Summer Ice Climbing is a BLAST!!

We have been teaching ice climbing for over 15 years.
Ice trips to Byron or Raven Glaciers meet at 8:30am at our Yurt at Alyeska Resort. Spencer Glacier Climbs meet at 10:30am.

Byron and Ravin Glacier Ice Climbs

All climbers are fitted with plastic mountaineering boots, crampons, harness, helmet and ice tools. After a short drive from our Yurt at the Hotel Alyeska, our small team of up to 4 climbers- hike about 2100' to the Raven Glacier or 1000' to the Byron. Another 200-500' of cramponing gets us to steep ice faces, above which your guide will set the anchor. You will then learn the ropes and practice your technique: "hips in, flick the wrist and trust your feet". The views on the hike and climb are fantastic!
Come prepared with lunch, your raingear and camera. Expect a very memorable day!

$250 Per person

Spencer Glacier Ice Climbing- By Railroad!

The Spencer Glacier is located just South of Portage Valley and the Turnagain Arm in the Kenai Mountains and the Chugach National Forest. It is entirely off the road system, so we ride a train from Anchorage, Girdwood or Portage with breathtaking views of glaciers and towering alpine peaks.

Guests meet their guide at our Alyeska Yurt in Girdwood at 10:30am, or if boarding (at 10am) in Anchorage, your Glacier Guide will find you on the train at the Girdwood stop. On the train, guests will fill out waivers and get geared up. The Glacier Discovery stops in Portage, goes thru the tunnel to Whittier and then BACK to Portage. We arrive at the Spencer Whistle stop at 1:45pm.

For the return trip, we catch the Coastal Classic Train at 8:15pm, which takes us straight back to Girdwood or Anchorage.

From the Spencer Whistle Stop, our small group of 4 or less hop on a van for a short ride to the lake edge trailhead. Our hike to the Ice includes outstanding views of the glacier and Icebergs floating in the Spencer terminal lake. The total distance from the edge of the lake to the glacier is just over 2 miles of flat Forest Service maintained trails. The last 1/2 mile is rugged moraine walking. The 3 hours of hiking includes many photo & rest stops to learn about interesting local wildlife, history and glaciology. At the Glaciers' edge we gear up with helmets and crampons. After more safety lessons and crampon practice, groups travel out onto the glacier ice and to the Ice walls. Climbers will have about 3 hours to take turns top-roping amazing blue Ice walls and exploring other features (blue ice, crevasses, ice caves, moulins, etc) with your skilled and experienced guide.

Climbers visiting Spencer Glacier with us come away with great photographs, better respect and knowledge about glaciers, mountain weather and the history of Alaska climbing.... and an awesome Alaskan wilderness experience!

$399 Per person, Including Rail