portage glacier cruise
Feb 18th, 2007, 10:32 AM
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portage glacier cruise
Has anyone gone on this one hour cruise? I had read that you could see calving from this glacier and was interested in whether it was worth it? We have time so that is not a problem. Marilee
Feb 18th, 2007, 07:23 PM
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Portage glacier has receded so much over the years that I would never bother with their "cruise" on what amounts to a large pond. When I was there a few years ago, very little of the glacier was even touching the water.
You'll have a much better chance of seeing glaciers calve on a longer cruise out of Whittier or Seward.
You'll have a much better chance of seeing glaciers calve on a longer cruise out of Whittier or Seward.
Feb 18th, 2007, 09:54 PM
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Agreed, global warming has really caused the Portage Glacier to recede. Years ago the icebergs practically touched the banks and now they are barely visible. There is a nice visitor center at Portage, easy hikes, and a few nice, small camp grounds. If you want to see calving glaciers you would be better off going out of Whittier or Seward as the prior post recommended.
Feb 24th, 2007, 09:34 PM
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I've got a couple of photos of Portgage Glacier from 2005 at this site:
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/209893/index.html
You can judge for yourself.
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/209893/index.html
You can judge for yourself.
Jun 6th, 2009, 07:49 AM
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I enjoy the Portage Glacier cruise - I've been on it several times and think it offers great "bang for your buck". The photos at http://www.youralaskacruise.com/glaciers/portage.html might help you decide.
Murray
Murray
Jun 6th, 2009, 09:44 AM
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We went on the Portage Glacier tour in summer 2007. It turned out to be the glacier highlight of our trip as Portage glacier calved while the boat was right in front of it. It was a thrilling experience. The Portage boat went much closer to the glacier than the glacier tours we took out of Seward and Whittier. The Portage park ranger guides were very enthusiastic, friendly, and knowledgeable (significantly more so than the guides on the Whittier and Seward cruises). I think the Portage glacier tour is worthwhile if you have the time.
Jun 6th, 2009, 10:18 AM
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Jun 10th, 2009, 09:15 AM
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Took the Portage Glacier cruise six years ago and thought it was worth the time and reasonable expense. It was our only glacier experience at the time (at the suggestion of the Ranger on board we visited another that was a short drive away, where you could literally walk up to it and see markings showing how much it had receded over the years -- can't remember the name!). We are headed back in August and tacking on a cruise, so we'll experience much more this time -- but for first timers, Portage was fine.
Jun 11th, 2010, 03:51 PM
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Can you kayak or canoe in Portage Glacier area? Where can you kayak and see ice floes in the water and glacier close-up? I know there are longer trips in Seward but those cost quite a bit -- $300 - $400 for a day trip. Anything in Seward or Whittier or Juneau or Anchorage that you can have that kind of experience for a bit less?
Thanks!
Thanks!
