Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter Tour & Trek: An Unforgettable Juneau, Alaska Adventure
If you’re planning a trip to Juneau, Alaska, soon, then a Mendenhall Glacier helicopter tour is an absolute must-do. But don’t just fly over it; make sure you book the tour that actually lands on the glacier! This allows you to disembark, don special gear, and embark on an incredible trek across the ancient ice. While the aerial views are undeniably breathtaking, the experience of walking on the Mendenhall Glacier is a rare privilege, offering unparalleled bragging rights and memories that will last a lifetime. This extraordinary adventure truly sets itself apart from any other excursion you might consider in Alaska. This post and trip were sponsored by Princess Cruises, and all opinions are 100% my own, reflecting a truly authentic experience.
Alaska Cruise Excursions: A Journey Through The Last Frontier
Last May, I had the incredible opportunity to embark on an Alaskan cruise with some of my closest friends, courtesy of Princess Cruise Lines. It was an adventure unlike any other, creating cherished memories and proving to be one of the most exhilarating times of my life. I wholeheartedly recommend it and would eagerly do it again! Just a few weeks prior to this incredible glacier experience, I shared details about my thrilling Whale Watching Excursion at Icy Strait Point in Hoonah, Alaska, which served as our first port of call. Each stop on an Alaskan cruise offers a unique gateway to the region’s diverse wonders, from marine wildlife to towering glaciers.
Juneau, Alaska: Gateway to Glacier Adventures
Our second port stop brought us to Juneau, Alaska’s capital city, a bustling hub considerably larger and more developed than Hoonah. I had heard much about Juneau’s vibrant downtown, with its abundance of unique shopping opportunities, charming local eateries, and proximity to stunning natural attractions. The promise of exploring this dynamic city filled me with excitement as we prepared to disembark and embrace another day of Alaskan adventure.
However, as enthusiastic as I was, I must confess a slight tremor of nervousness. This would be my first time in a helicopter, and I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect or how I would react to the sensation of flying in such a nimble machine. Would it be turbulent? Would I get dizzy? My worries, however, proved completely unfounded! The helicopter ride was incredibly smooth, offering an experience so unique and exhilarating that it surpassed all my expectations. It was a flight unlike anything I had ever encountered, showcasing Alaska’s rugged beauty from an unparalleled vantage point.
Preparing for Your Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter Tour & Trek
While the tour company for the Mendenhall Glacier helicopter excursion is incredibly comprehensive, providing nearly everything essential for your glacier trek, there are a few personal items you might want to bring along to enhance your experience and comfort. Being prepared ensures you can fully immerse yourself in the adventure.
- Portable Mobile Charger: You’ll be absolutely delighted to have this with you! The stunning landscapes, incredible glacier formations, and the sheer thrill of the helicopter ride will have you constantly snapping photos and recording videos. This drains phone batteries quickly, and you wouldn’t want to miss capturing a single moment.
- Chapstick/Lip Balm: The air on the glacier can be surprisingly dry and, at times, quite windy. Even on a sunny day, your lips can become chapped. Being prepared with a good lip balm will ensure your comfort throughout the trek.
- Polarized Sunglasses: These are invaluable! Not only will they significantly reduce the intense glare from the pristine snow and ice, protecting your eyes, but they will also allow you to see the intricate details and breathtaking blue hues of the glacier more clearly. This truly enhances the visual spectacle.
- Camera (or your Smartphone): This goes without saying! You’ll want to capture every angle of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. While your phone works great, a dedicated camera might offer better zoom and image quality for distant shots.
Upon your arrival at the heliport, you’ll first spend some time preparing for the glacier trek. The tour operators are meticulous about ensuring your safety and comfort. They provide all the essential outer gear, including waterproof jackets and pants, and most importantly, sturdy boots specifically designed for glacier trekking. Each participant is also equipped with a practical fanny pack containing water and an energy snack, ensuring you stay hydrated and energized during your exploration of the ice. The process is smooth and efficient, designed to get you ready for your adventure with ease.
Helicopter Safety: Your First Step to Adventure
Before you even step near the helicopter, the highly trained staff conducts a thorough and engaging safety briefing. This isn’t just a formality; it’s an essential part of the experience, ensuring everyone understands the protocols for safely approaching and exiting the aircraft, as well as identifying safe zones around the helicopter while it’s running. This detailed guidance instills confidence and peace of mind. Once you are comfortably seated inside the helicopter, you’ll be fitted with high-quality noise-canceling headphones. These are crucial not only for protecting your hearing from the rotor blades but also for facilitating clear and easy communication with your pilot and fellow passengers, allowing for insightful commentary during the flight.
The Thrilling Helicopter Ride: Views Beyond Imagination
The moment the helicopter lifts off, you’ll be immediately captivated. The views from the helicopter are nothing short of spectacular, offering an ever-changing panorama of Alaska’s rugged wilderness. You’ll soar above dense emerald forests, jagged mountain peaks, and winding glacial rivers, all leading to the majestic, sprawling expanse of the Mendenhall Glacier itself. I’ve even put together a video for you below so you can get a better idea of the immersive experience from onboard. Our flight path to the glacier was intentionally longer than the return journey, as our skilled pilot expertly navigated around the towering mountains, ensuring we were treated to the most awe-inspiring vistas and photo opportunities possible. It’s a truly immersive sensory experience, with the gentle hum of the rotor blades providing a rhythmic backdrop to the visual feast below.
