Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center closed due to burst pipe causing leakage, no damage reported
- Jasz Garrett
- 22 hours ago
- 2 min read
First of new year's Fireside Lecture Series moved to Juneau Ranger District office
By Jasz Garrett
Juneau Independent
The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is closed as of Wednesday due to leakage inside, causing the debut of this year’s Fireside Lecture Series to be moved to a different location.
Matthew Puma, maintenance technician for the U.S. Forest Service, said the Capital City Fire/Rescue fire marshal notified the Forest Service about 3 a.m. Tuesday that a pipe had burst in the visitor center. He said Forest Service employees responded at about 5 a.m. and found water leaking into the main level upstairs and down to the employee level.
“We got a bunch of buckets out, located the source of the leak, and then today (Wednesday) we’ve looked at the plans of the visitor center and uncovered a large ice dam in one of the outflow pipes that lets water drain from the roof down to underneath the visitor center, and we just unclogged it,” Puma said.
He said there was no damage from the burst pipe, and he hopes maintenance crews don’t have to shovel snow off the roof.
Paul Robbins, a Forest Service spokesperson, confirmed with the Independent on Wednesday that ice and debris had clogged the drainage system at the visitor center, causing some flooding inside.
“The facility is closed until we finish repairing the leak and drainage system,” Robbins wrote in an email.
The winter visitor center’s normal hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Seasonal fireside lectures at the visitor center are scheduled for Fridays at 7 p.m. However, this week’s “Diary of a Forest Ranger” will be held in the conference room at the Juneau Ranger District Office at 8510 Mendenhall Loop Road.
“As far as I know, it's going to be held here for a while,” said Lynn Wilbur, another Forest Service spokesperson.
Although the visitor center is currently closed, the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area’s trails are open, according to Wilbur. She said she is unsure how long the center’s closure will affect future events, including the scheduled lectures.
“Diary of a Forest Ranger” will feature “poignant and humorous” tales from Pete Griffin’s 38-year Forest Service career. The event is free of charge and will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.
• Contact Jasz Garrett at jasz@juneauindependent.com or (907) 723-9356. Editor Mark Sabbatini and board member Rosemarie Alexander-Isett contributed to this article.
