Our Alaska Trip, Part 5; Hubbard Glacier, Seward, and Exit Glacier

[labmansid]

When we awoke the last day we would be on board our cruise ship, one look out of our window confirmed that the clouds and fog rolling in the previous night were still around. They had also brought with them their close cousin, rain. It wasn't a hard rain, mostly light and intermittent. I got the idea that was the type of rain that was common in these parts, especially during the summer. In a way it was welcomed by us, since it had been so long since we had seen any, what with the drought back home and all, we might have forgotten what rain was!
It was the day we were to visit Hubbard Glacier, and we would not have to leave the ship to see it, that is if the fog was not too thick! My wife had decided already the helipad was not going to work for her anyway, so she planned on being in a nice cozy dry and heated deck inside surrounded by glass to view the glacier. I had brought along a plastic rain cover for my camera/lens for just such an occasion, and was glad I had ordered one just in case. I took my position at the guardrail at the front of the helipad early, when there were only 1-2 dozen people out there braving the wind and light rain. Gradually other people began filtering in, and by the time we approached the mighty glacier, I was getting jostled around pretty good by other passengers jockeying for position. I had to try to keep the front glass of my lens dry, which was difficult since we were still moving, if ever so slowly, such that any light rain would get blown onto the front element.
I did manage to get some shots, which were at least a nice contrast to the ones I had gotten in Tracy Arm, but we had to stay quite a farther distance away from Hubbard on the big ship, which meant the experience was not nearly so dramatic.
Hubbard Glacier is the largest tidewater glacier in North America, and it is huge. At the face, where it meets the waters of the bay, it is 90 ft high and 6 miles wide, and is 76 miles in total length. So even at the distance we were viewing from, it was still impressive.


Here are a couple of shots of the surrounding walls of the bay approaching the glacier.








A very cool landscape scene.






Some distant calving shots.









Bigfoot's front door!







The next day, it was time to disembark from our ship in Seward, Alaska. It went pretty smoothly, they do it in stages, and fortunately we didn't have to get up terribly early to leave. I got our rental car, and we headed to the Sea Life Center. It's construction was funded by Exxon, as part of their settlement for the Valdez oil spill. It was very neat, with some good displays and exhibits, quite informative.

One of the hands-on exhibits my wife, Lisa, enjoyed.





A group of starfish.





A Rhinoceros Auklet in the seabirds exhibit.






Horned Puffin, probably Lisa's favorite bird now. We would later visit a colony of these in the wild.






Tufted Puffin.





The resident sea lion was entertaining the crowd at feeding time.








Almost got into a sticky situation.







From Seward, we headed north on our way to Soldotna, and stopped at Exit Glacier along the way. Glaciers are pretty common in Alaska, huh! Seems you can't turn around without running into one.





A relatively short hike will get you almost right up to it. In some years you can get close enough to touch it.










Quite a different perspective from the previous two glaciers I had visited.






So the second phase (and week) of our adventure had begun. We were on our own now, no masses of crowds on a floating city. Time to get up close and personal with some of the locals, and not necessarily the two-legged kind out to get our tourist dollars!

As always, thanks for looking!

[houtex01]

It just keeps getting better...as before great narrative and beautiful scenery...

Ron

[Orogeny]

Thanks for sharing. Your photos bring back great memories of Alaska.

[Tim T]

Another awesome series Sid. Texas isn't gonna be quite the same when you go out after your tip.

[preames]

Amazing images Sid! I especially like the puffin shots. Makes me want to book a flight today!