The glacier like most in Alaska and in the world is receeding. Markers are on the 1/2 mile hiking trail from the parking lot indicate the glacier's position over the years.
Why is glacier ice blue?
That is probably the most commonly asked question and the park service plaque says it is that the ice is so compressed that when light strikes the glacial ice, only the blue wavelength reflects back as the rest of the spectrum is absorbed.
Another 1/2 mile loop trail takes you up from the glacial front to see some other parts of the massive ice. Be careful not to cross the marked areas as ice periodically "calves" or peels off and people who foolishly got too close have been killed by falling chunks of glacier.
During the 1/2 mile loop we got treated to a bear sighting! We saw a little black one in the moving around in the bush. With binoculars you could make out the little guy shuffling about.
We go a short distance and see the map of the trail. At this point, a very exhausted looking Russian couple walked up to us. We asked them about the trail. The wife said it was very difficult. The husband agreed but said the views were great. We press on!
Well, we soon discovered why the couple looked so exhausted. There were rock scrambles, steep sections and muddy parts to the hike.
We got to the bridge that crosses the creek at the 0.6 mile mark and take the group photo to the right. It is beginning to rain a little and we are thinking of turning back. People on their way down tell us the view is just great just up ahead. Leonard and I leave behind most of our stuff and just take the cameras to go a bit further.
We go probably about 1/2 mile more and finally cross the treeline and are treated to some nice views. More hikers on their way down tell us about even better views further up. But we decide it was time to stop and turn back.
What really amazed me was how green the place is. Ecologically, this area is considered a rain forest!