This is not an advisable move for kayakers in the Mendenhall Glacier area. In the lower center of the photo two kayakers have contacted an iceberg and one paddler is actually standing on an ice shelf. No matter how good a swimmer or how many flotation devices worn, kayakers are outweighed by and much slower than a rolling iceberg or calving glacier.
KLAS STOLPE / Juneau Empire
This is not an advisable move for kayakers in the Mendenhall Glacier area. In the lower center of the photo two kayakers have contacted an ice berg and one paddler is actually standing on an ice shelf. No matter how good a swimmer or how many flotation devices worn, kayakers are outweighed and much slower than a rolling iceberg or calving glacier.
Comments (8)
Add commentStupid yet amazing
Can't say I blame them. It may be stupid but it is an amazing feeling to stand on a glacier.
There are simpler and safer
There are simpler and safer ways to stand on a glacier. This is a pure darwin award move.
I wonder if this individual
I wonder if this individual has ever witnessed a calving glacier. I have. As a consequence, I don't think I would dare to get so close to the face of a glacier. But, that's just me. I guess some folks are just cut from different cloth.
One of my favorite things in
One of my favorite things in the world is to go to the ice caves. I get so many comments about how dangerous it is. Yes I know it's dangerous, but the chances are probably greater walking on the sidewalk checking my mail. Same here, odds are so low that anything would happen I wouldn't even give it a second thought. Seriously, how many people have been hurt on our glacier here? How many people die or get injured regularly doing seemingly simple and 'safe' activities? Keep things in perspective.
Actually Stu, more than you
Actually Stu, more than you hear about. Talk to the glacier hike guides. They regularly haul people down and patch them up. People hike west glacier trail and think it would be fun to climb up on the glacier without crampons, in tennis shoes wearing shorts, then slip and find out it is a giant cheese grater. Not many reports of people getting calved on, but maybe most are just too smart to do that (I know, wishful thinking)
Like Mama always said
"Stupid is, is Stupid does!"
Here's your sign, they are lucky that iceberg didn't roll!
This guy (?)
is a Darwin award waiting to happen.
danger makes life fun
"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing."
- Helen Keller