Glacier Bay
Wisps of silvery mist laced the steep forested slopes as the Sea Bird cruised through the lower reaches of Glacier Bay. It was difficult to imagine that ice had filled this entire body of water only 200 years ago.
We stopped to see South Marble Island just after breakfast. Screaming seabirds wheeled above the metamorphosed limestone that gives this island its name. Puffins, kittiwakes, common murres, and glaucous-winged gulls nest here, and great numbers careened around us. Low, guttural growls reached our ears during the ship’s approach to the northern end of the island where non-breeding Steller sea lions lay crowded on the smooth rocks.
A national park ranger joined us for the day and provided an introduction to the region while we headed towards Tidal Inlet. Everyone raced for the decks to see a brown bear and her cub wandering along the shoreline. The sow was a rich golden brown, much lighter than her dark-chocolate youngster. Farther up the bay, we watched a lone mountain goat perched on a rocky ledge.
We reached the northernmost point of our entire journey at the foot of Marjorie Glacier. Jagged blue ice rose in stark contrast against the distant cliffs. Grand Pacific Glacier disappeared to the north across the Canadian border, laden with rocky morainal debris from tributary glaciers that fed it from the mountains above.
During the afternoon we followed the path that the glacier once took down to what is now Bartlett Cove. Following dinner, we dropped off our ranger and walked ashore. A number of folks headed directly for the visitor center and museum, while others followed a trail through the darkening forest. The ship left the park by midnight, setting sail for new adventures awaiting us tomorrow.
Wisps of silvery mist laced the steep forested slopes as the Sea Bird cruised through the lower reaches of Glacier Bay. It was difficult to imagine that ice had filled this entire body of water only 200 years ago.
We stopped to see South Marble Island just after breakfast. Screaming seabirds wheeled above the metamorphosed limestone that gives this island its name. Puffins, kittiwakes, common murres, and glaucous-winged gulls nest here, and great numbers careened around us. Low, guttural growls reached our ears during the ship’s approach to the northern end of the island where non-breeding Steller sea lions lay crowded on the smooth rocks.
A national park ranger joined us for the day and provided an introduction to the region while we headed towards Tidal Inlet. Everyone raced for the decks to see a brown bear and her cub wandering along the shoreline. The sow was a rich golden brown, much lighter than her dark-chocolate youngster. Farther up the bay, we watched a lone mountain goat perched on a rocky ledge.
We reached the northernmost point of our entire journey at the foot of Marjorie Glacier. Jagged blue ice rose in stark contrast against the distant cliffs. Grand Pacific Glacier disappeared to the north across the Canadian border, laden with rocky morainal debris from tributary glaciers that fed it from the mountains above.
During the afternoon we followed the path that the glacier once took down to what is now Bartlett Cove. Following dinner, we dropped off our ranger and walked ashore. A number of folks headed directly for the visitor center and museum, while others followed a trail through the darkening forest. The ship left the park by midnight, setting sail for new adventures awaiting us tomorrow.
