Exit Glacier

Seward, AK 99664
Exit Glacier Exit Glacier is one of the popular State Park located in ,Seward listed under National Park in Seward , Park in Seward , Travel & Transportation in Seward , Glacier in Seward ,

Contact Details & Working Hours

More about Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier is a glacier derived from the Harding Icefield in the Kenai Mountains of Alaska and one of Kenai Fjords National Park's major attractions. It is one of the most accessible valley glaciers in Alaska and is a visible indicator of glacial recession due to climate change. Exit Glacier retreated approximately 187ft from 2013 to 2014 and park scientists continue to monitor and record the glacier's accelerating recession.It received its name for serving as the exit for the first recorded crossing of the Harding Icefield in 1968.HistoryIn the spring of 1968, the first documented mountaineering party succeeded in crossing the Harding Icefield. Ten people were involved in the crossing, which went from Chernof Glacier east to Resurrection Glacier (Later renamed Exit as the newspaper reported that the group would be descending the "Exit Glacier"). Expedition members included Bill Babcock, Eric Barnes, Bill Fox, Dave Johnston, Yule Kilcher and his son Otto, Dave Spencer, Helmut Tschaffert, and Vin and Grace (Jansen) Hoeman. As noted above, Yule Kilcher, Dave Johnston, Vin Hoeman, and Grace Hoeman were veterans of previous attempts; of the ten, only four–Bill Babcock, Dave Johnston, Yule Kilcher, and Vin Hoeman–hiked all the way across the icefield. The expedition left Homer on April 17, bound for Chernof Glacier; eight days later, they descended Exit Glacier and arrived in Seward. Along the way, the party made a first-ever ascent of Truuli Peak, a 6,612ft eminence that protrudes from the northwestern edge of the icefield near Truuli Glacier.

Map of Exit Glacier