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Winter hours begin at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center
Release Date: Oct 7, 2014
Contact(s): John Neary, Nikki Hinds
Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is now operating on winter hours of 10am to 4pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The US Forest Service center is closed on federal holidays during winter. This schedule will continue through March 29, 2015. There is no charge during winter.
“This is a great time to explore the Visitor Center area,” said Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center Assistant Director Laurie Lamm. “The days are just long enough for an after work stroll to admire the golden cottonwoods and the glacier. We’ve been seeing eagles, herons, dippers and magpies too. ”
The visitor center’s bookstore, operated by non-profit association Alaska Geographic, has closed for the winter. In its place, the Forest Service re-opens the Discovery Zone, an educational-play area for children and their families. The center’s 15-minute film, Landscape of Change, is played on request when the center is open.
“Stop in just to check out the center, or attend one of the many great events that occur throughout fall and winter, such as the upcoming ‘Fall Fun Fest: Creatures of the Night’”, says Assistant Director Nikki Hinds. Creatures of the Night will stalk the visitor center on Saturday, October 25 from 10:00am to 3:30pm to help kick off National Bat Week. National Bat Week is a celebration of the value of bats. Fun fact: bats eat over half their body weight in insects each night! Educational and entertaining activities and crafts for families will focus on other nocturnal animals too, such as owls, and Irene Morris with the Juneau Raptor Center will present a live owl at 2pm. Discovery Southeast naturalists will guide groups on 30 minute nature walks at 11am, noon, 2pm and 3pm. Librarians from the Juneau Public Library will tell their favorite stories during Storytime from 10:15-10:45am and 11-11:30am. Of course, there will also be bat videos, crafts, and games. If you are interested in volunteering for the Fall Fun Fest or need more information, please contact Hattie Inman at the visitor center at 789-6639.
The US Forest Service holds other special events like this in the visitor center during the winter, stay tuned for more information, and remember that the popular winter Fireside Lecture series begins January 9, 2015. Programs will occur twice nightly on Friday evenings during January, February and March at 6:30pm and 8pm. For information call 789-0097.
Last but not least, bears have been recently sighted near Steep Creek and drivers of Glacier Spur Road are reminded to observe posted speed limits. “Even though the speed cushions have been removed”, says Director John Neary, “the posted limits will be enforced.”