FAQ

Answers to some questions commonly asked of Glacier Bay park rangers.

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FAQ Details

Below are some of the most common questions posed to park rangers according to the National Park Service: **Where Did The Park Get It's Name?** The park is named after the Wrangell and St. Elias Mountain ranges. These mountains form the rugged backbone of the park. The Wrangell Mountains were named after Baron Ferdinand Petrovich von Wrangel, a Russian Naval officer and arctic explorer. The St. Elias Mountains were named by explorer Vitus Bering (as in the Bering Sea), a Danish explorer in Russian employ. The lofty summit of Mount St. Elias was the first piece of Alaska mainland to catch Vitus Bering's eye and just happened to be on the feast day of the Saint Elias. **How difficult is it to access a glacier in the park?** Not too difficult! Of the 5,000 square miles of glacial ice in Wrangell-St. Elias, the Root Glacier is the most accessible. A moderate 1 1/2 mile walk from the historic mining town of Kennecott along the Root Glacier Trail leads you onto the glacier. **When did Mt. Wrangell last erupt?** Mount Wrangell is the only volcano in the Wrangell Mountains that is currently active. Eruptive activity has been noted in Mt. Wrangell in 1784, 1884-5, and in 1900. **Are firearms allowed in Wrangell-St. Elias?** As of February 22, 2010, a federal law allows people who can legally possess firearms under applicable federal and Alaska state law, to legally possess firearms within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. **Where can I catch a salmon?** There are not very many opportunities to catch salmon within the park. The Copper River tends to be too silty to catch salmon. The best place for kings and reds are the nearby Klutina and Gulkana Rivers. The best place to catch silvers is in Valdez, AK. **Can I pan for gold or collect rocks? Can I collect fossils, antlers, or horns? What about berries or mushrooms?** In general, visitors are not allowed to take items from national parks. However, parks in Alaska are different than other national parks, and there are some provisions that allow visitors to take certain items. Berries, mushrooms, and plants may be gathered for personal use. Driftwood, seashells, and dead wood for firewood may be gathered. Antlers and horns may NOT be collected. The NPS allows persons to collect all rocks and minerals except silver, platinum, gemstones, and fossils.

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