Choo! Choo! All aboard the Alaska Glacier Discovery Train. Tim and I took the most amazing train adventure today. With Jett feeling better we felt good about leaving her alone at the Airstream.
Our adventure began by driving back towards Girdwood to the Portage train stop. And that’s all it is … where the train stops. There is an outdoor adventure company in a building in the parking lot but no platform. All passengers literally have to walk along beside the track in the gravel to portable steps that the conductor puts in place, after the train stops, in order to board the train.
From here the Alaska Glacier Discovery Train took us deeper into the Chugach National Forest. It is the 2nd largest National forest in the U.S. Why was it established you asked? For the salmon. Of course it’s for the salmon! To protect the salmon.
Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop is a short ride down the rail and it was our getting off point to hike to the glacier viewing area. The train (or helicopter) is the only way to get to this glacier and there’s no platform here either.
This train stop serves as the trailhead for the 1.3-mile (one way) well-maintained path to the Spencer Glacier overlook and viewing area on the edge of Spencer Lake. Passengers can explore on their own, participate in a guided walk with a Forest Service Ranger or take advantage of a variety of guided excursions offered at Spencer Glacier before catching the train back to civilization.
The guided excursions include kayaking in Spencer Glacier Lake. Rafting through the lake and then down the Placer River. Tent camping. Renting the Spencer Bench Cabin that’s a 2.4 mile hike from the train stop out to the rugged cabin.
Tim and I hiked out with the with the Forest Service Ranger and a group of other travelers. While we hiked and others rafted, the train continued on out to Grandview.
The trail out was beautiful! We stopped at a new foot bridge made of white cedar. The Placer River Trail Bridge is a 280-foot camelback truss bridge believed to be the longest clear-span glulam timber truss bridge in North America. Built high enough to clear potential collisions with icebergs.
The first glimpse of Spencer Glacier was nearly breathtaking. We really appreciated and enjoyed walking with Kyle the Forest Service Ranger. Her passion for this amazing place was infectious. Loved hearing her story.
We took so many pictures. Walked out past the viewing area to the lakes edge. Kyle grabbed a chunk of iceberg for us! It was so super slick and smooth like nothing you have ever touched because of the lack of air in the frozen water.
The icebergs floating in the lake were just a beautiful as the majestic glacier itself. Those deep blue glacier colors are amazing to see. Ranger Kyle told us the history of this glacier and how glaciers are always moving and changing. Interesting and sad that between 1890 to 1990 this glacier was receding at a rate of 71 feet per year. Now between the years of 1990 to present day that number is well over 100 feet per year.
The surrounding landscape of the lush green mountains and the breathtaking views of Spencer Glacier were the perfect setting for our packed lunch. I barely noticed what I was eating as we absorbed our surroundings. Of course the time spent here was not enough. We had to hurry back to catch the train on its return back to Portage. We had to hustle the 1.3 miles back! What a fun experience to have had this opportunity. Now we have to come back for a rafting adventure!
We could tell Jett was feeling even better on our return today. It probably did her some good to have an afternoon of quiet time. Back to her old self she was. Whining to get her way. Sticking her head in a bag of groceries to shop. Sneaking napkins away at dinner to shred them. Disheveling half the bed to get it comfortable for her. Stopping during her evening walk to go the opposite direction in which we needed to go. Glad to see the old Jett is back!
Sunset: 11:18 pm
Sunrise: 4:46 am
Wildlife viewings:
Nothing. 🥲
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