The glaciers are melting, the glaciers are melting

JIM CRAIG

June 26, 2008 at 1:45PM AKST

That’s right, folks. Just a few miles away from us.

It’s true. I’ve seen it.

There’s meltwater running all over the place. Al Gore told me about it, so I flew out to investigate. Being the local air taxi and scenic flight guy and budding cub reporter for The Seward Phoenix Log, I wanted to jump right on this developing story.

Turns out I wasn’t the first to notice.

A couple of politicians heard about it back in August 2005. They came to Seward for a photo opportunity and a press conference in front of Exit Glacier. Anyone remember? It was none other than our almost next president, Hillary Clinton.

Guess who she had with her? John McCain. Isn’t that interesting?

They took note of the water pouring out from under the ice of Exit Glacier and in spite of their professions even they could recognize the truth. Wow, look at that. Dramatic proof. These glaciers are melting.

Newsflash! Glaciers have been melting in the Seward area and lots of other places for approximately 20,000 years. Ever since the end of the last Ice Age.

Now the entrepreneur in me feels the need to urge everyone to come fly with me to see this phenomenon before it’s all over. It’s happening right in our own back yard. I can take you over a thousand square miles of disappearing ice in just an hour.

In fact, I’m considering a close out special: Fly now, it’s the final summer for the glaciers. But then the truth-in-advertising people might give me a call.

But consider this. If Exit and Aialik and Bear and Godwin Glaciers all melt, Seward might get a little wet. The waves might even lap right up to the door of the Yukon Bar.

We’ll need canoes and kayaks to get in to listen to Hobo Jim playing on the Fourth of July wearing his water wings and shower clogs.

Not only that, but what’s an enterprising scenic flight pilot going to do with himself once the glaciers everyone comes to see are gone?

Final newsflash! You may have up to 1,000 years before the last cube of glacial ice melts away. That is unless another ice age comes along before it’s all gone. But I’m ready to take your reservation.

Don’t delay. What’s that? You want 10 in the morning on July 14, 2054? Sorry, I think I’m busy that day.

Jim Craig flies air taxi and scenic flights from the Seward airport for Scenic Mountain Air. His new novel, North To Disaster, is available locally or at www.bushakpress.com.