Explore the Melting Ice Caves of Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier

Mendenhall Glacier is a spectacular 12-mile-long glacier near Juneau, Alaska. Ice caves make up its surreal interior. Only the truly adventurous can access its icy walls, as the trip to see them requires a kayak trip, an ice climb and-once you're inside-the faith that the glacier’s melting walls won't give way. But this natural wonder is under threat. The glacier has been retreating incredibly quickly in recent years due to warmer temperatures and rising sea levels. Since 1958, it has receded by almost two miles. What remains, however, is an utterly breathtaking fantasyland.
SUBSCRIBE: goo.gl/vR6Acb
This story is a part of our Planet Earth series. From mammals to insects and birds to reptiles, we share this great big world with all manner of creatures, large and small. Come with us to faraway places as we explore our great big planet and meet some of its wildest inhabitants.
Got a story idea for us? Shoot us an email at hey [at] GreatBigStory [dot] com
Follow us behind the scenes on Instagram: goo.gl/2KABeX
Make our acquaintance on Facebook: goo.gl/Vn0XIZ
Give us a shout on Twitter: goo.gl/sY1GLY
Come hang with us on Vimeo: goo.gl/T0OzjV
Visit our world directly: www.greatbigsto...

[@formealyour]

Wooow! I swear, this channel! HD Quality, interesting videos, astounding shots, what else?

[@nathanielvalbuena6100]

Aethyr Stonite well spoken narration

[@Kolibalswalboh]

Aethyr Stonite fantastic editing/motion graphics

[@paulinacoffin5704]

Inspiring and eye-opening stories.

[@camerondeforrest1144]

That is the least inspiring piece of shit I have ever read

[@goldroger9990]

mOst underrated channel of all time

[@Keyakina]

Yeah! I mean what other channel gets almost 1 mill subs in a few month? So underrated!

[@byte160]

I can look outside my house windows and see that glacier and its weird to see it on one of these videos. But great video

[@hlheutte6554]

Noah Loseby yea it's kind of funny that it's always portrayed as remote when my friends walk out there and get prom photos done....

[@dolabellajr]

@@hlheutte6554 How awesome hahaha I'd be having some whiskey

[@toruko-ishibravo2zulu679]

My tap water is ice melt. After a long flow and filtering to eliminate crushed stone dust. Such laden water is a lovely water to see but gritty in each swallow.

[@Chefffff]

there could literally be anything hidden inside that glacier, only time will tell the secrets

[@formealyour]

Chef that's kind of creepy!

[@Maxwaehrens]

At least we know for sure there won't be silly things in there like fidget spinners.

[@user-uf8ye8jy7l]

There would be the rocks, wouldn't they?

[@seal3081]

Wonder if my grandchildren will know what a glacier is.

[@SpaghettiFace2]

Wonder if my grandchildren will exist.

[@GeorgeGeorge-gx6ci]

Of course they will glaciers create most unique geography of the earths surface.

[@coolguy-ze1gs]

Shut the fuck up you virgin ass bitch

[@browniebearyt151]

cool guy For a 'cool' guy, you really needa ~chill~

[@frozenwater2370]

seal3081 I wonder if grandchildren exists

[@hlheutte6554]

You make it look like it's far away from civilization, " lets conveniently leave out the multi million dollar visitor center and the easy access hiking trail....."

[@lenguyenvietcuong5379]

this channel should have more than 20M subs

[@ggstatertots]

Great video! You guys gotta make a video on Cal Earth homes and how they can be made cheaply around the world and are super earthquake resistant.

[@rnqtn]

I love these types of videos :D

[@thealvinwibowo3567]

i just love every video you guys made

[@Punk3rGirl]

I'm going there!

[@masaharumorimoto4761]

And there's BIG gold in that cave!!! That's one of the best places on Earth to pan for gold!

[@hayk2828]

6th grade just ended today for me, at least this channel will still teach me things!

[@emmie9435]

I've been binge watching these videos for the past couple of days. Thanks for sharing the good in the world. I would of never gotten the chance to live these stories otherwise.

[@HeyitsCalifornia]

I like this channel a lot. Short videos packed in with lots of interesting info.

[@narpenguin11]

I have hiked that glacier it's really beautiful and surreal

[@brandonscott4904]

Absolutely Breathtaking, adding this to the bucket list!

[@rileysikes9285]

Woah I live there. I've been in them once or twice. Most people just wait to see them in winter where you can walk to them since the lake is frozen over. Also, there's a new cave every couple years since some collapse and new ones appear as the glacier recedes.

