Day 2: Juneau

Posted by Chris:

The day started as per usual.   A lot of rain and clouds and the prospects of a 10 hour boat ride ahead of us up the Tracy Arm Fjord. 

 

We had no idea what to expect but we hoped that the boat was covered.   As usual, despite the weather trying to hold us back, Alaska didn’t disappoint.

We boarded the Adventure Bound and got on our way up the Gastineau throughway enroute to the Arm.   Along the way we got glimpses of what to expect when we reached the glacier as we passed large icebergs and hoped that our captain was skilled enough to navigate our way to the glacier

The 23 days of straight rain that Juneau has received created some amazing waterfalls that cascaded throughout the entire Fjord.  Here is Mark enjoying the spray from one of them.

And another completely different waterfall.

As we neared the glacier, we hit more and more icebergs – so many that our captain actually doubted that we would be able to navigate through them.   Trev didnt look worried though… (note the glacier in the background).

 

Trev instead proceeded to go Ansel Adams on us once again and impress with his eye for visual aesthetics

 

We finally reached the glacier and it was insanely “cool”.

Throughout the trip, we constantly discussed what was the most impressive part: the glacier colors, glacier size (30 miles long – 7 miles in the US and 23 in Canada, 1/2 mile wide, and 300 feet above the water level), the glacier calving (see video of the end of one below), or just the absurdity of the fact that what we were witnessing was something that you don’t see every day much less every lifetime.

requisite group photo

 

to get an idea of how big it is since the pictures just dont do the experience justice if you can believe that….

On the way home, Trev and I decided that we should take our showers au naturale style in glacial snow melt waterfalls

However, it wasnt all fun and games on the way home since we had to be careful and take it slow.  We didnt want to pull a Shackleton and get stuck in the ice….  Which way would you go to get out???

Another amazing Alaskan day and adventure.  Tomorrow:  Some hiking, some ziplining, an Alaskan Brewery Tour, and wrapping up an epic Alaskan vacation before departing the day after.

Until tomorrow….