What You Need to Know Before Visiting a Glacier

What You Need to Know Before Visiting a Glacier
Skip to content
Travel
What to Know Before Visiting a Glacier
Visiting a glacier can be thrilling, but there are some real risks we don’t always consider
Jungfaujoch in Switzerland bills itself as the top of Europe. A trip to a glacier can be beautiful, but there can be risks to touring glaciers.
Courtesy Kevin and Gina Rich
By
Gina Rich,
AARP
Published
December 17, 2024
In summer 2024, my family traveled to see the Matterhorn Glacier and Aletsch Glacier in Switzerland. The snow-covered mountaintops and sparkling ice caves were stunning and breathtaking. But as we explored one cave, I felt the mild stirrings of panic. “This thing isn’t going to collapse on us, right?” I said, stepping gingerly on the slick floors. The question floated in the chilly air while my husband continued snapping photos and our teenagers took turns racing down a nearby ice slide.
Glacier tourism is a way to explore nature during a time when older adults are increasingly turning to the outdoors. According to a 2022 report by the Outdoor Foundation, a nonprofit organization that encourages outdoor activities to promote health, the number of people 55-plus participating in outdoor recreation has risen more than 14 percent since 2019.
But we don’t always consider the risks of visiting glaciers. In August 2024, an American tourist died when an ice cave collapsed at Iceland’s Breiðamerkurjökull glacier.
Here’s what experts say about the risks of touring glaciers and how to prepare for a visit.
Ice on the move
“Glaciers inherently are dangerous because of their instability,” says Shaun Marcott, an associate professor in the Department of Geoscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who is an expert in glacial geology and paleoclimatology. Glaciers gain mass each winter through snowfall, then lose mass in summer as the ice melts, he says. Because of climate change, glaciers are melting more than in the past; many are shrinking.
Meltwater – the liquid flowing off a glacier – can cause conditions to change rapidly. “In the early part of the morning, when it’s the coldest, there’s not much melt coming off,” Marcott says. “By about mid-afternoon, the glacier is shedding.” He often hears of tourists who cross a shallow stream in the morning and return hours later to find the stream has tripled in size and depth, leaving them stranded.
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER ADVERTISEMENT
Another reason glaciers are unstable is that they’re constantly moving forward, Marcott says. Some glaciers in Greenland, for instance, are moving by miles annually.
Over time, fractures develop in the ice, sometimes creating caves large enough for people to enter, explains Andrew Jones, a graduate student who researches glaciers and climate change in the Department of Geoscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jones has walked near the cave that collapsed in Iceland and says such accidents are “exceedingly rare.” Still, it’s difficult to predict when ice might break apart, particularly at lower elevations where a lot of melting happens, he adds.
If you’re risk-averse, Jones says, you can still appreciate a glacier’s beauty by getting close enough to view and perhaps take a few steps on the ice. You also can visit an ice cave that’s located at a higher elevation, meaning a place covered in snow year-round. “This is where the ice is forming, way high up; that’s going to be more stable,” Jones says.
Be ready for conditions on glaciers
If you’re not used to walking on slippery, uneven terrain, it’s a good idea to practice before your visit by going on some
hikes
, says Christopher Minson, professor of human physiology at the University of Oregon. Strengthening your legs and core muscles, wearing shoes with good soles, and carrying a walking stick for balance will also help you navigate glacier terrain, he says.
With the chilly temperatures on glaciers, our physical responses can range from an allergic reaction called cold urticaria to more serious conditions such as frostbite and hypothermia, says Cheyenne Falat, M.D., an emergency medicine physician at the University of Maryland Medical Center. She recommends dressing warmly and in layers, and ensuring you’re hydrated and well-nourished. “Shivering actually takes a significant amount of your body’s energy,” she adds.
Sunscreen is essential
, as glaciers reflect a lot of solar radiation. “Sunburns are very, very common, even if it’s cold or hazy,” says Minson.
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER ADVERTISEMENT
Because there is less oxygen at high elevations, it’s also common to experience shortness of breath on glaciers. “Your body’s first response is to breathe a little more,” Minson says. His advice, which he also gives to elite athletes competing at high altitudes, is to simply let yourself breathe. “That higher breathing rate’s bringing more oxygen into your body,” he says, “so it helps you acclimate a bit.” Move slowly to avoid overexertion.
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a mild form of altitude sickness, which can occur at altitudes above 8,000 feet. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, and dizziness. To prevent AMS, both Minson and Falat advise making your ascent gradually. If you’ve traveled to a mountain town, allow yourself a few days to adjust to its altitude before going up to the glacier, Falat says. And if you’ve experienced altitude sickness before, ask your doctor about possibly taking a preventive medication, she adds.
The writer visited Matterhorn Glacier in Switzerland with her family. While exploring one cave she asked, “This thing isn’t going to collapse on us, right?”
Kevin and Gina Rich
When to visit
While many glaciers are open to tourists all year, Marcott, the associate professor studying glaciers, advises visiting in summer. For example, the National Park Service says
Glacier National Park
draws its biggest crowds from May to September. During that time all park facilities are accessible, weather is usually pleasant, and road closures are minimal.
If visiting during the warmer months, Marcott recommends touring glaciers in the morning, when the weather is coldest, and the ice is most stable. Plan on staying for two or three hours and conclude your excursion before temperatures start to climb.
Visiting glaciers during the off-peak season – October through April – enables you to avoid large crowds and enjoy cold weather activities. During winter, Glacier National Park offers guided snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, while visitors to Alaska’s Matanuska Glacier can ski, snowshoe, and ride snowmobiles. The biggest downside of visiting in winter is that visibility of the glaciers will be limited, Jones says. If you are driving, be aware that many roads will be closed and plan your route accordingly.
As glaciers continue to recede, visiting them is worth the effort. “The ice itself is just beautiful,” Marcott says. “Don’t be afraid but be cautious and get out there.”
%{postComment}%
Gina Rich is a writer in Wisconsin. Her work has appeared in
The
Washington Post
Next Avenue
Notre Dame Magazine
WIRED
and other publications.
Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition
Join AARP to Continue
Already a Member?
MORE FROM AARP
5 U.S. Ski Resorts Great for a Guys’ Trip
Plan a reunion with your friends to hit the slopes and do all the stuff you can’t do at home
How to Photograph the Northern Lights
Tips to take great pictures of the aurora borealis, including the optimal camera settings
MEMBERS ONLY
25 Great Ways to Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
Push past complacency by trying things you’ve never done before
MEMBERS ONLY
AARP NEWSLETTERS
%{ newsLetterPromoText  }%
%{ description }%
See All Newsletters
Privacy Hub
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER ADVERTISEMENT
AARP
Travel Center
Or Call:
1-800-675-4318
Flights
Stays
Packages
Cars
Cruises
Things To Do
Round Trip
One Way
Multi-City
Most Popular
Benefits Recommended For You
See All
HOT DEALS
SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS
See All Hot Deals