Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, Alaska – Image 2678

The Mendenhall Glacier is over 13 miles long and in some places is over a mile wide. Lakes and streams exist on top of this huge ice mass. Because the water on top of the ice is always eroding the ice it creates holes and cracks causing the streams to always change course, and lakes drain and form new lakes all summer long. Northstar in Juneau specializes in helicopter trips up to the glacier for one to three hour hikes across the glacier. They are continually flying over the ice field. Because of the mercurial nature of the disappearing and appearing glacier lakes, I depend on Northstar to let me know when the lakes form. Here, a glacier guide from Northstar leads a group of tourists along the edge of a lake on the Mendenhall Glacier. This image illustrates the month of May in my 2011 Southeast Alaska Calendar. Enjoy the photo and thanks for visiting. Camera body: Nikon D700, Lens: Nikkor 20-35mm f/2.8, digital capture, ISO 200, hand held, polarized© Mark Kelley