Saturday morning began with the calm, beautiful waters of the Tracy Arm fjord system. When John Muir came up into these fjords in the 1800s he was blown away. He said this area should be named after Yosemite Valley, for its vast similarities. The major difference between Yosemite and Tracy Arm, however, is that Tracy Arm’s steep walls plunge into salty ocean waters.
Today the guests get to not only get out into these waters, but on kayaks! This placid piece of sea offers incredible views while paddling around, sheer walls which are beginning the slow flora regrowth one may find on recently glaciated rock. Many guests had an afternoon activity on their mind at this point—the polar plunge. The water near glacial melt is much colder than most water in Alaska. The ice infused water can easily get down to temperatures in the 30’s—inviting for some and daring for most. Only the bravest and silliest among us will jump into this frigid water, momentarily, and with nearly instantaneous regret!
Dawe’s Glacier was the last glacial visit on this week’s expedition. Standing over 300 feet tall, this icy wall can release entire spires as tall as it’s face into the water. The compounded, dense ice shoots out and off the wall, spraying chunks as it falls. White thunder, as it’s called, roars through the valley with a deafening crack. Research in this area is beginning to focus more and more on the undersea life in Tracy Arm. Home to much wildlife, soft coral is being found at much shallower depths than it usually could occur, as shallow as even 20 feet! For an animal that most commonly resides at ~500 feet depth, this is quite remarkable.
The expedition came to a close watching this spectacular glacier calve, listen to the sound of hundreds of pounds of ice falling, and absolutely immersing ourselves in the grandeur and massive scale of southeast Alaska.
