Does anyone know if a winter crossing has ever been attempted or completed? If so, do you know the route they took plus any info on it. Thanks

Back in the deep recesses of my feeble mind, I seem to recall that Dan O'Haire used to lead an annual traverse of the Harding Icefield in March. That would have been around the late 1980s or the early 1990s. Check out old copies of the Scree (the Mountaineering Club of Alaska's newsletter). One of the early crossings began three weeks or so after the end of winter, so I doubt anyone's kept track of winter crossings.

We went out of the Exit Glacier the first week of March in 2006 and were thinking we could get to Seldovia in 8-10 days BUT we got a case of the dumps BAD, like feet(s) of snow everynight. Needless to say, breaking trail slowed progress down enough that we had to make the executive decision to p*ss out and and head back the way we came. We made it a long ways across...right adjacent to the McCarty Fjord.

That was the earliest I had been on the Icefield before and learned pretty quickly that it is a full on winter assault until May probably. The most challenging part is navigating the icefield in a whiteout running on dead reckoning....really makes you feel like you need to buy a GPS >

Hi -

I am planning a trip to Alaska from May 14-23. The beginning of the week we'll be in Seward and want to visit Kenai Fjords N.P. I understand that it's possible the road to the park could still be closed then. I also understand that even if the road is open, the Harding Icefield Trail will most likely be covered in snow.

Now here's my question:

How far up can you go? I know it depends on the weather and snow, but on average, does anyone know how far up you can make it? I'm not very experienced when it comes to hiking in snow, so I'm curious what to expect. Thanks.

GHW,
You should not have any problem getting back that time of year, the road back is sometimes closed off to vehicles but you can bike back.
There is a local outfit "Exit Glacier Tours" that can take you there and up onto the glacier, mymarmot could elaborate if he is still on line with this site.