4-wheeling for Mother's Day - May 9, 2009

What a Mother's Day trip!  This is the Knik Glacier, which you can see from our house in the winter (when there are no leaves on our trees).  You can see it from our highways and roads year round.  It took us about 6 hours for the whole trip.  Our friend, Jimmy has been making this trip for many years.  He said that this was only the second time that he has actually been to the ice at the terminus of the glacier.  Normally there is too much water to get this close.  (see the video below of how fast the water is running).  As you might guess, the water is COLD.  It has icicles floating in it.  It was another gorgeous day, and the scenery was once again breathtaking.

Approaching the terminus of the Knik Glacier on four-wheelers.

AT THE TERMINUS OF THE GLACIER

This is where we had lunch.

The water didn't look deep, but it was!

Looking back down on the glacier after lunch.

This group is now sitting where we had lunch.

TRAFFIC JAM on the way to the glacier.

GLACIER MELT

Note how fast this water runs.  It is only from the melting glacier.  It is full of glacial silt, giving it a very gray opaque appearance.  Without the silt in the water, it would be crystal clear.   But there is so much silt, that you cannot see through the water to judge how deep the water actually is.  It was running fast enough to knock a person off their feet.



I've posted these videos so you can come Fourwheeling with us!

THROUGH THE WATER

THROUGH THE MUD

OVER THE HILL

RUNS ACROSS THE FLATS