Aclimberlooksintoacrevasse,ordeepcrack,onDenver Glacier.
ExploringtheIce
InSkagway,Iworkedasanoutdoorguide.Ishowedpeoplethearea’sglaciers.Ifpeoplegotlost,itwasmyjobtohelpfind them.
Oneday,IwasontheDenverGlacierwiththesearchandrescueteam.Wewerepracticingwhattodoifapersonfellintoa crevasse.Acrevasseisacrackina glacier.
Afterworkingallday,wetookabreak.Wewentovertosomelargeseracs onaglacier.Theseridgesoficestickuplikesharkfins.Wedecidedtoclimbthemfor fun.
Atthebaseofoneseracwasacrevasse.Itwasfullofclearbluewater.Istoodrightuptotheedge.Someropeconnectedmetothepersonclimbingaboveme.Suddenly,thatpersonslipped.Iwasyankedoffmyfeetbytherope.Ifellintotheicygap.MygearandIsanktothe bottom.
Chunksoficeknownasseracsbreakofffromglaciers.It’shardtoresistclimbing them!
IceRescue!
Quickly,thesearchandrescueteamfishedmeout.Theyhelpedremovemywetgear.Iwassoonwarmingupinasleepingbag.Iwas safe.
Itakeaphotoofrockthathasbeenscrapedsmoothbya glacier.
BackatSkagway,everyonewantedtohearmyglacierstory.So,Itoldthem.Andthentheytoldmetheir glacier stories.
Theytoldmestoriesofglaciersgrowingandcalving.Theyhadstoriesofglacierswithtreesgrowingonthem.Theyhadstoriesoflocalpeopleinteractingwithglaciersinallsortsofways.Idiscoveredthaticemeantsomethingtopeople.Theglaciersgavepeopleasenseof identity.
Thesestorieschangedmylife.IrealizedthatIhadfoundacareer.So,Isetouttostudy glaciers.
