Page 147 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

JUNEA U  145

Mendenhall Glacier on the shores of Mendenhall Lake near Juneau
} Juneau Icefield Several trails access the glacier. 5 Shrine of St. Therese
~ accessible by flightseeing or The East Glacier Loop follows of Lisieux
helicopter tour only. 8 the glacial trimline, while the 21425 (Mile 22) Glacier Hwy.
The Juneau Icefield sprawls West Glacier Trail goes up to Tel 780-6112. Open Apr–Sep:
across 1,500 sq miles (3,885 the glacier’s west face. The 8:30am–10pm; Oct–Mar: 8:30am–
sq km) of the Coast Range, with Moraine Ecology Trail has 8pm. 7 limited. 5 late May–
its highest peak, the 8,584-ft information panels explaining early Sep: 1:30pm Sun. = ®
(2,616-m) Devil’s Paw, strad dling the regeneration of vegetation ∑ shrineofsainttherese.org
the US-Canada border. on deglaciated areas. The Photo This peaceful Catholic
The icefield feeds about 40 Point Trail is lined with benches pilgrimage site lies on Shrine
large and 100 small glaciers. and interpretive panels, and Island at the end of a 400-ft
Of all Juneau Icefield’s gla ciers, pro vides the best vantage (120-m) pedestrian causeway
only Taku Glacier continues to points to capture panoramic from the mainland. The serene
advance and calve into Taku Inlet. shots of the glacier. chapel, built of beach stone,
The most readily accessible At Mendenhall Lake, which occupies a lovely forested
portion of the icefield is the is often choked with icebergs spot with views across the
retreating Mendenhall Glacier. calved from the glacier, the sea to the distant peaks of the
A hike to the rest of the vast huge curving glass wall of the Chilkat Range. It is dedicated
white wilderness of the ice field visitor center offers fabulous to the 19th-century French
can be quite challenging, and views of the glacier across saint Therese de Lisieux, who
most visitors opt for heli copter or the lake. An exhibit hall has was chosen by the first Bishop
flightseeing tours, some of which information on glaciers, and a of Alaska, Joseph Raphael
additionally offer adventurous the ater shows films on icefield Crimont, as the patron saint
summer dog sled rides across geology. A salmon-viewing of the state. The shrine also
the ice. Also available are platform and a fish-cam pro vide contains the 14 Stations of the
ice climbing classes, with views of spawning sal mon Cross, a prayer labyrinth, and
instruction and gear provided. moving up Steep Creek. the Marian Gardens.
} Mendenhall Glacier
8150 Mendenhall Loop Rd. @ 3 & 4.
n 789-0097. Open May–Sep:
8am–7:30pm daily; Oct–Apr:
10am–4pm Fri–Sun. Closed Apr &
summer only; free in winter. 8 7
=  ∑ fs.usda.gov/main/
tongass/home
Spilling into the Mendenhall
Valley from the Juneau Icefield,
the large Mendenhall Glacier
was first called Auke Glacier
after the nearby Tlingit vil lage,
Aak’w Kwaan. In 1892, it was
renamed in honor of physicist
Thomas Mendenhall, who
surveyed the interna tional
border between Canada
and Southeast Alaska. The Shrine of St. Therese on a forested islet west of Juneau
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp243–4 and pp253–4

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