Glacier Bay National Park
To the west of the Sea Lion’s morning position the base of the Fairweather mountain range was just visible, providing protection from a spring storm that continued to rage in the Pacific Ocean.
At approximately 4:00am, Captain Carden began his approach towards Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. This 3.2 million acre piece of land was designated a national monument in 1925. Its purpose was to preserve the glacial environment and plant communities for public enjoyment, scientific study, and hisoric interest. The park has been expanded several times and was redesignated a national park and preserve in 1980. In 1986 the park was named a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. In 1992 it was listed as a World Heritage Site. All of these land titles add to the importance of preserving this constantly changing and evolving glacial ecosystem, protecting the diversity of life it contains and preserving this vast National Park for future generations of travelers and explorers of all ages.
Our morning of exploration began at South Marble Island. As the Sea Lion approached this well- populated bird rookery and Steller sea lion haulout, our Glacier Bay National park ranger, Kevin Richards called us all outside for a closer look. In the still, cool air we could hear the sea lions while watching black oystercatchers, common murres, and pigeon guillemots flying in circles around our vessel. A very wet bald eagle sat on top of one of the smaller islets along side a sea lion, all creatures furred and feathered weathering this spring storm with little effort.
While Kevin made his introduction to Glacier Bay in the lounge, the Sea Lion continued her journey north heading for Sandy Cove. We moved into the bay slowly, just ahead of a river otter who took one look at the large, white object coming its way and made a fast retreat out of the water, loping up the intertidal area and into the low shrubs along the beach.
Contining north we passed Gloomy Knob and entered the world of the mountain goat. Attracted to the new spring growth on this rock formation, many mountain goats carefully make their way along the steep cliff to browse on new green shoots and lichens nourished by the rain and mist. Soon after leaving the goats, a brown bear was spotted on the shore close by. As we assembled excitedly on the bow, the bear sauntered down the beach occasionally standing to scratch his back on small trees.
In the early afternoon, we arrived at the most northwestern point of our journey through Glacier Bay. The Sea Lion slowed in front of the faces of Grand Pacific and Margerie glaciers. A new dusting of snow had fallen over both glaciers and the great storm in the Pacific ocean just to the west had finially begun to die. Blue skies, mountain peaks and many birds circled around the faces of these two glaciers.
The remainder of our day was spent enjoying a peek-a-boo of sun breaks mixed with light rain showers and rainbows. In the senstive and descriptive words of a haiku by our fellow traveler, Mel Goertz, “The grey rain comes down on mountain goat and fish droplets and waterfalls.”
To the west of the Sea Lion’s morning position the base of the Fairweather mountain range was just visible, providing protection from a spring storm that continued to rage in the Pacific Ocean.
At approximately 4:00am, Captain Carden began his approach towards Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. This 3.2 million acre piece of land was designated a national monument in 1925. Its purpose was to preserve the glacial environment and plant communities for public enjoyment, scientific study, and hisoric interest. The park has been expanded several times and was redesignated a national park and preserve in 1980. In 1986 the park was named a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. In 1992 it was listed as a World Heritage Site. All of these land titles add to the importance of preserving this constantly changing and evolving glacial ecosystem, protecting the diversity of life it contains and preserving this vast National Park for future generations of travelers and explorers of all ages.
Our morning of exploration began at South Marble Island. As the Sea Lion approached this well- populated bird rookery and Steller sea lion haulout, our Glacier Bay National park ranger, Kevin Richards called us all outside for a closer look. In the still, cool air we could hear the sea lions while watching black oystercatchers, common murres, and pigeon guillemots flying in circles around our vessel. A very wet bald eagle sat on top of one of the smaller islets along side a sea lion, all creatures furred and feathered weathering this spring storm with little effort.
While Kevin made his introduction to Glacier Bay in the lounge, the Sea Lion continued her journey north heading for Sandy Cove. We moved into the bay slowly, just ahead of a river otter who took one look at the large, white object coming its way and made a fast retreat out of the water, loping up the intertidal area and into the low shrubs along the beach.
Contining north we passed Gloomy Knob and entered the world of the mountain goat. Attracted to the new spring growth on this rock formation, many mountain goats carefully make their way along the steep cliff to browse on new green shoots and lichens nourished by the rain and mist. Soon after leaving the goats, a brown bear was spotted on the shore close by. As we assembled excitedly on the bow, the bear sauntered down the beach occasionally standing to scratch his back on small trees.
In the early afternoon, we arrived at the most northwestern point of our journey through Glacier Bay. The Sea Lion slowed in front of the faces of Grand Pacific and Margerie glaciers. A new dusting of snow had fallen over both glaciers and the great storm in the Pacific ocean just to the west had finially begun to die. Blue skies, mountain peaks and many birds circled around the faces of these two glaciers.
The remainder of our day was spent enjoying a peek-a-boo of sun breaks mixed with light rain showers and rainbows. In the senstive and descriptive words of a haiku by our fellow traveler, Mel Goertz, “The grey rain comes down on mountain goat and fish droplets and waterfalls.”
