Well, it was bound to happen—after five glorious, sunny days, we woke up to our first rainy, cold day—one that is more typical of a Southeast Alaska summer day. However, that didn’t put a damper on things because today we spent the day in Glacier Bay National Park.
After waking up at Margerie Glacier and witnessing calving, we travelled to Johns Hopkins Glacier. Although it is typically an inactive glacier, it certainly didn’t seem that way today. Guests braved the wind and rain while their cameras clicked away at the white thunder as it happened over and over again. Words just cannot begin to describe the sound that the huge chunks of ice make as they crash into the cold, crystal clear blue water. As the waves from the collapsing ice caused the ship to sway, a lone sea lion could be seen laying on his piece of ice, seemingly unaware of what was going on around him or perhaps simply just not bothered.
We then headed south towards Title Inlet where we were lucky enough to witness a huge brown bear fishing in the stream. He jumped and waded through the water like a playful puppy. He belly-flopped into the water, which didn’t seem like a particularly efficient way of hunting for food, but after catching his Sockeye salmon, he could be seen enjoying his tasty meal.
Mountain goats, puffins, Steller sea lions, and breaching humpback whales rounded out the day in terms of wildlife, but there was still an evening walk in Bartlett Cove and we watched the children on board graduate to Junior Park Rangers, after demonstrating their skills as sea lions and sea otters.
We were privileged to be joined aboard today by Glacier Bay National Park ranger, Jakara Hubbard, and Huna Cultural interpreter, Bertha Franulovich. Jakara shared her knowledge of the wildlife and geology of Southeast Alaska while Bertha imparted all her knowledge of her Huna Tlingit people with us. Her passion for Alaska and her home was infectious. Majestic, awe-inspiring, beautiful, and amazing ....
Until we meet again Alaska, or as you would say in Huna Tlingit, Tsu yei Eekwasateen!
