Another 3:30am wake up call to catch taxi from marina to airport, where Ollie, Pam, and Mark boarded a small plane for the short flight to Gustavus. From there, we are transferred by van to the Glacier Bay Lodge, and depart from their docks on the 80-passenger MV "Baranof Wind" for a tour of majestic Glacier Bay.
The flight on a 10-passenger prop plane between Juneau and Gustavus, each direction, was worth the price alone. Our pilot took the "valley" route rather than a higher elevation over the mountains, teasing some of the mountainsides as though almost touching them with our wing tips!
Our launch point on the 80-passenger motor catamaran to view Glacier Bay...
The 80-passenger MV Baranof Wind provided comfortable accommodations for our day-long venture into the depths of Glacier Bay. The captain was very accommodating, stopping along the way wherever we saw wildlife to allow for picture taking; and would sit long enough that all passengers would have a chance to get good views.
National Park Guide Colleen Culberson provided great commentary and insights into the history of Glacier Bay and its abundant wildlife...
Glacier Bay: mountains, glacier, icebergs, azure water, and lots of wildlife...
In addition to lots of glaciers and mountains, we were delighted to see all sorts of wildlife including Sea Otters, Brown Bear, Mountain Goats, Humpback Whale, Sea Lions, Puffins, and more.
Here are a couple of playful Sea Otters just hangin' out...
Sea Lions...
Puffin...
More Sea Lion...
Brown Bears!!!
This big fella put on a show for us: walking across the beach, climbing up and over rock outcroppings; and even going for a swim to reach an adjacent beach...
Mountain Goat, the first we had seen on the trip...
The vastness of the bay, the mountains marching off in every direction, and of course the tidewater glaciers: these are Glacier Bay's calling cards over and above abundant wildlife...
But it is pretty awesome when you get to see a Mama Brown Bear with not one but two cubs. Unfortunately, this Mama looks in bad shape, and may not survive another brutal winter...
Marjorie Glacier, at the farthest point North into the vast inlet of Glacier Bay, is enormous - and of course the snow-capped peaks inland were stupendous. Words don't do justice, especially in trying to convey the sheer vastness of this area!
Marjorie Glacier is a significant "Tidewater" glacier, meaning that it reaches to the sea and continues to "calve" or spill chunks into the ocean. Pieces of floating ice breaking off of these glaciers can range from boulder-size sluffing to dropping large chunks bigger than a house!
Iceburgs from the glacier provide additional habitat for some wildlife...
This smaller boat is "harvesting" some of the glacier's iceberg: a boating tradition is to savor this ice with a favorite beverage or cocktail...
Even large cruise ships are dwarfed by the immense peaks that rise up directly from sea level...
The glacier-fed bay features amazing azure-colored water...
A quick view of the smaller Reid Glacier on the way back...
Leaving Marjorie Glacier and heading back to Gustavus...
Glaciers, mountains, icebergs, and all sorts of wildlife. What a day! Next up: more bears - tomorrow we have another early departure to Pack Creek Bear Reserve, where instead of viewing these majestic giants from the safety of the deck of a boat, we will walk among them...
~Mark
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