A rainy day in Glacier Bay

Today was a gray and dreary day in Glacier Bay as the clouds hung low and the drizzle of rain was constant. After breakfast we arrived at South Marble Island where curious Steller sea lions and several species of birds filled the sky and water. Gulls fought the stiff breeze and gave the ship a couple of wonderful fly-bys as tufted puffins seemed to struggle with laborious take-offs.

As we cruised deeper into the bay, we saw several mountain goats sitting high on the ledges waiting for the rain to stop. It is hard to imagine these sure-footed creatures navigating wet rock, but as we moved deeper into the fjord we saw several other goats clinging to the slippery rocks as they fed. We also noticed a couple of new additions to the area, as at this time of year mama mountain goats have their “kids,” and several females were accompanied by their young, just a few weeks old. Small and cute, they are kept warm by their thick wooly coats and today they were getting a lesson in Southeast Alaskan weather and navigation on the slippery slopes. These are a couple of skills that every Glacier Bay resident should be good at in order to survive this rugged land.

The snow has slowly moved back over the last couple weeks and the leaves are starting to sprout on the cottonwoods. The grasses and sedges look vibrant, and we watched an adult black bear briefly grazing along the shore before disappearing into the alders.

After slowly picking our way through a very ice-choked Tarr Inlet, we sat at the face of Margerie Glacier. Icebergs both large and small were scattered everywhere on approach to the glacier, which was a great sign that Margerie had been actively calving! As the National Geographic Sea Bird made final approach to this tidewater glacier “white thunder” roared and the crowd on the deck cheered loudly in return. Several large calving events happened as the glacier moved into the sea. We all were soggy spectators but the power of Mother Nature kept us warm, along with Al’s good humor and Anna Marie’s hot drinks.

After a great display by Margerie we spun the ship toward the south and headed back toward Bartlett Cove. Several guests sat in the warmth of the lounge and listened to wonderful Tlingit lore from our Tlingit interpreter, Bertha. Like the goats and the glaciers that the Tlingit’s share this land with, her stories are riddled with strength, wisdom, and wildness. It is my hope that the love and respect that the Tlingit’s have for this land will be carried in the hearts of all who were touched by her stories and the powerful presence of their majestic homeland. No matter how grand and stout, only with our collective love and respect will this sacred place remain as it is forever.