Tyler and Emily in PNG

I realized once again that I live among giants. These giants are extremely cold, well rather melting as I type, and blue in the face. There are over 10 different types of these giants. In south central Alaska, every degree you turn you can spot one of these cracking, popping, and sometimes thundering glaciers.

This past week can be summarized as a glaciate week frozen in time. Monday afternoon a friend Emily and I met while working in Papua New Guinea visited us during her tour of the USA. She is from Australia so Emily and I had plenty of ice adventures awaiting.

Tuesday, we cruised the must see tour of the Kenai Fjords National Park. The 6 hour cruise took us on a wildlife and glacier viewing cruise. We saw puffins, humpback whales, sea otters, sea lions, bald eagles, harbor seals, and many other species of birds I cannot recall. However the highlight was pulling along side Aialik Glacier. This is a tidewater glacier which regularly calves and displays its mighty gentle energy. As we enjoyed our prime rib and silver salmon buffet, we were entertained by nature and the moving glacier.

Also along the tour we saw Bear Glacier the park’s largest glacier at over 15 miles long. All of these glaciers call the Harding Icefield home. The Harding Icefield is the largest icefield in the USA and one of four remaining icefields in the USA. The icefield is 400 sq miles and spawns over 40 glaciers of all kinds. This past week we had the experience to visit three well known glaciers: Bear, Aialik, and Exit Glacier here in Seward, AK.

Later in the week, we planned a hike to view Grewingk Glacier in Kachemak Bay outside Homer, Alaska. We boarded a water taxi in Homer and they dropped us from 20 minutes later at the trailhead in Kachemak Bay State Park. This is a very well known and well traveled hike. I have never done this particular hike but I knew I had to explore the glacier creek hand tram. There is a 2 person tram car that enables you to cross the glacier creek.

Emily and Missy pulled themselves across the cold glacier filled creek for an enjoyable once in a lifetime experience. Have you ever cross a glacier creek in a tram car?

After the tram car, we continued our hike to see Grewingk Glacier. We ate a power bar and hiked on to our lunch date with the glacier. 3 miles later we were standing at the glacier lake feeling the cold glacier wind coming off the face of Grewingk. We enjoyed our lunch guest and snapped many pictures of the giant.

Alaska is truly a special space. I am humbled to be able to call this place home and feel so unworthy of what God have given us to ponder with amazement.

Watch the video of the hike on my blog or at Vimeo here.