South Sawyer Glacier, Alaska
Every day aboard the Sea Lion we experience new and wondrous things, and today was no exception. This morning we awoke within the narrow and winding confines of Tracy Arm. Part of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness Area, this impressive fjord dominated our day. With its towering walls of granite and its deep calm waters of glacial greens and turquoise this fjord captures the majesty and magic of SE Alaska. Arriving at the end of the fjord just after breakfast, we spent the morning dodging drifting ice at the faces of both the Sawyer and South Sawyer Glaciers. Not content to just watch these impressive geological features from the bow of the Sea Lion, we dropped the Zodiaks into the water for a more "up close and personal" perspective. Nudging our way through the ice, we moved ever closer to the towering face of ice rising more than 18 stories above the sea. Harbor seals and their newborn pups dotted the ice, while arctic terns and kittiwakes flew hither and yon. Periodically the face of the glacier would "calve" and give "birth" to the ice we floated through. "White thunder" echoed down the fjord and all were awed into silence. The fact the skies had cleared and the sun was shining brightly down upon us only added to the splendor of the experience.
Amongst drifting ice
Beneath towering blue walls
We sense our frailness
After spending most of the morning in front of the glaciers we began our journey back down the fjord. Like traveling through time, we progressed from a raw postglacial period to a more advanced stage of botanical succession. At the head of Tracy Arm, in Williams Cove, we dropped anchor to go ashore and connect more closely with this incredible environment. Kayakers went around the cove nudging up to waterfalls and harbor seals, hikers traveled well trod bear trails through the forest, and a few intrepid souls went exploring new paths to a series of bogs and beaver ponds well up the slopes and into the woods.
Back aboard the Sea Lion 'twas time to clean up, dress up and pack up. The Captain's farewell festivities brought both laughter and tears to our eyes. In such a short time so much was experienced… so much was shared. Our photographs will remind us… our memories will remain within… and the beauty of SE Alaska will always beckon us back.
Every day aboard the Sea Lion we experience new and wondrous things, and today was no exception. This morning we awoke within the narrow and winding confines of Tracy Arm. Part of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness Area, this impressive fjord dominated our day. With its towering walls of granite and its deep calm waters of glacial greens and turquoise this fjord captures the majesty and magic of SE Alaska. Arriving at the end of the fjord just after breakfast, we spent the morning dodging drifting ice at the faces of both the Sawyer and South Sawyer Glaciers. Not content to just watch these impressive geological features from the bow of the Sea Lion, we dropped the Zodiaks into the water for a more "up close and personal" perspective. Nudging our way through the ice, we moved ever closer to the towering face of ice rising more than 18 stories above the sea. Harbor seals and their newborn pups dotted the ice, while arctic terns and kittiwakes flew hither and yon. Periodically the face of the glacier would "calve" and give "birth" to the ice we floated through. "White thunder" echoed down the fjord and all were awed into silence. The fact the skies had cleared and the sun was shining brightly down upon us only added to the splendor of the experience.
Amongst drifting ice
Beneath towering blue walls
We sense our frailness
After spending most of the morning in front of the glaciers we began our journey back down the fjord. Like traveling through time, we progressed from a raw postglacial period to a more advanced stage of botanical succession. At the head of Tracy Arm, in Williams Cove, we dropped anchor to go ashore and connect more closely with this incredible environment. Kayakers went around the cove nudging up to waterfalls and harbor seals, hikers traveled well trod bear trails through the forest, and a few intrepid souls went exploring new paths to a series of bogs and beaver ponds well up the slopes and into the woods.
Back aboard the Sea Lion 'twas time to clean up, dress up and pack up. The Captain's farewell festivities brought both laughter and tears to our eyes. In such a short time so much was experienced… so much was shared. Our photographs will remind us… our memories will remain within… and the beauty of SE Alaska will always beckon us back.
