Seward-3

There were several options for taking a day cruise out to see a glacier. We opted for the longest cruise to the farthest glacier, the Northwestern Glacier. (named, oddly enough, by researchers from Northwestern University) Depending on which source you read, there are between 100,000 and 300,000 glaciers in Alaska. We’ve seen several, but one of our goals for the summer was to get up close to one, and the cruise seemed a good way to do that.

Our first view…

Each glacier is a small piece of a very large ice field up in the mountains. This one is part of the Harding ice field, about 300 square miles of snow and ice that has spawned over 40 glaciers. Each glacier is a river of ice being pushed out of the ice field and down the slope of the mountain. With over 400 inches of snow falling each year on the icefield, it’s no wonder that the snow packs into ice and then forces its way down the mountain.

A bergy bit floating by the ship

Maneuvering through the bits and pieces that had broken off the face of the glacier.

Probably the most impressive thing about a glacier calving is the sound. It cracks and roars like thunder, then echoes across the water.

This small bit of ice (at least it looked small) cascaded down the mountain about a mile before falling into the water. And the bit was large enough that it was a continuous avalanche of ice for that entire mile.

Bundled up in front of the glacier – yes, it was very cold out on deck.

The dark spots all over the ice were seals. Apparently they lay on top of the ice for two reasons: first to warm themselves since they can lay in the sun, even though they are laying on ice. Second, to escape from the orcas who like the taste of seal meat for lunch.

Another glacier we saw on the way back to Seward.

 

But if not…