Icy Excursions

Alaskan winters offer thrilling adventures.

by Matthew Guy

Vacations to this beautiful arctic region are the stuff of legends. One of North America’s last great wilderness areas, Alaska has an epic offering of activities for adventure-seekers, from outdoor excursions like glacier hiking and ice climbing to leisurely pursuits like snowshoeing and tubing. My partner and I were sold.

A popular way to explore Alaska is by cruise. You’ll sail past glowing blue glaciers— almost close enough to touch—and spot wild animals roaming the water, land and skies, all from the comfort of your ship. Curious kids will love the grandiose glaciers calving icebergs into the sea and swarms of whales cruising by, while adults will appreciate being able to relax and enjoy the sights with luxe onboard amenities.

Explore the Matanuska Glacier

JUNO KIM/VISIT ANCHORAGE

While an arctic voyage is exciting, we wanted something a little different. Many popular guides and treks are based in or near Anchorage, so our travel advisor suggested making Alaska’s largest city (but, interestingly, not its capital) our home base. They also provided an incredible amount of important inside information and helped find us amazing accommodations— champagne by a roaring fire on arrival, anyone?

Astonishing experiences

In search of an adrenaline rush, we start the trip with a safe but exciting ice climb, just two hours north of Anchorage. Even if you have minimal climbing ability or experience like me, you can participate in this vertical trek on glistening ice. Tackling the rocky outcrops, I’m exhilarated navigating the climbing line upward and awe-struck as I relish the mesmerizing view from the top. The air is crisp, the sun is bright and every breath condenses instantly in the frigid air. To say I ended the day feeling fulfilled and inspired would be an extreme understatement.

Scale the Knik Glacier on an ice climb

JODYO. PHOTOS/VISIT ANCHORAGE

Next up? Hiking a glacier. We suit up with all the required gear—a harness, crampons, trekking poles and the like—and our guide leads us up to a startlingly beautiful glacier crevasse. The ice is such a rich shade of blue, it looks like an Instagram filter with all its settings maxed out. Three-hour treks are available, but we opt for the four-hour journey, which gives us a stunning view of the top of an icefall and the chance to peer into seemingly endless fissures. Thanks to our travel advisor, we spent less time traveling to and from the excursion, and had more time to explore the slopes, as our hotel was nearby.

An eagle perches near the Anchorage mountains

SAVANAH EVANS/VISIT ANCHORAGE,

Slip sliding away

Following a short but enchanting snowshoe walk the next day, we hit up a massive snow tubing park located 25 minutes from Anchorage. Well-groomed hills dominate the landscape, jutting up against impossibly clear blue skies. The tube park operates in organized sessions of a couple of hours each day to help avoid crowding.

We jump in an inflatable and a tow line hauls us to the summit as we sit back and take in the stunning scenery and hear squeals of delight as others slide down the hill. A few hours bombing down the hill brings back memories of my childhood. There’s nothing like sightseeing in an oversized inner tube to close out the perfect coldweather vacation.