Day 11 -- Glacier Bay

We spent the day cruising Glacier Bay and since we were just there, I couldn’t get too excited about it so I spent most of the day, again, in the library. I managed to read another book in one day. My eyeballs are going to fall out.

We attended a lecture by the park ranger and learned about the history and geology of tidewater glaciers and Glacier Bay. The white ice is white because the ice crystals are loosely compacted and reflect all light wave colors. The blue color of the ice is due to the compression and density of the ice crystals and thus reflects only the blue light waves. Glacier Bay is part of the second largest wilderness preserve in the world. The presentation left a very warm feeling in my heart for nature and all that it involves.

After lunch, Michael and I played a game of Scrabble (and he won – I think he cheats and makes up words). While waiting for my turn, we were passing by one of the big glaciers and I started to reflect on what I was seeing. It is so difficult to describe the majesty of these ice rivers. It is surreal and ethereal. There are deep vertical crevasses, craggy peaks and jagged ice spires – blue monoliths reaching up to the heavens. The water at the face of the glacier is still and dotted with ice floes and teaming with flocks of birds. Another glacier had a waterfall coming out of the middle of the face, a rare occurrence. I also saw “calving,” a phenomenon that occurs when salt water melts the glacier’s snout and huge pieces of ice crack off the face, creating an iceberg.

We arrived back at our room and found an excursion waiting for us! Michael and I are going together on a whale watching, salmon bake and Mendenhall Glacier tour in Juneau. We were hoping to get something in Skagway, but we will find our own tour in town.