Cruise, Inside Passage 2015

Glacier Bay

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View from our cabin at 5.46 in the morning.

The view was better from the observation deck.

First we had an introduction from two park rangers who had boarded the ship at the entrance to Glacier Bay National Park

They gave a very interesting talk covering the geological and local history of the area.

View entering the park.

Here is a map naming some of the glaciers. Many are not named.

On this map taken from Google Earth, I have named most of the glaciers we viewed.

We were extremely lucky with the weather and had fantastic visibility.

On the rock in the centre of the photo live a heard of mountain goats.

Unfortunately a long way away, but they were there.

Further into the bay the glacial landscape started to unfurl.

This photo taken to the right of the previous one, is looking down Queens Inlet to Carroll Glacier.

Carroll  Glacier actually comes from the left behind the mountains and starts about 40 km back in the mountains.

The dark matter in the front is all moraine that has been carried with the glacier.

This is one of our park guides giving us information.

I'm not sure which one this is.

Another landscape

and the same a little closer

and even closer.

Note the tops of the high mountains in the background.

This photo is to the right of the one above.

Looking back.

It was cool on the upper deck but the views were clearer than through the glass of the observation deck.

Here we are approaching the Lamplugh Glacier.

Lamplugh Glacier face.

Lamplugh closer up.

Lamplugh Glacier with freshly fallen ice in the water.

Leaving the Lamplugh Glacier behind us.

Sorry I can't find the name for this one.

Exposed strata in the rocks.

First view of the John Hopkins Glacier

Marianne and Mario

John Hopkins Glacier landscape.

John Hopkins closer up. The Gilman Glacier comes in from the left but is not visible from here. Have a look on the map.

John Hopkins again, as close as we came.

As we departed we had another view of the Lamplugh Glacier with a cruise ship passing by.

The ship is about the same size as ours, so you can get an idea of the proportions.

Here we are looking down Tarr Inlet to the moraine covered face of the Grand Pacific Glacier

Note the seal in the water in front of the ship.

The glacier starts about 40 km. up in the mountains in Canada and is actually fed by several glaciers. See the Google Earth Map.

In this photo one can see the left hand side of the face of the Grand Pacific Glacier

and in the middle of the photo is the tongue of the Margerie Glacier

The Margerie Glacier

The full width of the face of the Grand Pacifc Glacier

The right hand side of the Grand Pacific, all covered with moraine.

An even closer view.

Back to the Margerie Glacier

It calved many times while we were stopped here.

Note the ice in the water from a recent ice fall of ice.

The face was very high. We are viewing it from the tenth deck of our ship.

Calving again

and again.

Here one can see the source of the glacier high in the mountains and part of the middle section.

Drifting glacial ice.

In this telephoto shot, the middle section of the glacier and the source are clearer.

The black in the mid forground is also glacial ice.

Once again.

Our last view of the Margerie Glacier.

Another panorama.

This could be the Reid Glacier on our right as we headed out of Glacier Bay.

The pool midships. The cover can be opened.

One of the whirlpools.

View from the promenade deck.

This is a typical view of the islands with snow covered mountains.

Again note the perfectly calm water.

We saw whales near here but I missed the chance to photograph them.

Looking back at an amazing place.

Mario and Elisabeth at the stern on the promenade deck.

Elisabeth

Kerry and Elisabeth.

Wonderful

Here Elisabeth talks to one of the Park Rangers. She is first nation.

The after deck.

A spectator.

One of the sitting rooms just behind the observation deck.

A painting in one of the stairways.

No comment

Two playful seals.

A whole family.

Looking sideways into an inlet.

Our first and only foggy section.

We were happy that we didn't have any more of this.

An interesting link to an article on glaciel retreat: http://www.amusingplanet.com/2015/03/photos-taken-100-years-apart-show-how.html