Glacier Bay, Alaska Scenic Cruising
Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska
Saturday, September 5, 2009
This spectacular national park and preserve displays massive glaciers that stretch 3.3 million acres from the St. Elias and Fairweather mountain ranges to the ends of the fjords. It is home to an amazing world of marine life, including humpback whales, sea otters, porpoises and harbor seals. It also possesses the highest concentration of tidewater glaciers on the planet. And access is extremely limited.
According to our cruise log, we entered Glacier Bay National Park at 05:55. The Rangers embarked at 06:13 at Barlet Cove. At 10:07 we were at Margerie Glacier and at 12:00 we cruised by Lamplugh Glacier. Our noon position was 58° 54.8' N - 137° 00.7' W. and noon temperature was 54 degrees F and cloudy cover & fine.
The rangers disembarked at 17:07 and pilots disembarked at 17:45, vessel out of Glacier Bay National Park.
The rangers are really helpful in spotting whales and pointing out the history and describing the scenery. At one point a whale jumped so close to the ship, I thought I could touch him. However, none of them stood still long enough to photograph.
This is spectacular scenery and the highlight of this tour. Although we live within a couple of hours of a Glacier, it is land-locked. Here in Glacier Bay, you hear the cracking ice and watch pieces fall into the sea.
Resources
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
- The marine wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve includes tidewater glaciers, snow-capped mountain ranges, ocean coastlines, deep fjords, and freshwater rivers and lakes. This diverse land and seascape hosts a mosaic of plant communities and a variety of marine and terrestrial wildlife and presents many opportunities for adventuring and learning about this unique and powerful place.
See our 2009 Alaska Photo Album for pictures of this cruise.
See also our 2003 Alaska Photo Album for pictures of cruise/bus/train/high-speed catamaran trip.
Oasis Cruise & Travel Stories
http://oasiscruise.com/Cruises/Alaska-Cruise-2009/Glacier-Bay