August 3rd, 2012: Exit Glacier, Kenai Fiords National Park

It was a short drive to Exit Glacier, only about eight miles from Seward. We planned on hiking to the toe of the glacier, walking on the outwash plain, and hopefully seeing some birds. So Renita packed a lunch and we drove along the Resurrection River, noticing that it was higher then normal due to the warm weather and the melting ice.
Soon we passed a marker that stood on a moraine in 1891, several miles from the present toe or snout of the glacier(global warming has been occurring way before the industrial revolution, here anyway). As we drove further, more signs showed that the glacier has been retreating since 1815. Then it was advancing as the world turned colder due to the massive eruption of the volcano, Tambora. As we started to hike the trail I had to have my picture taken next to the sign for the glaciers location in 1951,(my birth year).

Of course I was overdressed for a hike up hill and soon shed a layer. Renita made the observation that it would get colder once we got next to the ice so I didn't stow my coat, just tied it around my waist. The trail was full of people and we didn't see any birds as many of the groups were filled with chacalacas, people who like to here themselves talk.
We passed through the scrub forest and onto the scoured rock and I pointed out the striations caused by rock embedded in glacial ice. These rocks carved scratches in the stone that indicated glacial movement direction and can be seen in most any ancient glacial valleys,(I have a similar image of my daughter pointing to striations in rock on a hike to Lost Twin Lakes in the Bighorns).

Reaching the toe of the glacier we stopped for lunch and pictures and Renita remarked that the glacial ice had the same color as a rock called laramir,(its often sold as glacial ice due to its color, even though its only found on one island in the Caribbean). She was so right, of course!

Groups came and went as we sat and ate our lunch, and we enjoyed the occasional solitude. Next time we return here I would love to hike the longer trail, away from the mass of people. Returning down to the outwash plain,(named for all the rock that has washed out of the glacier), we stopped as we noticed a bird hopping and feeding along the ground. It hopped in and out of the forest litter and we identified it as a hermit thrush, a new bird for us, but really a pretty common bird everywhere.

We met a group that had waded through the water and brought back a piece of glacial ice. They said the water was so cold that it felt like ice needles sticking in ones feet and so we didn't wade up to the snout.

It was a pleasant days hike with glacial ice, wildflowers, and birds, and we haven't done enough of them this trip as it seems we are to busy sightseeing and driving, and of course fishing now that we are on the Kenai Peninsula. If you are ever here in Seward, be sure to visit the Exit Glacier, we certainly enjoyed it. Clear skies