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Mendenhall Glacier ice cave roof collapses
JUNEAU, Alaska–US Forest Service officials announced today that the roof/ceiling of a popular Mendenhall Glacier ice cave has collapsed near the entry.
Guiding company co-owner Becky Janes of Above and Beyond Alaska notified the Forest Service at noon Friday of the collapsed entrance. Above and Beyond Alaska is one of two commercial guiding companies holding permits to escort visitors along the west side
of Mendenhall Glacier. “The ice cave remains unstable and unsafe,” said Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center Director John Neary. “The collapse is a sign of structural weakness
in the ice that may extend beyond the freshly broken ice.” Neary cautions people to stay away from the ice cave. For more information, contact John Neary, visitor center director, at 907-789-6637 or
jneary@xxxxxxxxx; or Laurie Craig,
lead naturalist, at 907-789-6635 or lcraig@xxxxxxxxx.
This Mendenhall Glacier cave is located at the west flank, below the West Glacier Trail. (Photographer: Miles Gayton, Above and Beyond Alaska).
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