A History: The MICA Mocha Ice Truck
If you have ever found yourself winding down the the Matanuska Valley from the East, it isn’t long before you reach mile marker 101. Beyond the reflective sign and blooms of fireweed, the black hood of an old Ford ice truck sits at rest. Although this antique automobile may be out of commission for delivering ice, the signage indicates the ice truck’s new life; an espresso and ice cream stop offering one of the best views of the Matanuska Glacier, MICA Mocha.
As you walk around the truck, adjacent to the MICA Guides base camp, the picturesque Matanuska Glacier meets you. Additionally, a porch with chairs and tables nestles up to a canopied ordering area, where the iconic ice door are swung open to revel an interior transformation. The inside of this truck has been converted to serve locally roasted espresso and ice cream. Sitting on the porch, enjoying the epic views of mountains and glacier, eating ice cream, maybe you start to wonder; How did this antique find it’s way to this superb resting place?
The Beginning
The journey of this 1948 Ford F5 ice truck to Glacier View started on a road trip to Seward, Alaska in 2007. The Ford F5 was made to originally transport ice and cooled goods across miles of roadways when it was fabricated in 1948, and sports a more suave design than the F1 design that was being fabricated during the same time period. Owner and operator of MICA Guides, Don Wray, spotted this interesting piece of auto-mechanical history. Originally, the relic sat on the side of the highway with a for sale sign as a converter camper. Not long after spotting this, a decision was made to bring the truck to it’s new home, the Matanuska Valley.
What normally would be just a few hours drive, turned into a 10-12 hour journey. The trip was filled with an abundance of mechanical stops and fixes. Thankfully Don is an engineer by trade and skill as well as having skilled people along for support. Finally, after the elongated haul and some tedious work, the wheels were chugging across the gravel drive way in Glacier View. Once the ice truck found its way to the parking lot it was time to adapt. Before the ice truck became the MICA Mocha truck, there was a life before that. With a little creativity and some hybridization of marine and auto-mechanics, the ice truck was tested and ready to start as a transportation vehicle for glacier tours.
The Next Chapter
Once the van seats were in the back and a fuel injection issue was resolved by implementing a few hand pumps for initial start up, the ice truck was ready for glacier tours. Although it was a short run, it was a good one. The F5 had a few good years operating as a transportation vehicle. However, it was becoming apparent the ice truck needed a more restful job. That’s when the wheels rolled themselves into the wildflower overgrowth near the entrance of the MICA Guides lot as a new welcoming point and one of our favorite rest and recollect spots.
The Final Resting Place
Over the years the truck intermingled with guide culture and has become an essential chapter in the memories at MICA. In 2012 the truck was set to rest as the converted ice cream and espresso stand we see today. Each year new home-made baked goods and flavors hit the counter. And, a picture deck sits right in front of the truck. This is a perfect place to capture some of the best scenic glacier views around.
MICA Mocha adds a little different flavor to your normal morning coffee. Simultaneously, the deck is perfect for those staying nearby at Alpenglow Luxury Camping. This area is wonderful for anyone waiting for the next ice tour with MICA Guides, or wants to relax while other people in their group enjoy a more adventurous tour. And, this space is great if you need to take a break from the road and grab a treat. This ice cream stand isn’t your typical stop. It is exactly what you need to add to your visit to Alaska.
