As National Park Ranger Kailyn reminds us “Glacier Bay National Park is one of 59 National Parks in the United States. This park is your land, this park is ours to share, this park is set aside so that we may revel in wildness.” I couldn’t have said it better myself!
Motoring up-bay on a gloriously clear and bright morning our first wildlife stop is at the south Marble Islands. Here Steller sea lions bask in the sun, hauled out on glacier grounded reefs. Tufted puffins, marbled murrelets, and pigeon guillemots dot the surface of the waters around us. A large colony of black-legged kittiwakes takes to the sky as both juvenile and adult bald eagles fly over the colony looking for breakfast. The kittiwakes have risen in unison to ward off the threat the eagles bring to their chicks.
Continuing on we come to gloomy knob, a known hang out for mountain goats. Sure enough the goats are here in abundance, and we are treated to excellent views of nanny’s with kids as well as other adults. It doesn’t even seem possible that these daring cliff walkers can hang on to the sheer faces of rock that we watch them traverse!
Early afternoon finds us far north in the western arm of Glacier Bay National Park. At the northern end of Tarr Inlet lie Grand Pacific and Margerie Glaciers, where we float amongst the ice. Expedition leader John Mitchell calls for a 10-minute silent period, allowing us to listen to the glacier. We intently listen to this living rock as the ice snaps and pops, occasionally staccato “white thunder” cracks the air. Then it happens; a HUGE spire splits from the glacier face and tumbles into the sea, much to the delight and astonishment of us all!
Leaving the glaciers and heading back south brings us looks at humpback whales and even a lone bull killer whale. Docking the ship in Bartlett Cove brings the chance to hike and explore this lovely official entrance to Glacier Bay National Park. For a grand finale we offer up an Alaskan Plunge (jokingly referred to as an I.Q. test). Almost half of those on board willingly dawn swimming clothes and jump off the dock into the frigid waters of Bartlett Cove, only to immediately jump out and wrap themselves in a towel and down a hot cocoa to warm them up! To put the perfect ending on the perfect day, National Geographic photographer and author Kim Heacox comes aboard as a guest to share his words, thoughts, and songs about his home and experience here is southeast Alaska. Beautiful!
