A resident of Methuen, Massachusetts, with experience in operations management, Benjy Orbach has a passion for travel and outdoor activities. Benjy Orbach’s travels have taken him to destinations including Alaska, which offers a wide range of scenic highlights, from fjords to mountains.
One noteworthy site is Byron Glacier, about an hour south of Anchorage near Portage Lake, on the way to the Kenai Peninsula. Starting at the Begich Boggs Visitor Center, a moderate trail less than a mile long follows a glacier-fed creek through an alluvial plain in Portage Valley that is verdant, rocky, and lightly forested with alders, aspen, and cottonwood trees.
Near the end of the trail, the forest thins out and approaches rugged cliffs that frame an expansive glacier. Every visit, the glacier has a different appearance, as the ice is constantly freezing and melting. At times, there may be ice caves, which some hikers explore, though the caves can be slippery and dangerous. With avalanches a risk during high-snowfall conditions, the valley tends to trap clouds, and rain is common. For that reason, full rain gear is recommended.
