Glacier Bay National Park
Our group began their third day at sea in Glacier Bay, at the base of the Johns Hopkins Glacier. With moody skies overhead, the group watched the mile wide face of the glacier for signs of ice that might soon plunge into the sea before it. With thunderous cracking in the air, large sections of ice would break away from the glacier face, collapsing in pieces as large as 20 story buildings. The harbor seals hauled out on the ice at the front of the glacier barely moved as the swells passed their resting places.
The ship turned back eastward and then north into Tarr Inlet, where an hour was spent viewing the blue ice of Margerie Glacier. Just beyond was Grand Pacific Glacier, which in 1789 filled the entire Glacier Bay with ice. We then made our way south past Russell Island and down to Tidal Inlet and abundant rafts of scoter ducks in the water. Along the way we passed a small group of mountain goats high on Gloomy Knob. We cruised into Geikie Inlet, then soon arrived at South Marble Island. From the ship, tufted puffins, pelagic cormorants, and gulls could be found on the water and in cliffside perches. Steller sea lions were hauled out on rock outcroppings. The day completed with a one mile hike on a forest trail near Park headquarters in Bartlett Cove.
Our group began their third day at sea in Glacier Bay, at the base of the Johns Hopkins Glacier. With moody skies overhead, the group watched the mile wide face of the glacier for signs of ice that might soon plunge into the sea before it. With thunderous cracking in the air, large sections of ice would break away from the glacier face, collapsing in pieces as large as 20 story buildings. The harbor seals hauled out on the ice at the front of the glacier barely moved as the swells passed their resting places.
The ship turned back eastward and then north into Tarr Inlet, where an hour was spent viewing the blue ice of Margerie Glacier. Just beyond was Grand Pacific Glacier, which in 1789 filled the entire Glacier Bay with ice. We then made our way south past Russell Island and down to Tidal Inlet and abundant rafts of scoter ducks in the water. Along the way we passed a small group of mountain goats high on Gloomy Knob. We cruised into Geikie Inlet, then soon arrived at South Marble Island. From the ship, tufted puffins, pelagic cormorants, and gulls could be found on the water and in cliffside perches. Steller sea lions were hauled out on rock outcroppings. The day completed with a one mile hike on a forest trail near Park headquarters in Bartlett Cove.
