Have you ever walked across a glacier? Have you ever sipped glacier meltwater? Have you ever skimmed through the air just a hundred feet above a momma black bear and her cubs? Take this tour and you can potentially do all of the above (the bears are not on a schedule).
First a tip, don't follow Google maps directions all the way to Knik River Lodge, it turns you off just a bit early. Just stay on E Knik River Road until it ends, you will be in the correct spot.
Check-in was quick and easy and before long we were loading into the helicopter with our pilot, Steven, after a quick safety briefing. If you have never taken a ride in a helicopter, it is a great experience. Add beautiful scenery, animals, and a glacier landing to that and you have a true adventure.
As we flew out to Knik Glacier Steven gave us background on the area and its features. He expertely set us down on the glacier and helped us into our almost-but-not-quite crampons to give us sure footing on the ice.
Tip #2, dress warmly for the glacier. It is at least 15 degrees colder there and with a bit of a breeze you cool down very quickly.
We hiked around the glacier for a bit and Steven took us to some sinkholes where the water has carved down sometimes hundreds of feet into the glacier. They are beautiful and have waterfalls running into them, but be careful because if you fall in your pretty much guaranteed an unpleasant death. Steven showed us the difference between the glacial ice and the surface ice and we had a chance to fill water bottles with the glacier meltwater.
On the way back we saw numerous moose, black bears, and even a mom (we presume) black bear with two romping cubs.
The experience with Alaska Helicopter Tours was a great adventure and absolutely worth the time, expense, and travel to get there. My thanks to Steven for the great flight.