Last week we took you on a train ride on the Alaska Railroad. One of the stops we checked out was the whistle stop at Spencer Glacier. The icebergs spotting the lake looked so impressive from the shore, we just had to see them up close and personal.

Chugach Adventure Guides took CBS 11 News out onto the lake where these giants of the water are literally at our fingertips.

We were instructed briefly on iceberg safety before jumping into the rafts. Once on the water, it was serene.

    Oars flung into the water...
    Seagulls called...
    And water dripped from the bergs.

It seemed nearly sacrilegious to speak.
It's a sight few places on Earth can offer. Bright blues and greens work together to paint a

picture that just about takes your breath away.

Guides have to be skilled enough to weave their way through the bergs.

"Maybe we can catch them on the other side. You guys come through this maze! Come through this maze!" said Melanee Raney of Chugach Adventure Guides.

Because as soon as you round one, there's another. Each varies in size and shape. Some rise over three stories, while others barely stick out of the water. Some spread just below the surface of the water, making it hard to row. One thing is for certain: just when you think you've seen the brightest, most beautiful berg, along comes another even more spectacular.

The blue on these bergs is sensational; you don't realize how blue it's going to be until you


Advertisement

get up close to them. It's quite a sight to behold: bluer than the bluest sky you can imagine.

CBS 11 News got a special treat from our guide when she gave us the OK to stand on one.

Spencer Lake is unique because it's still off the beaten path. Only the railroad cuts through the mountains to it. And no matter how many times you may navigate its maze of bergs, you'll never take the same trip twice.

"I enjoy the fact that it changes every day out here. With Spencer Lake, there's

icebergs that are changing every day; the glacier is constantly making noises and caving," said Raney.

It's no wonder that a choo-choo ride through the Chugach to Spencer Glacier attracts visitors from near and far.

"I enjoy sharing it with people from all over the world, just showing them a piece of Alaska that's pretty special," said Raney.

"It's just an amazing trip. Whether you're doing the canoeing or the rafting...it's hard to put into words unless you've actually been out in it, but it's just...amazing," said Tim Thompson of Alaska Railroad.

For more information on the Whistle Stop Service: