Explorer Peak is flanked by the Explorer Glacier. You can see the glacier on your drive into Portage Lake, it's on your right, about 3 miles after the turnoff. As the crow flies, the summit of Explorer Peak is only about 2 miles. However, it's a tough 2 miles. You have to cross a creek, shwak through a some brush, climb up onto the glacier, and wallow up some deep snow. Finally you'll come to the picture-perfect, knife-edge ridge. This is probably some of the steepest snow you'll ever see. (the only place I've seen steeper snow is on the Sandy Glacier Headwall of Mt Hood in Oregon) THIS IS NOT A HIKE. It's definitely a "climb" and requires crampons and an ice axe, minimum. Many ski mountaineers shwoosh down the glacier when conditions are good. The hardest part of climbing Explorer is the weather. It's terrible. It's very rare to find a clear day in this part of Alaska, let alone a clear day with no avalanche danger. As far as glaciers go, people usually don't talk about the Explorer Glacier. Why? Because there are two other glaciers in the neighborhood that are much easier to access: https://www.yelp.com/biz/byron-glacier-trailhead-anchorage https://www.yelp.com/biz/portage-glacier-girdwood read more

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