Gearing Up for the Glacier Trek: Essential Skills for Ice Exploration
The moment the pilot expertly lands the helicopter on the vast, icy expanse of the glacier, a new phase of your adventure begins. You’ll safely exit the aircraft and be greeted by your experienced glacier guides, who are not only experts in safety but also passionate educators about this incredible natural wonder. The first step on the ice involves receiving specialized equipment: an ice ax, a protective helmet, and crampons – essential spikes that attach to your boots for traction on the slippery surface. Your guides will then provide thorough instructions on how to properly use your ice ax for balance and support during the trek. You’ll learn fundamental techniques for walking safely and efficiently, including how to ascend and descend steep icy slopes with confidence, as well as how to traverse angled ground, ensuring a secure and enjoyable exploration of the glacier.
Trekking the Glacier: A World of Ice and Wonder
With your newfound skills and specialized gear, your group will embark on an unforgettable trek across the ever-changing landscape of the Mendenhall Glacier. Each step on the ice, with the satisfying crunch of your crampons, reveals a new facet of its incredible beauty. You’ll marvel at the amazing views, which often include deep blue crevasses, towering seracs (ice pinnacles), and striking ice formations that glisten under the Alaskan sun. Keep an eye out for tiny, crystal-clear waterways carving paths through the ice and larger, vivid turquoise pools that form during melt periods. Throughout the trek, your knowledgeable guides will enrich your experience with fascinating insights into glaciers – how these massive rivers of ice are formed over millennia, their dynamic movement, and their crucial environmental roles in shaping landscapes and influencing global climate. This guided exploration offers a profound connection to nature and a deeper understanding of our planet’s most powerful forces.
Drinking Pure Glacier Water: A Taste of the Wild
How many of your friends can genuinely say they’ve drunk pure glacier water? I’m not talking about the bottled kind you find in stores, but water collected directly from the pristine Mendenhall Glacier itself! Well, after this tour, you certainly will be able to make that claim, just like me! As part of your kit, you’ll find a full bottle of water in your fanny pack. The guides recommend taking a sip of the bottled water first, then emptying it out, and refilling your bottle with the incredibly fresh, pure glacial meltwater. The taste is remarkably clean, crisp, and refreshing – an unparalleled natural experience. It’s more than just hydration; it’s a tangible connection to the ancient ice and a unique sensory memory you’ll cherish.
The entire Mendenhall Glacier helicopter tour, including the flight and the trekking portion, typically lasts approximately 2.5 hours. As your incredible glacier adventure concludes, you’ll climb back aboard the helicopter, still buzzing with excitement and holding a camera full of awe-inspiring photos and a mind full of unforgettable memories. The return flight to Juneau offers one last chance to marvel at the Alaskan wilderness from above, reflecting on the profound beauty you’ve just experienced.
Eating and Shopping in Juneau, Alaska: Post-Adventure Delights
Upon our return from the exhilarating glacier tour, we were ready to immerse ourselves in the charming atmosphere of Juneau’s downtown. The city offers a delightful contrast to the rugged wilderness, boasting an array of inviting souvenir shops and an impressive selection of fantastic local eateries. It’s the perfect place to unwind, find unique Alaskan treasures, and savor some delicious food after an action-packed morning.
For lunch, we discovered the absolute gem that is Deckhand Dave’s Fish Tacos. This unassuming, yet incredibly popular, food truck boasts a charming covered outdoor eating area, perfect for enjoying the Alaskan air. The highlight? Their Rockfish tacos were nothing short of sensational – perfectly crisp on the outside, incredibly tender and flaky on the inside, and served with a tantalizingly spicy cilantro crema that added just the right kick. We expertly paired our tacos with a cold, refreshing Alaskan beer, and the combination was simply divine. It was the ideal meal to replenish our energy after our glacier adventure.
It turns out, the “Deckhand Dave” moniker isn’t just a clever name. Dave himself was indeed a deckhand on a fishing boat before he channeled his passion for fresh seafood into opening his now-famous taco stand. The tables at his establishment are actually adorned with embedded pictures from his personal onboard experiences, offering a unique glimpse into his maritime past. I cannot recommend stopping by Deckhand Dave’s enough – it’s a true local culinary highlight!
While we didn’t have the chance to dine there ourselves, we heard nothing but fantastic things about Tracy’s King Crab Shack, another iconic Juneau eatery renowned for its fresh, succulent Alaskan King Crab. In fact, Dave from Deckhand Dave’s shared that Tracy herself started her culinary journey in the very same humble spot as his food truck. He enthusiastically spoke of his plans to eventually move into a permanent restaurant space, much like Tracy’s, within the next year or so. Given the quality of his food and his entrepreneurial spirit, I have no doubt he will successfully achieve that goal!
We rounded out our unforgettable day in Juneau with some delightful souvenir shopping and a leisurely stroll through the charming streets, soaking in the local atmosphere. Although there was certainly more to explore, we were pleasantly tired from our incredible glacier adventure. It was a wonderful feeling to finally climb back aboard the luxurious Island Princess, head to The Wheelhouse Bar for a perfectly crafted Key Lime Pie Martini, and simply relax, reminiscing about the day’s extraordinary experiences.
Don’t forget to check out my third thrilling excursion from this Alaskan adventure, the Davidson Glacier Canoe Tour in Skagway, Alaska, for another unique perspective on Alaska’s glacial wonders.
In conclusion, if you’ve ever contemplated embarking on an Alaskan Cruise, I cannot recommend it highly enough. The Mendenhall Glacier helicopter tour and trek in Juneau is just one example of the incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that await you in this magnificent state. You truly won’t regret it; it’s a journey that will inspire and awe you at every turn.
