Put simply, a 2.85 mile guided walk on the glacier, skirting millwells (holes in the ice large enough to hold buses), cutting paths to cross flowing water. Crampons were needed to grip the ice and warm clothing and headgear to keep off the cold. Wonderful experience.
The red track below showing the to and fro path on the glacier with the parkway marked in yellow. The glacier extended all the way to the parkway 25 years ago.
 |
For those not taking the Snow Coach or the guided walk, there is a small inclined area that is deemed safe to walk. Without crampons it is quite a challenge to move on the ice. |
 |
Peering into a cave at the edge of the glacier. |
 |
Sometimes, the guide had to cut the ice to make a path |
 |
Nearing the snow coaches with a millwell in the foreground. The snow coaches carry visitors to a safe level area in the middle of the glacier to have a bit of a walkabout. Buses carry them from the Visitor Center to the snow coaches which only operate on the ice. |
 |
Looking down a millwell. (The guide let us peer down the wells while holding on to our packs) |
 |
Carefully crossing the water... |
 |
At the farthest point we went on this walk, looking back towards the highway. A few people can be seen walking nearby and the snow coaches are tiny dots in the distance. |
Click here for the full album of Day 3.
Photos & Text : Malini Kaushik & R. Venkatesh