Still in Valdez, Alaska, still near the end of July.

 Come join us as we cruising into Prince William Sound and over to the gigantic Columbia Glacier. 

This is the Glacier Spirit where we will spend the next several hours.









As we left the harbor we saw others doing it their way.

I think I prefer this big warm (comparatively)   powered boat.

Did you know the natives of Alaska were the ones who introduced kayaks to the civilized world?  Along with parkas and ulu knives.

I am going to show you a bunch of pictures of Prince William Sound.  I don't know the names of the hills or the rocks, just the place.  So please enjoy.









 

Low tide, you'll notice

 

 

 Of course there were other sights to be seen besides the water and islands, like this icefield. 

 Or the Chugach Mountains all around.  (photo by Pauline)

  Here is the Sloup Glacier.

Speaking of Sloup,  It is Lunch time--hot Clam Chowder!

Look out for that rock!!

 The first iceberg we saw from Columbia Glacier

We saw this herd of Sea lions:  in fact, 138 of them.

  






They were pretty tightly packed, laying in the sun getting warm.

But not all of them were together.  A few others were scattered around.

  There was a challenge.  I thought we would see a battle, but we kept moving.

Then more icebergs, a lot more icebergs.

This is the inside, a view hole, through an iceberg

This was our first view of Columbia Glacier.  Again, that is the Chugach Mountains in the background, not too far in the background either.  Less than ten years ago the Glacier was all the way out here.  It is the fastest moving Glacier in the world--and that ain't good. It is moving the wrong direction.

 

 As we got closer to the Glacier there was more ice, and it was getting colder.

 

We were not the only ones in the bay.  This guy (or gals) have to be cool also.

This is another cruise boat and he is in a hurry.  That is an Iceberg behind it.  It seemed he was racing us to the glacier.  Didn't make any sense to me but as you will see, this pilot is not too awful smart.

I have tried to add panoramas to most of the good places but right here the Glacier is ten miles wide, so this is the best I could do.  Take a look at how much ice is in the water.  It all came off that glacier

 More of the Glacier.  You  can see the bare rock above the ice.  That is where the ice was a very short time ago.  No green on it at all.  It has also dropped 1,300 feet in height along with losing length. (a.k.a. it's greatly receding)

This is as close as the pilot wanted to get us.  Some pretty big hunks of ice are coming off and if the ice doesn't get you the wave could.  

Yet look where the other cruise boat is.  The passengers have paid extra to go here because the pilot will be fined pretty heavy for endangerment.  I think there is no fine for stupidity, but there should be. 

 We were in the ice but the pilot stayed away from the big stuff.  Again I am thinking "Titanic".  Wonder why.

Her we are with the Columbia Glacier in the background.  

Columbia Glacier and the Chugach Mountains.

  Picture of the ice with the glacier it came from.

 Another gander before we leave

We saw these seals on an iceberg.  Getting Warm?

My Dear Bride is holding a piece of iceberg in her hands.  Want to guess how long ago that piece of ice was a bunch of snow flakes falling from the sky, getting packed together with other snowflakes, being compressed into ice and becoming a Glacier?  It has been a while.

 This is the pilot at work and this is what he is navigating through

Have I mentioned the Titanic?

There were big ones still left.  Most of these were taken with zoom so they are not as close as they look.  And some that had melted down a bit.  

This one looks like a duck?  Probably from Corvallis.

There was more to see than just icebergs.  This is still the Chugach Mountains above Columbia Bay.  Once again notice the bare area below the snow.  Columbia Glacier was there and not too long ago.

 On the way out to Prince William sound, we found some more Sea otters.  I have told you a little about them before but did you know when they take a nap floating in a raft they sort of hold hands to keep together while they sleep.  Amazing animals.

This one is grooming it's fur.

Waterfalls from an icefield.

Say hello to Mt Shasta---Alaska that is.  Those from Southern Oregon or Northern California will notice the resemblance, except ours is covered with snow year round.  And this is "only" 3,983 feet compared to its California namesake at 14,139 feet.  

We are now back in the Sound.

Here is the State Ferry, part of the Alaskan Marine Highway:  It connects all the cities on or near the water.                                                                                               

Here are more sea lions sunbathing on a buoy.  Did you know another difference, other than size. between sea lions and seals.?  Sea lions have claws on their flippers, so they can climb, but seals don't.

Glacier hanging over Prince William Sound.  You may think you have seen enough of the Sound, and icebergs, and sea lions, and sea otters, and My Dear Bride will agree with you so we will just skip on to the the town of Valdez and I will show you some more pictures of Fire Trucks.  OK?  (Oh, no .  .  .)

My Dear Bride just told me that is not a good idea.  So I will show you some more fish.

 As we got off the boat and headed to the car we saw these local fisherwomen posing with their catch.  All part of the tournament.

 Then there was this guy trying to take credit for this catch and they chased him off.  The nerve of some people.  Notice the looks he is getting from the other two guys in the picture.

That is about it for today.  We have found Valdez to be a nice town.  You should include it in your own itinerary.  See you tomorrow.