Glacier Bay National Park
Today we awoke in Bartlett Cove and picked up a National Park Service Ranger who would join us for the day exploring Glacier Bay National Park. Heading north, all eyes on deck, we began our day exploring this living labyrinth of rock and ice. Our first stop at The Boulders rewarded us with the special sighting of a raft of sea otters. Safety in numbers, there were over 200 otters clustered leeward of the rocky islet. After learning about the history of Russians and the decimation of this member of the weasel family we felt fortunate to view such a great number of the Southeast population.
Moving further up the bay we could hear our next stop before the boat slowed. South Marble Island is a haulout for male Steller Sea Lions and perfectly perched upon the rock was an impressive adult. Further down the rocky shore we encountered the subjects of seabird studies and got good looks at tufted puffins, common murres, black legged kittiwakes and the glaucous winged gulls.
At the mouth of Muir Inlet we headed for the western arm of Glacier Bay and were not alone in Tidal Inlet. Four brown bears brought smiles on the bow for the bruin is the charismatic megafauna so many of us have dreamed of seeing in the wild.
Not far from there we rounded the bend to Gloomy Knob and on the edge of a dolomite cliff (metamorphosed limestone) clung the amazing mountain goat. Never ceasing to amaze, there was this daring individual who braved the steeps and from our perspective attempted the impossible precipitous ascent. These goats’ specialized split hooves have hard outer rims and rubbery soles allowing them to spread their feet wide and grip the rocky surface. Holding our breaths in fear for its falling, the goat successfully gained what appeared an unlikely toehold.
Entering Tarr Inlet we stopped at Russell Island where a bruin walked the shoreline. It’s reflection captured on the water, it pawed amongst the boulders eating barnacles. Suddenly like sentinels of the fortress, two bears appeared above the beach and after surveying the scene disappeared as quickly as they had come. Could the day get any better?
The icing on the cake came with the destination of the day, Margerie Glacier, which undoubtedly delivered. Approaching the tidewater glacier, a bald eagle perfectly perched on a berg set the stage for the calving that was soon to begin. Nothing could describe the experience, the sounds and the unpredictable nature of glacial ice peeling from the icefall.
While hard to fathom the historic extent of the glaciers (out to the head of Glacier Bay) in the not so distant past (just over 200 years) we were awed by this wonder of nature.
Reluctantly the ship resumed its course back out the bay to Bartlett Cove where we ended this day overwhelmed with the emotions of epic nature that surface in the wild spaces of the last frontier.
Today we awoke in Bartlett Cove and picked up a National Park Service Ranger who would join us for the day exploring Glacier Bay National Park. Heading north, all eyes on deck, we began our day exploring this living labyrinth of rock and ice. Our first stop at The Boulders rewarded us with the special sighting of a raft of sea otters. Safety in numbers, there were over 200 otters clustered leeward of the rocky islet. After learning about the history of Russians and the decimation of this member of the weasel family we felt fortunate to view such a great number of the Southeast population.
Moving further up the bay we could hear our next stop before the boat slowed. South Marble Island is a haulout for male Steller Sea Lions and perfectly perched upon the rock was an impressive adult. Further down the rocky shore we encountered the subjects of seabird studies and got good looks at tufted puffins, common murres, black legged kittiwakes and the glaucous winged gulls.
At the mouth of Muir Inlet we headed for the western arm of Glacier Bay and were not alone in Tidal Inlet. Four brown bears brought smiles on the bow for the bruin is the charismatic megafauna so many of us have dreamed of seeing in the wild.
Not far from there we rounded the bend to Gloomy Knob and on the edge of a dolomite cliff (metamorphosed limestone) clung the amazing mountain goat. Never ceasing to amaze, there was this daring individual who braved the steeps and from our perspective attempted the impossible precipitous ascent. These goats’ specialized split hooves have hard outer rims and rubbery soles allowing them to spread their feet wide and grip the rocky surface. Holding our breaths in fear for its falling, the goat successfully gained what appeared an unlikely toehold.
Entering Tarr Inlet we stopped at Russell Island where a bruin walked the shoreline. It’s reflection captured on the water, it pawed amongst the boulders eating barnacles. Suddenly like sentinels of the fortress, two bears appeared above the beach and after surveying the scene disappeared as quickly as they had come. Could the day get any better?
The icing on the cake came with the destination of the day, Margerie Glacier, which undoubtedly delivered. Approaching the tidewater glacier, a bald eagle perfectly perched on a berg set the stage for the calving that was soon to begin. Nothing could describe the experience, the sounds and the unpredictable nature of glacial ice peeling from the icefall.
While hard to fathom the historic extent of the glaciers (out to the head of Glacier Bay) in the not so distant past (just over 200 years) we were awed by this wonder of nature.
Reluctantly the ship resumed its course back out the bay to Bartlett Cove where we ended this day overwhelmed with the emotions of epic nature that surface in the wild spaces of the last frontier.