[@alanapaul17]

That's my home!

[@joshuasantiago788]

how can I work for you guys haha! Love this channel

[@jacobmartinez4766]

Incredible yet so sad

[@sarahleefung1916]

Great video! Just hiked the glacier last week! Unfortunately though all the ice caves have melted :( But still breathtaking and beautiful.

[@TJDuffy-ip3ue]

I live here. Best time to see the ice caves is actually in winter when you can hike across the frozen lake, and explore many areas around the face, that you can't get to in summer. But it is extremely dangerous - - which is what makes it that much more attractive. Sadly, the glacier is retreating so fast that in five to ten years the face won't even reach the lake. Icebergs floating in the lake will be a thing of the past. Those were always fun to kayak up to.

[@Sergeantpaprika]

I really appreciate that you guys are sharing these important stories about climate change and endangered species.

[@ollianders4301]

Look! They made the Windows 10 wallpaper into a real thing!

[@michaelmargono]

i visited this place ages ago. maybe 8 years ago ish.

[@JMTM]

so pretty

[@iqrasattar454]

wowww

[@Stars_will_shine]

I being Alaska Glacier on spring break on a cruise ship called Princess Ruby .

[@logand.r.505]

This is so inspiring!

[@WebkinzWor1d]

Voice kinda vaguely sounded like Zuko from avatar??

[@goldroger9990]

Laffontane Light lol

[@kyescholes5881]

woah, this is weird, I was just there yesterday, I know that spot like the back of my hand, what are the chances

[@anghulz]

is this is my windows 10 background photo?!

[@makennadomingo7597]

Please take care of the planet

[@jottell8862]

Makenna Domingo Who are you talking to? People reading yor comment? Do you really think one comment on youtube will change someone's view or opinon? I doubt that. But YOU can do something Makenna! Apparently you care about environment, so don't ask others for help, but do something yourself. You can change things.

[@spacehooman_4802]

I remembered star wars XD

[@mwoakill09]

hmm. well... thats a cup half full... WE ARE ALL GONNA DIE

[@talalgam]

whats the background music

[@ericji493]

Has anyone else seen the glacier while going on an Alaskan cruise?

[@electricmanga1]

Does anyone know the name of the song?

[@rashoietolan3047]

time to master teleportation

[@maxwelljacobs8830]

Been there. It almost killed me. No joke. Calved on me.

[@qsia]

brother bear vibes

[@toruko-ishibravo2zulu679]

I have glacier ice 50 miles distant as a crow flies from my residence. I can see the icy peaks on any clear winter day. But just one every summer. I have lava and limestone caves being found between me and those in ice. I'm too busy in doing that to ride north on the Alaska Ferry and buy helicopter access to to find unexplored glacier caves. Following footsteps in my opinion is not cave exploring.

[@hilmawanwahyu]

one sides still have ice and another side don't have

[@nikoterangiita9571]

Its brother bear all over again

[@TheMegazonyx]

If something i have learned from melting ice is: Big bad fish will eat you

[@JustusWilcox]

WELP, take care

[@LucidFL]

Disabled AdBlock!

[@nickyr7582]

A machine that makes cold ice and snow should make glaciers big and turn global warming to global cooling.

[@cpellequer]

Hi, I'm a journalist, working for a website called Demotivateur (www.demotivateur.fr). I would like to know if I can use some parts of this video to create a short film/video content about the place and post it on our page and social networks. Of course, you will be credited on screen and tag on it. Thanks a lot 🙂 Cheers

[@Keyakina]

"Explore the Melting Ice Caves " shows the same "cave" for 5 seconds, I explored so much..

[@tomek1678]

My god, 2 miles already?? Just realized how bad global worming is...

[@jottell8862]

tomytomtom1 Well, you could stop eating meat if you actually want to do something ;)

[@kyle7412]

tomytomtom1 yup. the worms will destroy us all

[@michaelpharr8343]

Warmer earth means a wetter earth and a wet earth mean a green earth.

[@floydelta7822]

View botting

[@Evensii]

if I went there with my friends the place will be destroyed (they all got hot breath) pls for just $1 a day you will be donating for those in need of a toothbrush and can prevent global warming once they are able to brush their teeth

[@rashoietolan3047]

Evens Calixte duck tape the lips of them Dookie breath bois you'll be ok lol

[@Evensii]

RASHO IE'TOLAN ok thanks😂