Day 65 – Worthington Glacier

Worthington Glacier is located in the Chugach Mountains near Thompson Pass, the snowiest place in Alaska. Worthington Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska, passing within a few feet of the parking lot and viewing shelter right off the Richardson Highway.

Like most of Alaska’s glaciers, this valley glacier has been steadily retreating for the last 150 years, but not as dramatically as many others. The upper basin sits at 5,500 feet and collects about 28 feet of snow each year.

 

The glacier is named for the transit man of an 1899 survey party mapping an ice-free corridor to Alaska’s interior who survived being swept away in a glacial stream.

 
Stream & Falls - Melting ice from Worthington Glacier

 
View from Thompson Pass

 

Last evening we drove back to Solomon Gulch to see if any bears might be feeding on the salmon. There were no bears but the tide was in and the water was deep enough for sea lions to feast on the sprawling salmon. The salmon crowded into the shallow portion of the stream outlet and you could see them panic whenever a sea lion approached. There were at least 5 large sea lions and several sea otters. The sea otters seemed to going after pieces of salmon dropped by the sea lions.

Sea Lions Feasting on Salmon