Rock glaciers can only be appreciated by walking on them.

When travelling to or through Haines Junction, take the time to drive 40 km (25 miles) to Rock Glacier and spend 20 minutes climbing on this amazing natural phenomenon. Running shoes and sneakers are adequate footwear, and sandals could be used. Hiking boots are overkill if you stay on the path.

When you climb to the top of this rocky glacier there are four small activities you can perform. Unobstructed by trees, look around and admire the view of Dezadeash Lake, the valleys below and those mountain peaks above. Write your name using stones, replacing the name that is already written on a large flat rock.

Move a couple dozen stones at the very end of the unofficial path and lengthen it every so slightly. Lastly, carefully study the lichen that covers undisturbed rocks; the variety might surprise you.

Please don't do what one couple did as we were preparing breakfast below this extrusion of shattered stone, this grey tongue of a granite giant. They drove their camper into the large parking lot. He waved to us, she looked up above the trees. They drove the few metres back to the highway and disappeared within seconds. If they know where they were they can at least say they were there.

As I write this another couple, this time in a fifth wheel, drove in, stopped for a minute, then drove away. I am so glad that we have the time to stop and smell the roses. (Yes, the wild roses are in bloom and their aroma is wonderful. Also blooming are lupens, fireweed, buttercups, lily of the valley, bluebells, something with deep maroon flowers, another plant with hundreds of miniature white flowers creating a snowball of petals, and one with flowers so soft I call it rabbit's paw.) Considering that we spent thousands of dollars and several weeks to get this far, we'd be foolish not to spend a few more minutes to explore this area.

We've walked on ice glaciers (frozen water), lava beds (melted rock) and now on a rock glacier (cold rock). It is difficult to imagine these millions of rock shards, formed by stones cracked by frost, flowing down the side of a mountain. Or flowing anywhere, for that matter. I thought engineers used crushed rock to stabilize road beds because it wouldn't move. But over the centuries, flow it did.

What an uncommon natural marvel. When you get a chance, walk on a rock glacier. Liz and I both agree that this stop was the highlight of our scenic trip from Whitehorse to Skagway to Haines Junction.