Update #1: Portage Glacier

Even though we've lived in Anchorage for seven years, we hadn't taken the short cruise on Portage Lake to see the Portage Glacier. Today we rectified that, and then swung through the Wildlife Conservation Center on the way back.

We're aware that the cold air coming off of the ice field, up in the mountains, and the glaciers themselves, quite often make the climate in Portage Valley different (i.e., cooler) than in Anchorage. Today was no exception: it was 70 degrees and sunny when we left town.
Along the Turnagain Arm, the winds began to pick up ... but that's not unusual, either.The BIG change was once we got close to Portage Valley.

A dark cloud hung over the Valley, and the winds were tossing the trees - and our car - at whim as we approached. The air temperature dropped rapidly, due to both the clouds and the ice.

By the time we got to the lake, the winds were 25 mph, gusting occasionally to 35 mph. It was mostly steady, though, so it didn't interfere with the cruise.

To make a long story short, here are some pictures from the day. Please note that the face of the glacier is one-half mile wide (according to the lady from the U.S. Forest Service ... and she should know). There were numerous icebergs in the water which apparently calved earlier today. At one point we got within 300 feet of the face, and could hear the glacier creaking and popping. That's a bit eerie, knowing what could happen.

In fact, it nearly did. Basketball-sized chunks of ice were flowing out from under the face, in one of the small waterfalls, and the ranger told us another calving was imminent. Unfortunately, our time was up, and the ship needed to head back to the other end of the lake for the next tour.

More pics later.