A helicopter tour over the Mendenhall Glacier in August 2010. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

A helicopter tour over the Mendenhall Glacier in August 2010. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Unseasonable warmth causes sled dog camp to close early

Limited winter snow and high melt rate renders glacier unsafe for operations

Coastal Helicopters has closed its sled dog camps on the Mendenhall Glacier early, citing poor snow conditions.

While the season for most sled dog camps is only a few more weeks, an unusually small amount of winter snow and a high rate of snowmelt on the glacier has made the surface unsafe.

“You can’t run the dogs on the ice. It’s unsafe when the crevasses open,” said Mike Wilson, general manager for Coastal Helicopters, who runs a sled dog camp.

Crevasses are vertical cracks that open in a glacier. They can be shallow or deep, but they are always paid heed to, Wilson said.

“You don’t know, so you don’t cross them,” Wilson said.

How many glaciers are there in Alaska?

This isn’t the first time weather has cut the season short, Wilson said. In 2003, low snowfall also caused a premature end to the season for Coastal Helicopters.

“There’s a much higher percentage (of snow) that is melting and that exposes the ice,” said Eran Hood, a professor of environmental science at the University of Alaska Southeast. “You can’t have dogs running on that.”

The warm summer has had as much to do with the conditions on the glacier as the lack of snowfall, Hood said. The unseasonably clear and hot weather, bemoaned by many, has hit the glacier hard too.

According to the National Weather Service, Juneau has had twice as many days above 70 degrees as usual, more than 41 days this year.

It has been a hot summer across SEAK. But just how hot has it been? Today marks day 41 of hitting the 70 degree mark in Juneau, more than doubling the average number of days we reach it. #akwx .@KTOOpubmedia .@KRBDRadio .@ravenradio .@KFSK1 .@KSTKradio .@KHNS_FM pic.twitter.com/SGi4j8T1sr

— NWS Juneau (@NWSJuneau) August 13, 2019

Hood said the data comes from the Juneau Airport, which has recorded the weather since the 1940s. The June and July temperatures have averaged roughly 5 degrees higher than usual this year.

“Because of the warm summer temps we’re seeing, it’s safe to say the amount of mass lost this year will be higher than previous years,” Hood said. Hood couldn’t say exactly how much mass the glacier would lose, save to say that it would be a very large amount.

Other companies, with camps located higher up the glacier, are still running normal seasons this year.

“We anticipate running a full season,” said Kristen Brooks, marketing director with Temsco.

Icelandic glaciologist feels a weighty responsibility

There shouldn’t be an issue for any of the sled dog camps if there’s a normal amount of snow this winter to recoat the top of the glacier, Hood said. It will also help if next summer’s temperatures are closer to the previous several years’ than this summer. However, if the trend of warmer winters and hotter summers continues, camps will have rethink their operating plan.

For now, though, Wilson is optimistic, planning on a normal operating season next year.


• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 523-2271 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.


More in News

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Ships in port for the week of May 18

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2024 schedule.… Continue reading

Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, prepares to open the Alaska Senate’s floor session on Friday, May 2, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Senate President Gary Stevens to retire; House Rep. Louise Stutes announces run for seat

At least one other member of Senate’s bipartisan majority is expected to not seek reelection in 2026.

Juneau Assembly members discuss a proposed increase in the mill rate for the fiscal year starting July 1 during a meeting of the Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Increasing mill rate to 10.24, rather than 10.19 in earlier versions of city’s budget, gets OK from Assembly

Extra costs in budget, loss of federal funds cited for higher increase from current rate of 10.04 mills.

Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, speaks to the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday, April 25, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
At adjournment, Alaska Legislature leaves elections overhaul, campaign finance bills undone

House Bill 16 and Senate Bill 64 could be part of a wave of big legislation that passes early next year.

State Sen. Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) exits the Senate Chambers after the Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, adjourns until next January. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Legislature adjourns a day early in ‘smoothest ending in 20 years’ following months of budget battles

Lawmakers speed through final votes on veto override on education funding bill, budget with $1,000 PFD.

Rep. Andi Story (D-Juneau), Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka), and Rep. Sarah Vance (R-Homer) watch the vote tally during a veto override joint session on an education bill Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Legislature overrides governor’s education veto in moment of ‘courage’

Supporters of bill raising BSA by $700 stand together as session nears adjournment.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Sunday, May 18, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Visitors walk along the downtown cruise ship dock on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Initiative to limit number of cruise ship passengers, shorten season fails to get signatures to make ballot

“Enthusiasm for this just wasn’t there in the same way as Ship-Free Saturday,” author of proposal says.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters about his decision to veto an education funding bill earlier this session at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. He vetoed a second such bill on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Gov. Dunleavy vetoes second bill increasing education funding; override vote by legislators likely Tuesday

Bill passed by 48-11 vote — eight more than needed — but same count for override not certain.

Most Read