After a frigid day of adventuring , I now find myself warm and toasty, hunkered down inside a quaint, little cabin where the mountain views through the bay window more resemble a Bob Ross painting than real life. Sitting in a worn, leather recliner with a blue, waffle-knit blanket (the trademark one from the 80’s complete with satin trim) tucked around my sides, I reflect on the moments of the day, inviting them to make themselves at home and stay forever.

I woke up this morning void of the usual anticipation for the upcoming day, filled instead with looming disappointment and a twinge of dread. We had made the slow, but scenic, six hour drive from Homer to Glacier View, AK the day before. However, despite my best efforts of stalking the weather, reports had changed overnight and wind chill advisories had been issued, warning of temperatures feeling comparative to -50º F with dangers of frostbite. Not exactly weather I want to parade my family around in. Visions of my little children with noses blackened from frostbite and perhaps a few fingers or toes amputated crossed my mind. Dave and I considered canceling our plans and rescheduling for the next week when temps were now forecasted for the high 30’s.

As I stepped on to the porch this morning, mentally preparing to postpone, I was instead pleasantly surprised as the temperature gauge read 15º F and little to no wind was to be felt. With the threat of bone-chilling, finger-freezing winds behind us, we resumed our plans and began the most difficult part of our itinerary- itemizing and layering. After all, 15º F isn’t exactly warm, especially after having spent the past six months on the beaches in Hawaii! Despite a few objections, each family member donned a minimum of 3 layers (base, middle, outer), along with 3-4 pairs of socks, winter boots, gloves, hat, scarf, neck fleece, and finally sunglasses. (Ok, so I was the only person who needed 4 pairs of socks. What can I say, I get cold feet!) Once we could officially no longer bend at the waist, we were out the door!

Having rented an ”Airbnb” just a few miles from our destination, we arrived less than 20 minutes later (which was good, because remember the “layers” discussion in the previous paragraph). The drive was still slightly harrowing though as we wound down a narrow, cliff side, gravel road (with no guard rails) ending at“Glacier Tours” in breathtaking Mat-Su Valley. Once checked in, we geared up. Now I know what you’re thinking…”More gear?!” Yep! We were each issued a pair of ice cleats to slip over our boots, which were amazing! They’re like tire chains…but for your shoes!

At last we piled into a 3-row, brightly-painted, red sleigh, but instead of Santa at the helm…a snowmobile! Another genius invention! And may I just say, I’ll take a bumpy sleigh/snowmobile ride down to a glacier any day, especially if it shaves off 20 minutes of hiking! As the engine sputtered and we glided to a stop, our gaze shifted to the exquisite crystalline palace directly in front of us, Matanuska Glacier. ***Fun Fact: Matanuska Glacier is 27 miles long by 4 miles wide. It flows about a foot per day and is the largest glacier accessible by car in the US.***

While words will not even come close to describing the “spectacularness” (yes, I made that word up) of experiencing a glacier, I’ll do my best. Matanuska Glacier lives along a snow-covered valley floor, surrounded by sky-scraping, jagged, white-tipped mountains. Except for the crunching of ice beneath your feet, all feels hushed and tranquil. If however, you stand very still, willing yourself not to breathe , the faint sounds of the rushing river beneath the frozen terrain can be heard. Large slabs of aquamarine ice, like sculptures left unfinished, hold their icy pose, adorning the entrance of the arctic palace. The terminus, or end of the glacier, resembles an explosion captured at the moment of impact, creating a mesmerizing portrait of raw power and beauty. Matanuska displays thousands of pounds of splintered ice like a crown of rare frosted jewels.

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As our guide Nick cautiously maneuvered us along the slippery terrain, Ben and Sam hung onto his every word as we learned about the unstable nature of glaciers, how they will grind up everything in their path as they slowly creep along, and the dangers of ice caves. Did you know “glacier facials” are a thing? Glacier flour, or ground up rock, is formed by the mechanical action of glaciers. Rich in minerals, it supposedly makes for an amazing facial as it exfoliates and nourishes the skin. Annabelle tried the “in the raw” form, that looked more like slime than a facial.

Another highlight of the tour was viewing the different layers of the glacier. We walked beside an entire wall of ice that was almost crystal clear, which was created by pressure squeezing out most of the oxygen molecules. My favorite moment was standing inside the ice cave with its beautiful turquoise walls towering high above. The kids, however, unanimously agreed that nothing compared to penguin sliding across the smooth, glacier ponds, one after the other, over and over. Although, for Ben getting to ride on the back of the snowmobile as we said good-bye to Matanuska was a close runner-up!

Glacier trekking definitely made it to the top of the “Cunningham-Must-Do” list.