Tracy Arm & Williams Cove
Our Southeast Alaska adventure began last evening in Juneau as we left the capital city with a stunning full moon rising above the mountain range. During the night, the Sea Lion sailed south down Gastineau Channel into Stephens Passage. In the early morning we approached the shallow Tracy Arm Bar, a terminal moraine left by receding glaciers. A narrow area in the middle of the bar, only 400 yards wide and 40 feet deep, was our doorway into the spectacular Tracy Arm. This 22 mile long, deep fjord with its heavily glaciated peaks on either side was a wonderful scene to wake up to and our senses welcomed the clean, brisk air. Several beautiful waterfalls cascaded down the deep-green forested peaks and the South Sawyer Glacier, an active tidewater glacier, kept the photo enthusiasts busy.
Bundling up and climbing aboard Zodiacs we wove our way through chunks of floating ice to get a closer look at this active glacier. We were struck by the deep blue color of the ice at the edge of the glacier and were fortunate to see a big chunk of ice come loose and plunge into the sea. This is called “calving”. Another highlight, were harbor seals playfully poking their heads up to get a view of the weird visitors to their world.
In the afternoon the sun came out and we dropped anchor in Williams Cove, a finger of the sea that juts into the forested mainland. Some strolled off to explore the shoreline and others hiked through the temperate rainforest to gaze up at the towering Sitka spruces and western hemlocks, while several others chose to climb into kayaks and paddle around the peaceful cove.
Our first day in Alaska was truly wonderful!
Our Southeast Alaska adventure began last evening in Juneau as we left the capital city with a stunning full moon rising above the mountain range. During the night, the Sea Lion sailed south down Gastineau Channel into Stephens Passage. In the early morning we approached the shallow Tracy Arm Bar, a terminal moraine left by receding glaciers. A narrow area in the middle of the bar, only 400 yards wide and 40 feet deep, was our doorway into the spectacular Tracy Arm. This 22 mile long, deep fjord with its heavily glaciated peaks on either side was a wonderful scene to wake up to and our senses welcomed the clean, brisk air. Several beautiful waterfalls cascaded down the deep-green forested peaks and the South Sawyer Glacier, an active tidewater glacier, kept the photo enthusiasts busy.
Bundling up and climbing aboard Zodiacs we wove our way through chunks of floating ice to get a closer look at this active glacier. We were struck by the deep blue color of the ice at the edge of the glacier and were fortunate to see a big chunk of ice come loose and plunge into the sea. This is called “calving”. Another highlight, were harbor seals playfully poking their heads up to get a view of the weird visitors to their world.
In the afternoon the sun came out and we dropped anchor in Williams Cove, a finger of the sea that juts into the forested mainland. Some strolled off to explore the shoreline and others hiked through the temperate rainforest to gaze up at the towering Sitka spruces and western hemlocks, while several others chose to climb into kayaks and paddle around the peaceful cove.
Our first day in Alaska was truly wonderful!
