Glacier Bay

May 30, 2012

Departing at 0707 after retrieving the crab pots which contained only 1 legal crab, we headed west in Icy Straits to the entrance to Glacier Bay.  We are required to request permission to enter and entered at 1105 AM across the imaginary boundary between Point Gustavus and Point Carolus.  Arriving at Bartlett Cove docks at 1205 we went to the ranger station and found they would give us a briefing immediately since it was before June 1.  By 1345, after a pleasant orientation experience by a young, enthusiastic NPS Ranger, we departed Bartlett Cove at 1345 and headed for North Sandy Cove.  Along the way we were entertained by humpback whales leaping clear of the water.  After anchoring we headed to Serena for crab cocktails which we provided and then a steak dinner with Colin and Donna, who also prepared several types of salads and, along with baked potatoes with all the trimmings.

The rain continues to be heavy, but hopefully will switch to showers in the morning.

May 31, 2012

Lampugh Glacier, Glacier Bay

Marjerie Glacier

Lampugh Glacier

Reid Glacier

The rain continued all night.  In 2007 we saw grizzly bears on the beach, but they seem to also be hiding from the persistent cold rain.  At 0802 we raised anchor and headed up Glacier Bay, dodging two humpback whales crossing our path.  The rain finally stopped and there were patches of sun as we stopped for photos of mountain goats on the cliffs near Tidal Inlet.  We headed up Russell Passage, avoiding ice concentrations on the west side of Russell Island and entered Tarr Inlet leading to the face of Marjerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers.  Winter is still present in upper Glacier Bay, with the snow reaching the water’s edge in many places.  The wind really picked up as we approached the end of Tarr Inlet and the ice movements and wind made for hazardous conditions within 1 mile of the glacier faces.  We grabbed a few pictures and headed back down the west side of Russell Island where we threaded our way through the ice for views of Lampugh Glacier and the entrance to John Hopkins Inlet, which was choked by ice.  Continuing to head south we diverted into Reid Inlet where we checked out possible anchor sites for tomorrow’s shore excursion.  We were joined by several cruise ships we could see on AIS, the Diamond Princess and the Norwegian Pearl, but both were already headed back down Tarr Inlet by the time we arrived.

At 1830 we anchored in 80 feet of water in Blue Mouse Cove, tired after another 78 mile day.  We have now logged 1331 nautical miles since leaving Anacortes.

June 1, 2012

After a peaceful night at anchor in Blue Mouse Cove we headed back up the bay to Reid Inlet and glacier at a little after 0800.  The skies cleared for most of the day, but with brisk northwest winds creating chop.  Approaching the entrance which had been free of ice the afternoon before, we found it choked with ice and impassable for us.  We headed back down the bay and hunted for birds and mountain goats, and even saw a few whale tails before anchoring at 1630 in the north portion of South Fingers Bay.

June 2, 2012

After trying halibut fishing with no luck we departed Glacier Bay, crossing the boundary at 1330, destination Elfin Cove and Pelican, then Sitka.