Mountains and Clouds, Glacier Bay Southeast Alaska
The Sea Bird arrived in Bartlett Cove long before breakfast to pickup a National Park Ranger, then turned north into the foggy reaches of Glacier Bay. The fog began to lift, as we made our way north to the glacially carved Marble Islands. We were treated to views of a lone sea otter, sea lions, tufted puffins, pigeon guillemots, and common murres around South Marble Island. The Sea Bird proceeded north up the bay as the clouds and fog lifted to reveal the snow and ice covered summit of Mt. Fairweather, 15,320 feet above sea level. In the cliffs, above Tidal Inlet we saw evidence for the massive rockslide of 1958.
Then our attention was diverted by beautiful meadows of fireweed and a lone wolf wandering on the beach. We watched in amazement as a family of three youngsters came into view then reunited with their parents and entered the trees. Yet a fourth cub straggled behind and then entered the woods. We continued north past Gloomy Knob, which was bathed in bright sunshine, and spotted three mountain goats – two of them clearly visible just above the high tide line.
The afternoon brought clear blue skies and sun as we made our way into the glacially-carved valley of Johns Hopkins Inlet. The sides of the fjord were dotted with excellent views of U-shaped valleys and glacial striations, and intrusions of igneous rock that underlie the Fairweather Range. Icy spires, or séracs, along the glaciers terminus popped and cracked, then rewarded us with formation of icebergs by calving from above and shooters emerging from below the water. We baked in hot sun under clear skies as the Sea Bird headed south down Glacier Bay.The Sea Bird returned to Bartlett Cove just after 8 pm. We docked and disembarked to stretch our legs along the forest trail and visit the Glacier Bay Park headquarters.
The Sea Bird arrived in Bartlett Cove long before breakfast to pickup a National Park Ranger, then turned north into the foggy reaches of Glacier Bay. The fog began to lift, as we made our way north to the glacially carved Marble Islands. We were treated to views of a lone sea otter, sea lions, tufted puffins, pigeon guillemots, and common murres around South Marble Island. The Sea Bird proceeded north up the bay as the clouds and fog lifted to reveal the snow and ice covered summit of Mt. Fairweather, 15,320 feet above sea level. In the cliffs, above Tidal Inlet we saw evidence for the massive rockslide of 1958.
Then our attention was diverted by beautiful meadows of fireweed and a lone wolf wandering on the beach. We watched in amazement as a family of three youngsters came into view then reunited with their parents and entered the trees. Yet a fourth cub straggled behind and then entered the woods. We continued north past Gloomy Knob, which was bathed in bright sunshine, and spotted three mountain goats – two of them clearly visible just above the high tide line.
The afternoon brought clear blue skies and sun as we made our way into the glacially-carved valley of Johns Hopkins Inlet. The sides of the fjord were dotted with excellent views of U-shaped valleys and glacial striations, and intrusions of igneous rock that underlie the Fairweather Range. Icy spires, or séracs, along the glaciers terminus popped and cracked, then rewarded us with formation of icebergs by calving from above and shooters emerging from below the water. We baked in hot sun under clear skies as the Sea Bird headed south down Glacier Bay.The Sea Bird returned to Bartlett Cove just after 8 pm. We docked and disembarked to stretch our legs along the forest trail and visit the Glacier Bay Park headquarters.
