Forest Service unveils plan for Mendenhall Glacier tourism

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – The U.S. Forest Service has unveiled a draft plan to deal with an increase in visitors at the Mendenhall Glacier.

The Juneau Empire reports that the Forest Service last week released the plan calling for a new 7,000-square-foot visitor facility, a boat and dock system to ferry visitors across Mendenhall Lake, new trails and a mobile visitor center near the glacier.

The Forest Service has yet to release the full plan, but says the objectives are to decrease crowding, enhance opportunities for locals, and “chase the ice,” meaning increase opportunity for visitors to get to the glacier.

The Cruise Line Industry Association says a record-setting number of over 1 million cruise visitors are expected in Juneau this year. About half of those visitors are expected to go to the glacier.

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