Journeys across ice, into the mountains, and beyond the end of the road. Field stories by David Crane.
- 2019-09-1531-32. Salmon Glacier + Unnamed Glacier – Sep 15-17, 2019
After three separate attempts over four years to hike to the Salmon Glacier, this was the year I would finally make it to the ice some 900 vertical feet (~272 meters)…
- 2019-04-2530. Asulkan Glacier – Seven Steps to Paradise – 25 Apr, 2019
When Brett, Scott, Becca and I all decided on driving to Alaska for the summer of 2019, we immediately made plans to caravan up together and get in some late season…
- 2019-04-1429. Palisade Glacier ski tour – Apr 14, 2019.
After a three week ski trip to Japan in February 2019, I spent a month or so working in Salt Lake (trying to make up for spending too much money in Japan!) and skiing…
- 2018-09-2928. Wheeler Peak Glacier, Nevada – Sep 29, 2018
As we drive southeast out of Lassen National forest and join up with route 395 north of Lake Tahoe, the morning temperature quickly rises. It was a cool 60 degrees when…
- 2018-07-0925-27. Seth Holden Hut Construction – 25 June to 9 July, 2018
I made this video of the time spent out in the Talkeetna Mountains constructing the Seth Holden hut. In 7 1/2 minutes it is tough to convey the effort and awesomeness of…
- 2018-05-0924. Dana Glacier Ski Tour – 9 May, 2018
I don't recall ever being scared in skiing before today. Sure there's always a small fear of falling when learning a new sport, but I never remember being truly scared.…
- 2018-05-0423. Mount Ritter Ski Tour – 2-4 May, 2018
From the summit of Mammoth Mountain Ski resort, Mount Ritter stands strikingly beautiful among the steep rocky cliffs of the Minarets. My good friend and fellow skier…
- 2018-03-1022. Tasman Glacier via Ball Pass – 9 March 2018
The day it snowed in Queenstown, I figured my chances at an alpine crossing of Ball Pass had expired for the season. It was the one last major objective I had for my…
- 2018-02-0821. Dart Glacier – 8 February, 2018
“Condition of the road?” She shrugged. “Oh I don’t know, we don’t maintain that. Besides, everyone’s vehicles and driving abilities are different.” This was not the…
- 2018-01-2920. Fox Glacier – 30 Jan, 2018
I had travelled to New Zealand in search of adventures. I wanted a sampling of what the country had to offer, and, while I had little money to travel abroad, I had heard…
- 2017-09-1519. Berendon Glacier – 15 September, 2017
After wrapping up another incredible summer with MICA Guides in Alaska, Brett, Katie and I coordinated a road trip back to the lower 48. We loaded up our coolers with…
- 2017-08-2018. Spencer Glacier – 18-20 August 2017
Quickly stuffing camera gear and extra jackets into waterproof bags, then back into my backpack, I had no idea what to expect when facing the challenges of airport…
- 2017-08-1517. Unknown Glacier (former tributary to Canwell) – 15 August 2017
One of my favorite things about driving through the Southwest desert is the plethora of completely unmarked dirt roads. Where do they lead? Anywhere and everywhere, but…
- 2017-08-0215-16. Burns and Portage Glaciers – August 2, 2017
The Portage Glacier, between Girdwood and Whittier Alaska, is most commonly experienced from the comfort of a short one-hour cruise across Portage Lake from the Begich…
- 2017-07-22Bomber Traverse – Hut-To-Hut backpacking through the Talkeetna Mountains
Fog settled across us like a blanket dropped over our heads. We slowed our pace and stayed close, but Joe was still little more than a shadow six feet behind me. Even my…
- 2017-07-19Sea Kayaking to Beloit Glacier – 11 July, 2017
After paddling almost non-stop for the past 6 hours, on top of nearly 11 hours the day before, my shoulders, back, arms, and fingers were all screaming at me to take a…
- 2017-07-1810. Raven Glacier – 17 July 2017
Before starting the drive to Alaska for the summer of 2017, I signed up for a Wilderness First Responder medical course in Moab, Utah. The course was full of lively…
- 2017-05-1409. Castner Glacier – 14 May 2017
Every glacier I visit in my travels is unique and intriguing in it's own way. Sometimes I have the privilege of spending an entire day, or multiple days, exploring the…
- 2016-09-1708. Illecillewaet Glacier – 16 Sep 2016
When looking over a map of Canada’s Glacier National Park, the Great Glacier Trail instantly caught my attention. The trail was ranked a ‘moderate’ by their system, and…
- 2016-09-1107. Salmon and Bear Glaciers – September 2016
Salmon Glacier – 11 September, 2016 Lizzie and I weren't sure what to expect when we rolled into Stewart, B.C. at 9:30pm. We were headed from Alaska to Utah, and had…
- 2016-08-09A Foggy Morning on the Matanuska
A rare quite time for me. I write this because I can't keep my mind still to simply enjoy the calm morning. I sit by the side of a kettle pond, waiting. I have over an…
- 2016-08-08Valdez Glacier – Paddling into an ice cave
We awoke after a rainy night to terrific views of Valdez Lake and steep, foggy mountains all around. Lizzie and I had spent the night just outside of the parking area…
- 2016-08-0706. Worthington Glacier – 7 August, 2016
Back in May, I had returned to MICA from my solo trip to the Valdez Glacier (which you can read here) with stories of paddling between icebergs and photos of the icy…
- 2016-05-2605. Root Glacier – 26 May 2016
Life in McCarthy, Alaska is, to me, the definition of determination and grit. Their tiny town is home to only 30 year-round residents. 60 miles into the Wrangell – St.…
- 2016-05-2504. Kennicott Glacier – 25 May 2016
Wrangell-St. Elias is America's largest national park, ranging in elevation from sea level to 18,000 ft, spans 13.2 million acres, and averages around 70,000 visitors a…
- 2016-05-2403. Valdez Glacier – 24 May 2016
Valdez Glacier, just outside of the town of Valdez, Alaska is known as the All-American Route. Used by thousands of gold miners and explorers in the early 1900's, it…
- 2016-05-0202. Athabasca Glacier – 02 May, 2016
The Columbia Icefield, at 325 square kilometers and between 90 and 350 meters thick, is the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies. Wet winds form the Pacific cross…
- 2016-01-10Glacier Terminology
This entry is intended to accompany current and future entries to the Cryosphere Chronicles, which is a travel journal, of sorts, featuring my experiences with glaciers…
- 2015-08-1001. The Matanuska Glacier
The Chugach Mountain Range of the Southern Alaskan coastline receives an average of over 600 inches of snowfall every year, and contains over one-third of Alaska's…
- 2015-05-15Wild Camping in Iceland
It seems whenever my buddy Miles finds a particularly scenic campsite on public land, a photo goes online with the tagline "The best things in life are free." Miles and…
- 2015-05-01Glaciers: Prelude – Land of Ice
Our plane taxied into the terminal just after 6:00 a.m. local time. I had ‘slept’ for maybe an hour on the flight and spent the previous 18 hours in cramped airplanes or…