Traverse down to the ice tongue. From Delta, drive about 50 miles south along the Richardson. 12 miles long. Broken Glacier, Canwell Glacier, Castner Glacier, Eel Glacier, Fels Glacier, Gabriel Icefall, Gulkana Glacier, McCallum Glacier, Pegmatite Glacier, Riley Creek Glacier, West Gulkana Glacier. There’s no particular destination here, unless you’re heading for the ice caves which sometimes form at the toe of the glacier. Castner Glacier is a glacier in Alaska and has an elevation of 3287 feet. Alaska Guide Co is based in Valdez, Alaska. Castner Glacier Statistics: My First Visit: 14 May, 2017 Type: Valley Glacier Location: Delta Mountains (subrange of Alaska Range) along Hwy 4 between Paxson and Donnelly Source: Delta Mountains between Triangle Peak, Black Warrior Mt., White Princess Mt. In the southern part of the range, the snow is heavy and relatively little recreational use makes breaking trail through the bottomless powder a chore. heads on White Princess, trends NW and SW to its 1934 terminus at head of Castner Creek, 27 … Before the bridge over Castner Creek, look for a small, unimproved road on the left. The hike to the glacier’s face follows Castner Creek; the creek is fast-flowing, brown, and fed by the melting glacier. Alaska Alpine Club. heads on White Princess, trends NW and SW to its 1934 terminus at head of Castner Creek, 27 mi. Traverse down to the ice tongue. The hike to the glacier’s face follows Castner Creek; the creek is fast-flowing, brown, and fed by the melting glacier. Castner Glacier: Coming & Going, A View of the Deltas 12.5.2020 Old Snowy, Black Cap, & White Princess Mile 217.3 Richardson Highway. This trail is not maintained and not marked. ). and Old Snowy. Even more so than in summer, the Alaska Range along the Richardson Highway can be very frustrating when it comes to muscle powered recreation. October 24, 2020 Update: The ice cave at the front of Castner Glacier is currently accessible and should remain accessible throughout winter. It includes the Castner Glacier (13B) and the Black Rapids Glacier (20A). The glacier is located on BLM land (Bureau of Land Management). Avoiding likely moulon areas, go up the ice tongue until you reach the intersection of the 3 branches of the Castner Glacier. George Castner in The Hood River Glacier - July 5 1901 ... Castner last week received word of the death of his father. In this case, the south side of the creek has provided better access in recent years, but this is always changing. The 1961 climbing season began with a January attempt on still unclimbed McGinnis Peak in the eastern Alaska Range. NW of Paxson, Alaska Range. Turnout near Castner Creek, 63.40245, -145.73461 Stop at the turnout to view from the car or take a short hike. The shrinking Castner is literally collapsing in on itself; much of the central glacier has become a deep, meltwater-filled trench. The ice cave actually sits in what appears to be one of the terminal moraines of the glacier. It may have been 1/2 mile before but the glacier has since receded and … Trail type: Indistinct route on top of a glacier, Considerations: A very challenging route for experienced hikers. So, most of the glacier ice in Alaska is less than 100 years old! Unsuccessful attempts were made in May to ascend an unclimbed 11,500-foot peak on the north Park. Castner Glacier Trail is a 2.6 mile out and back trail located near Delta Junction, Alaska that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. Photographer Sebastian Saarloos wrote of his astonishing July 2011 photo, "After traversing up a glacier moraine for what seems like an eternity, and going up over 2,400 feet of vertical gain, you finally reach a point where one glacier turns into three. A hike up Castner Glacier is honestly a pretty rough experience, but it still offers a brush free and gently ascending highway into the heart of the spectacular glacier clad Delta Mountains, as well as a small mountain hut at the end, in case the weather doesn’t cooperate. We offer year round tours and seek to provide helpful information on all things Alaska outdoors related. Canwell Glacier a glacier in Alaska. Castner Glacier Trail. 13 miles long. heads near Icefall Peak, trends NE to its 1934 terminus at head of Miller Creek, 24 mi. Despite everything going on, there IS still beauty in the world. This won’t be a problem for a spring ski trip or maybe a late fall hike, after the water level has dropped. Therefore, most of the glacier ice is not ice-age leftovers. Canwell Glacier in Detail. At the point where a branch of the glacier heads off to the right, drop down onto bare ice on the left and aim for the ridge which separates the other two branches of the glacier. It’s best to stay off the ice unless you know what you’re doing. The ice cave at the front of the glacier … Blog Comments. In March, eleven climbers made the first ascent of Old Snowy in the Castner Glacier area of the Alaska Range. Eventually, all trace of the road disappears and the way becomes a faint path alongside roaring Castner Creek. In winter, there's a bit more meandering. Likewise, glaciers have existed in the mountains ever since the ice age, but glacier flow moves the snow and ice through the entire length of the glacier in 100 years or less. At the base of this ridge, but at the top of an awfully unstable glacier moraine, is a dramatically isolated meadow where the hut is placed. It is part of a north-south ridge that also includes Old Snowy, M'Ladies Mountain, Black Cap and a number of other worthwhile peaks. The large ice chunks in front of the ice cave have completely melted in the 08/24 photo. The road ends after 1/2 mile, turning into an unimproved foot path heading up the side of Castner Creek. The Full gallery from this hike on the Castner Glacier: Day 1: July 4 Day 2: July 5. Location: adjacent to the St. Mary Entrance Station on Going-to-the-Sun Road, near the town of St. Mary on U.S. Hwy 89 on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation Hours: Open daily late May to early October Amenities: Trip planning information and exhibits, both inside and outside building; Interactive exhibits on American Indian tribes and their ties to the lands that today make up Glacier National Park Castner Glacier 04/14/14. Black Cap, Cony Mountain, Devils Thumb, The Hoodoos, Institute Peak, M-Ladies Mountain, Minya Peak, Ogive Mountain, Old Snowy, Rainbow Mountain, Sight Peak, Mount Silvertip, Skull Peak, Traingle Peak, White Princess. Johnson and Spur Glaciers area Water sources in the area are limited to glacial runoff or small snow patches that melt and are found in the small ravines draining off the side hills, also glacier ice. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. This is a list of glaciers existing in the United States, currently or in recent centuries.These glaciers are located in nine states, all in the Rocky Mountains or farther west. Castner Glacier is a fairly popular starting point for all sorts of backcountry adventures, but a small road on the north side of the creek gives access to some very nice, close in country as well. Sam Friedman wrote this trip report about a camping trip on the Castner Glacier ... For more information about the Thayer Hut, go to the Alaska Alpine Club’s old website at bit.ly/2vJQwxD. This unimproved road is located at mile 217.3 on the north side of Castner Creek. Length: 19 km Width: ~1 km Flow: Unknown Status: Retreating Pick your way, angling south across the glacier to pick up what’s left of the old access path, which ascended up a sort of medial moraine on top of the glacier. Avoiding likely moulin areas, go up the ice tongue until you reach the intersection of the 3 branches of the Castner Glacier. The trail is … Before the bridge over Castner Creek, look for a small, unimproved road on the left. Witness the effects of climate change on this challenging trek in the Delta Mountains.