Hubbard Glacier Cruising

Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Good Afternoon
How lucky were we today. We woke up with the sun poking through the clouds after spending yesterday watching whales in the rain.

We cruised up Yakutak Bay amid slowly drifting ice debris with the Hubbard Glacier drawing ever closer. Everyone who has been there will know what an amazing trip it is with sweeping views of snow covered mountains, hanging glacier valleys and small icebergs. Then you "park" in front of the largest tidewater glacier in North America stretching 76 miles from its source in the Yukon to the sea at Yakutat Bay.

We bundled up with all the clothes we brought, jackets, hats and gloves and were out on deck by 8:30 as we sailed up the bay. Everything got numb except the finger for clicking the shutter on the cameras. As the ship slowly pirouetted in front of the glacier the sun came out and the glacier put on its floor show emitting loud booms and calving several large glaciers. Those of us with cabins on the starboard went down to heat up in our cabins, but ended up standing on our decks for 30 minutes with the glacier stretched across in front of us. Glorious.

Gary and I have been to Glacier Bay on a cruise and we both think Hubbard Glacier is more spectacular. Perhaps it was the weather...a bit cloudy in the beginning so we could see the blue of the glacial ice and then having a gloriously sunny afternoon.

We have on board a wonderful Alaskan naturalist named Milos who provided commentary during our cruise to the glacier from 10:30 to 2:30 and then later in the day gave a presentation in the theatre on Sea Mammals. His presentations have become a not to be missed event. When we were cruising through the Inside Passage he located himself in the Constellation Lounge on the 11th deck at the bow of the ship spotting whales and dolphins for us. The Constellation Lounge is fast becoming our favourite place to hang out, as long as the ballroom dance class and bingo games aren't featured. We can always find Brenda with her binoculars there spotting whales.

We have been told that today's sunny day at the glacier was the best of the summer and that another sunny day is predicted for Juneau tomorrow. Last week the glacier was not even visible through the cloud and rain...must have been a disappointment for everyone aboard.

Good night...off to dinner

Doreen 
 

 

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