Icy Strait

Thursday June 21st 2012

Another beautiful sunny day. Left our slip at 7:15 AM to fuel up and all filled up (350 Gallons) and on the way by 7:45AM

Guardians of Auke Bay Harbor

To start out it was a lovely trip, clear and sunny for most of the way but clouded over and started to rain about an hour out from Glacier Bay. In the sunshine it is a breathtakingly beautiful country, multi hued green forests rising to spectacular, snow covered mountain peaks in every direction.
Photographs just don’t do it justice.

Auke Bay and Mendenhall Glacier



Point retreat Lighthouse

Alaska fast ferry passing us at 35 knots, stay out of his way!

Loking North from Auke Bay

After we turned into Icy Strait we started to see the fishing fleet and at one point along our route we could count at least 36 fishing boats at work.

Those dots on the radar are all fishing boats at work

We had a planned course close to shore in Icy Strait going between Pleasant Island and the mainland since the seas can sometimes get rough outside. After seeing all these guys fishing the shoreline and it being a nice flat calm we decided to go to plan B and steered right down the middle of the Strait where  we would be well clear of everybody.

As we approached the entrance to the bay we started to see some seals and even a few Sea otters floating around. Glacier Bay National Park has strict entry rules for private vessels, an entry permit is required and only 25 private vessels are allowed in at any one time in addition to the cruise ships and tour boats .

Moored at Glacier Bay dock

Glacier Bay Park headquarters dock

 You apply for your permit up to 60 days in advance and are not allowed to enter the bay without it. On arrival at the entrance you need to radio for permission then proceed directly to Park headquarters at BartlettCove for an orientation lecture.

It was pouring rain as usual when we arrived at their dock but we did all that then went out and anchored nearby for the night. The parks people were very welcoming and friendly and obviously take their wildlife protection duties seriously.
No sooner were we safely and finally at anchor when the sun came out and it turned into another beautiful evening. Today is the longest day(summer solstice) and we had over eighteen hours of daylight. Vivian was still reading without lights till 11 PM.

Bartlett Cove anchorage

Just before dark we had a visitor to welcome us to the park and after that I got hungry and sent Vivian to make dinner!!