Endicott Arm and Tracy Arm, Southeast Alaska
This morning we peered out our cabin windows to yet another new vista – misty clouds and rain. Given that we had been here nearly a week and this was our first experience with a good Southeast Alaska rainy day, we felt fortunate once again. To go along with the new weather, we were also in a new location, Endicott Arm. This beautiful fjord, 30 miles long, cuts southeast into the mainland from Stephen’s Passage. After breakfast we enjoyed the cruise past the steep glacially carved walls and were surprised and delighted that we could not go for more than 5 minutes without seeing a new waterfall.
By mid-morning we were as far as the ship could take us, so we donned our raingear, boarded the Zodiacs and weaved our way among the icebergs and harbor seal pups until we were one quarter mile away from the face of Dawes Glacier. It was magical to be out on the water and part of the surroundings. Our senses took it all in: the cries and graceful flight of arctic terns, the sound of white thunder as the glacier calved, the deep “glacier” blue and the mist on our faces. The harbor seals performed disappearing acts as they stole glances of us and slid beneath the surface again. The chill in the air was ignored as we took in our surroundings. Then again, maybe it was the hot chocolate that helped take away the chill!
After lunch we had time to relax, reflect and enjoy the trip out of the fiord and into neighboring Tracy Arm. Capping off our day, Captain Graves brought us in for a truly up close look at Hole-in-the-Wall Falls. The hole for which it is named was just barely visible through a heavy curtain of water. Those of us most forward on the bow got an early shower as the spray from the falls occasionally blew in our direction.
Our final cocktail hour gathering in the lounge brought several surprises. Steve delighted us with a rendition of the Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert Service and Matt took us on a final “flight” over Southeast Alaska. And finally, due to Bob Chrenc’s creativity we joined in a sing-a long that will forever more have us thinking of Southeast Alaska when we hear the music to the Twelve Days of Christmas.
This morning we peered out our cabin windows to yet another new vista – misty clouds and rain. Given that we had been here nearly a week and this was our first experience with a good Southeast Alaska rainy day, we felt fortunate once again. To go along with the new weather, we were also in a new location, Endicott Arm. This beautiful fjord, 30 miles long, cuts southeast into the mainland from Stephen’s Passage. After breakfast we enjoyed the cruise past the steep glacially carved walls and were surprised and delighted that we could not go for more than 5 minutes without seeing a new waterfall.
By mid-morning we were as far as the ship could take us, so we donned our raingear, boarded the Zodiacs and weaved our way among the icebergs and harbor seal pups until we were one quarter mile away from the face of Dawes Glacier. It was magical to be out on the water and part of the surroundings. Our senses took it all in: the cries and graceful flight of arctic terns, the sound of white thunder as the glacier calved, the deep “glacier” blue and the mist on our faces. The harbor seals performed disappearing acts as they stole glances of us and slid beneath the surface again. The chill in the air was ignored as we took in our surroundings. Then again, maybe it was the hot chocolate that helped take away the chill!
After lunch we had time to relax, reflect and enjoy the trip out of the fiord and into neighboring Tracy Arm. Capping off our day, Captain Graves brought us in for a truly up close look at Hole-in-the-Wall Falls. The hole for which it is named was just barely visible through a heavy curtain of water. Those of us most forward on the bow got an early shower as the spray from the falls occasionally blew in our direction.
Our final cocktail hour gathering in the lounge brought several surprises. Steve delighted us with a rendition of the Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert Service and Matt took us on a final “flight” over Southeast Alaska. And finally, due to Bob Chrenc’s creativity we joined in a sing-a long that will forever more have us thinking of Southeast Alaska when we hear the music to the Twelve Days of Christmas.
