subsidence. 30,295 acres (47.3 sq mi; 122.6 km2) were repurchased by the Park Service in the 1990s, retaining subsistence rights on about 9,000 acres (14.1 sq mi; 36.4 km2). Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. A single ranger was assigned to Seward as a local liaison. [61] Marine birds include tufted and horned puffin,[62] common and thick-billed murre,[63] and marbled murrelets. Kenai Fjords National Park was established in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). New lands exposed in former glacier beds are at first stony, lacking in soil.