Trip Description
Ice climbing anywhere is extraordinary. Ice climbing on a glacier is out of this world.
Root Glacier is not only beyond beautiful, but built for climbing. We fell in love with ice climbing on the Root Glacier a long time ago, and we love sharing that experience with others. Swinging axes and kicking crampons into a wall of ice is a quintessentially Alaskan experience, and getting to do it in the summer is unique (and way warmer!). Get fitted for gear at the KWG Office in Kennicott before hiking to the ice, where your guide will teach you the basics of climbing. The glacier offers venues from shorter walls great for introduction, to steep walls with challenging climbs. Visit various locations and potentially climb in a moulin, the vertical tubes of blue ice the Root Glacier is famed for.
Duration: 7-9 hrs
Difficulty: Medium – Hard 
Highlights:
- Excitement of ice climbing.
- Opportunity to try something new in an amazing place.
- Climbing in multiple locations on the glacier.
- Ropes allow for unique perspectives and photos.
- Views of Mt. Blackburn (16,390 ft) and the Stairway Icefall (7,000 ft of ice!)
Trip Details
Terrain Challenges May Include:
Uneven trail surfaces, loose rocks, short and steep gain/loss of elevation, walking in crampons on uneven glacial surfaces.
Who:
Anyone looking for an exciting full day glacier adventure.
When:
Group Trips leave at 9:30.
Private Trips can be scheduled to start anytime between 8am and 11am.
Where:
This trip leaves from the KWG office, located across Main Street Kennicott from the Kennicott Glacier Lodge.
Trip Includes
- Experienced, friendly, knowledgeable guides!
- Small or custom client to guide ratios.
- Round-trip transportation from your local lodging to where we begin our hike.
- A full array of medical, communications, and technical gear to be prepared for any number of potential surprises.
- Any technical, or glacier gear required for the hike. For further suggestions on gear you will want to bring from home (this will most likely help you pack for your whole Alaskan vacation!) please visit our Trip Planning Page for a gear list.
- Backpacks and extra layers if you forgot anything or couldn’t fit it in your luggage!
$175/person
Max Group Ratio Size: 1 Guide : 4 Clients
Private Trip Prices
Private trips allow you and your guide to design the day that meets your goals and objectives.
Client:Guide Ratio & Price
1:1 / $635 per person
2:1 / $383 per person
3:1 / $288 per person
4:1 / $240 per person
5+:2 / $240 per person
$20/child discount for all children 12 and under on all private day hikes (issued at final payment)
$5/person discount for AK residents & Active Military and family. Valid with current I.D. (Issued at final payment)
Photo Gallery
Click to enlarge
$175/person
Max Group Ratio Size: 1 Guide : 6 Clients
Private Trip Prices
Private trips allow you and your guide to design the day that meets your goals and objectives.
Client:Guide Ratio & Price
1:1 / $635 per person
2:1 / $383 per person
3:1 / $288 per person
4:1 / $240 per person
5+:2 / $240 per person
$20/child discount for all children 12 and under on all private day hikes (issued at final payment)
$5/person discount for AK residents & Active Military and family. Valid with current I.D. (Issued at final payment)
Trip Description
Ice climbing anywhere is extraordinary. Ice climbing on a glacier is out of this world.
Root Glacier is not only beyond beautiful, but built for climbing. We fell in love with ice climbing on the Root Glacier a long time ago, and we love sharing that experience with others. Swinging axes and kicking crampons into a wall of ice is a quintessentially Alaskan experience, and getting to do it in the summer is unique (and way warmer!). Get fitted for gear at the KWG Office in Kennicott before hiking to the ice, where your guide will teach you the basics of climbing. The glacier offers venues from shorter walls great for introduction, to steep walls with challenging climbs. Visit various locations and potentially climb in a moulin, the vertical tubes of blue ice the Root Glacier is famed for.
Duration: 7-9 hrs
Difficulty: Medium – Hard
Highlights:
- Excitement of ice climbing.
- Opportunity to try something new in an amazing place.
- Climbing in multiple locations on the glacier.
- Ropes allow for unique perspectives and photos.
- Views of Mt. Blackburn (16,390 ft) and the Stairway Icefall (7,000 ft of ice!)
Trip Details
Terrain Challenges May Include:
Uneven trail surfaces, loose rocks, short and steep gain/loss of elevation, walking in crampons on uneven glacial surfaces.
Who:
Anyone looking for an exciting full day glacier adventure.
When:
Group Trips leave at 9:30.
Private Trips can be scheduled to start anytime between 8am and 11am.
Where:
This trip leaves from the KWG office, located across Main Street Kennicott from the Kennicott Glacier Lodge.
Trip Includes
- All technical gear required (boots, crampons, harness, helmet, ice axes)
- Experienced, friendly, knowledgeable guides!
- Small or custom client to guide ratios, no more than 4 people to one guide.
- Round-trip, local transportation to where we begin our trip.
- A full array of medical, communications, and technical gear.
- Extra layers if you forgot anything or couldn’t fit it in your luggage!
- Day packs if you need one.
Trip Does not Include
- Guide Gratuity (recommended 10-20% of tour cost)
- Personal clothing & gear. For further suggestions on gear you will want to bring from home (this might help you pack for your whole Alaskan vacation!) visit our Trip Planning Page for a gear list.
- Pre & Post trip lodging.
- Transportation to and from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
Full Day Ice Climb
Photo Gallery
Click to enlarge, or use arrows to scroll.
Ice Climbing – Once in a lifetime experience
Perfect for beginners as well as more experienced climbers! Michael Stabile was our expert guide. I’m so grateful for the experience! Michael took us onto the glacier and knew exactly where to take us for those perfect and unique climbs that were geared towards our level of experience! He was also incredibly fun and made the day feel like hanging out with friends. You know you have the best guide when other guides ask yours to show them those climbs too! We got in 3 different climbs as well as explore unique features of the glacier! It was a 2:1 ratio of climbers to guide for group price! Unbeatable!