Alaska: Glacier Bay

We spent almost two weeks in Glacier Bay, a wonderland of ice and fiords and wildlife. 

With no parade of cruise ships this year, we were usually alone as we explored one of the planet's most extraordinary places, enhancing its feeling of magic. (We weren't always by ourselves; many thanks to Marlene Reasoner of  SV Trance, who took the photo above.)

This post contains more images than usual, but we felt so overwhelmed by the surroundings that we couldn't resist trying to preserve the experience...

                                                                    Blue Mouse Cove

Johns Hopkins Inlet

Lamplugh Glacier

Navigating through bergy bits the first time

Johns Hopkins Glacier

Floes near the glacier were littered with seals

Topeka Glacier, largely receded

Reid Inlet

The only place where one can anchor overnight near a glacier...



...and actually walk on one

John Muir Inlet

From the anchorage at Goose Cove,

we drove to upper John Muir Inlet

Riggs Glacier, also greatly receded

40 years ago the John Muir Glacier reached the sea,
and the inlet was clogged with ice 

Glacier ice...

...put to good use:
gin & tonics at latitude 59 N

                                                                            Tarr Inlet

Margerie Glacier

Context: the glacier face is several stories high;

it's the same glacier as the opening photo