Snow in Alaska

[SpiderNZ]

Hi everyone. We've travelled the world but are now planning our first ever cruise - excited! We are stuck a little with dates due to work, and are wondering how much snow will we see in mid June on an Alaskan cruise. Are the mountains going to be mostly brown with the snow melted by June? Thanks for any help you can offer.

[Crew News]

9 minutes ago, SpiderNZ said:

Hi everyone. We've travelled the world but are now planning our first ever cruise - excited! We are stuck a little with dates due to work, and are wondering how much snow will we see in mid June on an Alaskan cruise. Are the mountains going to be mostly brown with the snow melted by June? Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

In early June, the taller mountains will still have visible snow.

[masterdrago]

If you look at some of the trip reports at the top of the Alaska Category, You should find a report about the time you will go. There is snow visible in Ketchikan In post #41 in

 

[bottom-dragger]

It really depends on how deep the snow pack is by the end of winter. These are the results of the most recent snow survey in Petersburg (middle of SE), significantly below average this year. Very important as it supplies our domestic water and gives the fish someplace to swim.

 

City Reservoir Site:

Elevation: 550 ft.
Sample Date: 2/01/19

Depth: 0" (Average: 16.8")
Snow water equivalent (SWE): 0" (Average: 4.5")

Ravens Ridge Site:

Elevation: 1,650 ft.

Sample Date: 1/31/19
Depth: 28.9" (Average: 53.1")
SWE: 9.9" (Average: 16.8")

[CHEZMARYLOU]

We saw plenty of snow capped mountains in July and August.  Here's a picture flying into Anchorage on one of our trips and one of Mt. McKinley/Denali.

[Melinda Brasher]

There will definitely be snow on a lot of the high mountains, and it's beautiful.  I've hiked through snow on trails in July--and these are trails sections you can get to on foot from the ship in an hour or two.

 

Portage Pass Trail in Whitter was one.  I have pictures here, but not specifically of the snow I got to walk through:  https://www.melindabrasher.com/2017/05/portage-glacier-hike-from-whittier.html

 

Here's a pic of old snow on the Deer Mountain Trail in Ketchikan:  https://cruisingalaskaonabudget.wordpress.com/2018/04/02/snow-in-july/    

 

 

[dyeadave]

There is a snowfield at the summit (on the road) witch is quite accessible, but not visible from the road, in June.

A hint, if you find it, you can have a snowball fight, across an international boundary, in June!

happy hunting

DD