Penny Royal Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Penny Royal Glacier |
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Hikers cross Penny Royal Glacier during an August snowstorm
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 Penny Royal Glacier
Location in Alaska
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| Type | Hanging mountain glacier |
| Location | Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska, United States |
| Coordinates | 61°51′48″N 149°06′25″W / 61.86333°N 149.10694°W |
| Terminus | alpine moraines |
| Status | retreating |
The Penny Royal Glacier is a special type of ice river called a hanging alpine glacier. It is found high up in the Talkeetna Mountains in Alaska, United States.
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What is Penny Royal Glacier?
Penny Royal Glacier is a large body of ice that moves very slowly. It's called a "hanging" glacier because it sits high on a mountain slope, almost like it's hanging there. It's also an "alpine" glacier, which means it forms in mountain areas. This glacier is surrounded by tall mountains, steep cliffs, and valleys carved out by ancient ice.
Where is Penny Royal Glacier Located?
This amazing glacier is located in the Talkeetna Mountains of Alaska. This area is a wild and undeveloped place, meaning there are no cities or towns nearby. The glacier sits at a very high elevation, between about 4,600 and 6,000 feet above sea level. That's higher than many tall buildings! Because it's so high, the glacier can get fresh snowfall all year round, even in summer.
Exploring Penny Royal Glacier
Getting to Penny Royal Glacier is an adventure! There are no paved roads or easy paths leading directly to it. This makes it a favorite spot for people who love exploring the wild outdoors, like experienced hikers and climbers.
How Do People Reach the Glacier?
People usually reach the glacier by hiking through tough terrain. Some common ways to get there include:
- Climbing a steep pass between Penny Royal Glacier and another glacier called Bomber Glacier.
- Hiking up from the valley floor, which is where the glacier ends (its "terminus").
- Crossing the Backdoor Gap pass, which separates the glacier from a place called Mint Valley.
Adventures on the Ice
Penny Royal Glacier is part of a famous, unofficial hiking path called the "Bomber Traverse." This route goes through the Talkeetna Mountains. Brave mountaineers, who are expert mountain climbers, sometimes cross the glacier to reach nearby mountain peaks. When there's enough snow, people can also ski on the glacier!
Staying Safe on the Glacier
While exploring the glacier is exciting, it's also very important to be careful. Glaciers can have hidden dangers that change as the ice moves. Some of these dangers include:
- Crevasses: These are deep cracks or splits in the ice. They can be very wide or narrow, and sometimes they are hidden under fresh snow.
- Moulins: These are vertical shafts or holes in the ice that are formed by melting water. They can be very deep, like a natural drainpipe for the glacier.
- Bergschrunds: This is a large crack that forms at the very top of a glacier, separating the moving ice from the rock that isn't moving.
These features can appear and disappear as the glacier slowly moves. That's why it's super important for anyone visiting the glacier to be with experienced guides and to know how to stay safe.
