Glacier Creek and Up to Crow Pass

Ryan came into town for a week, and I was a bit surprised he was ready to head back outside for a float, hike,and camp trip, but I ran with it! He got a new alpacka raft, it looks like an inflatable kayak, its pretty sweet.

Glacier Creek was Cranking

 

Glacier creek was significantly higher than the last time I was there, but it almost made it easier because there weren't as many rocks to avoid. Ryan definitely was in love with his new boat after the first corner. Having a spray deck is pretty nice, he's been roughing it in the old alpacka!

The Put In

 

The float was fast, we were out within the hour. Ryan biked back up to the car while I dried gear in the sun. We still had a good amount of daylight so we headed up to Crow Pass for the night.

 

Glacier Creek with the Girls

Caitlin, Krista and I all had the morning free and decided to go float Glacier creek in Girdwood. It was running higher than when Ryan and I were there last week.

 

 

 

 

Glacier Creek

Ryan and I headed down to Glacier creek in Girdwood for some quick and easy packrafting. A beautiful 1 mile trail took us to the hand tram.

 

I love how right off the bat its go time on this fast little creek. I think this is my favorite type of float, low volume and splashy.

 

Ryan's boat got swamped and he couldn't avoid hitting the corner which dumped him out of his boat. He got out in an eddy and I caught his boat and pulled into an eddy on the opposite side of the river. Sometimes I debate bringing a throw rope because its not something you can use in the boat, but it can be effective in getting someone else stuck on the opposite shore without their boat a more secure way back across the river.

 

With that excitement behind us we cruised down the rest of the river, such a pretty place to spend a few hours.

 

Glacier Creek Exploration

Bill and I bailed from Valdez and were soon back under the clear cold skies of the Matanuska valley. I got to stay up at their yurt, which is always fun, AND Betsy made me the most beautiful hat with a pink flower on top. She is so crafty.

The next morning we had a leisure breakfast and headed out on the snow machine to Glacier Creek. There were lots of options for climbing, but we decided to instead do a little exploring up a steep couloir for a closer look at a potential smear.

Bill Starting Up

 

It was pretty comical when we finally arrived at the base of the smear. Its not often that you get deceived into thinking something is bigger than it looks, the ice at the base of the "pillar" was about 6 inches around. It was hilarious. Maybe some year it will come in a little better.

 

We enjoyed the view from on top of a skinny little ridge and then headed back down.

 

 

After hiking up a couple thousand feet, I felt pretty fat and old again. We considered our options, and decided that we were satisfied with the day.

Glacier Creek, Girdwood

I was so thankful that Caitlyn was motivated and energetic about getting out on an otherwise blahish grey day...plus I was so tired from not sleeping enough and doing the weird transition out of night shift. I am the most non night owl out there.

Glacier creek starts off fast and splashy, I got a face full of cold glacier water and was all of a sudden in a totally more awake state of consciousness.

Caitlyn at the Beginning of Glacier Creek

 

Its impossible for me to take pics and float simultaneously. I tried but most of them had a huge water droplet over the boater...oh well. Fabulous evening out, glacier creek is made for packrafts!

Me at the End

 

T.2:D.3.5

Glacier Creek

Caitlyn and I are both pretty amateur packrafters and we both had a blast on Glacier Creek, it was super fast water, with lots of cool bends, and nice eddies to paddle over and dump the boats. I wish it went on for another 10 miles!

Caitlyn Scoping the River

 

Me in my Suit

 

Caitlyn Dumping Water out the Boat